Question for those who play live

[Marcus2]

My guitar teacher routinely plays acoustic gigs and invites students to join in.

I have taken my Petrucci to his gigs, using the acoustic out (which, by the way, sounds very nice complementing the tone of his Martin) to jam on a few jazz covers.

Every time before I start, I have this little internal freak out and feel like I forgot the form we are about to play. Last night we were going to play "Blue Monk" which is not hard. Once I started, it was all good. But before that I had a huge crisis of confidence.

So, my question is: Do those of you who play live get this, or did you once have it but it slowly went away with more experience? Or does something like it stick around?

Thanks!

Marc

 

[Jack FFR1846]

For some reason, I'm never nervous before going live. Someone else asked me this recently and I can remember going out to play block parties in high school and not having any issues. Ask me to speak into the mic and.....forget it. I did have a starting solo for a song about a month ago and totally forgot it as the drummer was giving me the 4 hit timing......I did remember what the first 2 notes were, so started with those and fumbled through the rest of it......

jack

 

[paranoid70]

I have only gigged about a dozen times, so perhaps the nervousness will go away with more experience. The last few times, I was rather nervous for the first and second tune, but after that it's a lot of fun. After 3 sets, I still don't want to quit... but we end up running out of songs.

 

[Astrofreq]

Jack, I'm the same way. I could play in front of a ton of people and not think much. When I have to sing or speak, I want to pass out. I downright have shaky knees when public speaking.

 

[andynpeters]

After thousands of gigs I now never get nervous about singing, speaking or playing.
Years ago I can remember being totally unable to remember what key the next song was in until we swung into it. Sometimes nerves get better....some people always suffer from them.....but keep on going Marcus.

 

[edrod]

Just try to go in there with confidence. Do not doubt yourself because this will lead to mistakes. If you mess up don't worry about it. The key is to love what you're doing and have the best time of your life.

 

[robelinda2]

Took me years and years to not become super nervous, i used to spew up all the time!

 

[Spudmurphy]

Back in the 70's I used to play gigs 2-4 times a week and one time 15 on the trot.
3 Examples I can relate to:-

1) had been playing gigs for years - played at a small venue and remember going outside and leaning on a fence - bass player came out looking for me and said something like come on Spud we're on in 5 mins - I was literally a bag of nerves and was saying something like I can't play - lost my nerve. He was an old hand and made me laugh about my"fear" - hell we on and played a stormer!
Conclusion - nerves can hit you at any time for no apparent reason - be confident in your preparation. Fail to prepare - prepare to fail.

2)Racing Cars were top of the UK charts with "they shoot Horses don't they" we supported them in front of 2500+ of their Welsh fans - luckily we were Welsh too and had our own Cardiff following.
I was in the restroom throwing up with nerves and their lead vocalist "Morty" took me aside - said he had heard our band a few times and that we would have no problem that night - go out and enjoy the experience. Nerves again but a good reason!!
3) My wife to be is in the side wing of the stage - I'm doing lead vocals on a well known number - and for the life of me I can't remember the first line!! - literally I'm shouting at her demanding to know the first line - Nerves? Overconfidence? - get a prompt!!

 

[Jonny Dubai]

Sang the words to a different song while at a jam session!!!


J

 

[Fontanz]

I think we should look at nervousness as a form of excitement that hasn't only negative impact. But before that it's necessary to accept that it's our autonomic nervous system we have to deal with, and that contains that there's very little means to manipulate.
So, how can we look at it as a positive thing? First I agree that we have to realize again and again that making music with friends is what we love. Second is that the audience want to have a good time with you and your band, so you don't have to ask for a leap of faith because you got it already.

Well, here's my own experience. On Christmas Day I had a gig with the band I'm in since August. I'm the lead guitarist so of course I felt an increase of nervousness the nearer that day was coming because I hadn't played a gig for over 20 years. Days before the gig I practiced more than I would do normally, wrote comments on the sheets I got in order to learn the tunes and so on. Also the last few rehearsels helped me a lot.
On Christmas Day I was astonished because nervousness didn't seem to rise anymore. I was engaged with my equipment which was a bit of a deviation from getting nervous I think. But the best thing was that I was literally bent on doing a gig after such a long time. The gig went well, and the fact that I made a few mistakes didn't count that much (no risk, no fun, right?)
So I think that's what I have learned: prepare yourself, keep in mind that you're gonna do what you love, and enjoy! For me it's been a great experience and I'm looking forward to doing it again!

 

[brokenvail]

I think we all have had an issue with this before. I never threw up or anything but I would always think "this is going to suck!" With time you learn to deal with it and channel the energy. I still feel flies every time I get up there but I am not scared I use it and focus and once he hit that first big chord or do that unison run it's on and it's all down hill!

 

[Marcus2]

Thanks to everyone for their response.

Radrock got me thinking...I teach for a living. So I am in front of classes or various audiences day in and day out. Public speaking is a natural part of my life and I no longer get nervous. I guess that as I play live more often, the nerves should likewise settle down.

I also like the idea of channeling that energy.

Again, thanks to you all.

Marc

 

[DrGonzo5150]

... have it but it slowly went away with more experience?

Exactamundo...

I used to get nervous. When i first got into the cover's scene, i can't remember how many times i just straight out forgot the main solo to Gunner's sweet child.
All eyes on me, my moment to shine and... noodle noodle bend noodle

You just adapt and begin to channel it... Now, i love it!
A week without gigging pains me, haha i'll play most anywhere... I'm playing to about a 800 kids at a scout jamboree tonight haha...
Gig lust! It goes hand in hand with my EBMM addiction

 

[robelinda2]

I remember my first original band in the mid 90's had a gig, supporting a band who featured the bass player from Rose Tattoo, there were all these guys in the crowd who looked they had just finished a 10 year stretch in prison, I was scared out of my mind, I'm small and skinny!!! Just as we are about to go I spewed about 4 times all over myself, and it was filmed too!!! I actually played well after that, the nerves went once I was on stage, all these huge guys after the gig were slapping me on the back calling me Chucky.

 

[fbecir]

The best way for avoiding stress is to do a lot of warm up exercises. Try to find a quiet area backstage and play all the scales you know (even if you don't hear yourself playing). You warm your fingers but at the same time you are focusing your attention on your guitar and not on all the things that can disturb you.
If your fingers are warm enough, they will play all the song, even if your head is not able to remember the notes ...

 

[NorM]

Experience speaks volumes.
Lately I have noticed a correlation between nervous shakes and low blood sugar. Have a candy bar about 20 minutes before you play and get hyped up and have a great time.

 

[D.K.]

Playing live is FUN!!! What I try to do when getting a bit nervous, is to tell myself, how great an experience it would be just to go on stage, relax, and play in front of an audience, and that the impredictability of playing live is what I love. And, of course, to remember, that nothing can actually go that wrong after hours of playing every day, so I just tell myself to trust my playing skills, have fun and try to blow away the peolple out there by playing well. Most of the time it works.

What I don't like and what gets on my nerves, is when the magic just doesn't seem to happen - there just are some nights where the way You play and the audience's reaction (for very many reasons) go apart. But those nights are also great, 'cause they give You the urge to work more and to do things differently.

 

[candid_x]

For me nervousness was walking out onto a stage to a packed theater with nothing but an acoustic guitar and original song list, as a complete unknown to the audience. Fortunately, the audience and acts I'd open for were warm and receptive, and those shows always went off well.

But for regular gigs with a band, nah.

 

[Jimmyb]

I always get nervous before a live show, whether I'm playing, singing, acting, running a sound desk, or stage managing. It's not something that ever goes away from me, but it also doesn't make me shake or feel ill.

I find that it helps me to focus on what I'm doing and usually makes me raise my game. I learnt quite a few years ago when still competing in shooting competitions, that I couldn't make the nerves go away, but that I could use them to my advantage and I guess it's just stayed with me.

 

[Tim O'Sullivan]

I never get nervous before a gig, mostly because I feel confident about my guitar playing and don't care if it all goes wrong!