Hi, Im going to hopefully start playing live with a band, but I have a bit of a problem im really nervous.
I can play the songs fine when im on my own, in fact with my eyes shut.However soon as anyone is listening my timing gos wrong, I forget the song and chords. Im just thinking everyone is judging my every move lol. The other guitarist has said that he has wanted me to join on more than one occassion and that ill do fine. He says I worry to much lol.
Has anyone else had this problem? What did you do.
Sorry if this is in the wrong area.
any help greatly appreicated.
I once was told that the secret is to never look at anyone in the crowd. Now I'm not 100% sure that works but I do know it helps!
D
What did the guitarist do when he was told to turn on his amp?
He caressed it softly and told it that he loved it.
I used to get nervous until we hit that first chord, then it's band practice with people in front of you. If possible when you guys practice have someone there listening to you (wife, girlfriend etc), it might help getting used to seeing someone listening to your performance. Honestly, I really don't nervous anymore. I've found that the more I practiced the songs the less nervous I became when playing them and if I did make a mistake...dude, its a mistake...move on. You WILL make a mistake when you play out, it is inevitable. But remember this (9) times out of (10) the only ones who knows we made a mistake (bum note, wrong chord etc) is us. Its how well you cover up the mistakes is what makes a professional a professional. The more you play out the better you will become at covering up your band's mistakes.
Another thing that may help you with the "Im just thinking everyone is judging my every move." Remember, your audience has come to see a "good" band, they are on YOUR SIDE. They WANT YOU to play well. They don't want to see you have a bad night. Everyone in the place WANTS YOU TOO SUCCEED and have just as much fun as much as you do. Your audience is not a "hostile" audience. No one comes out to have a bad time and rip apart the band's performance.
I highly recommend joining his band and good luck with it and keep us posted on your progress. Remember this isn't American Idol.
Ambition is the path to success...persistence is the vehicle you arrive in!!!
I suspect that you will always have your fear of playing in front of people until you get out there and experience what it's like to do it . Being well prepared will make it easier and it will be easier the second time than the first . If it is possible start out with your most familiar songs at the start . After you get that first round of applause you will be more relaxed and begin to realize that it is a whole lot of fun .
Also , try to keep your setup the same as it is where you practice . Sometimes when going from a practice space where you are very close together to a stage where there is quite a bit more room to spread out can be a major shock . I remember reading that Yes used to setup really close together even on huge stages to minimize the feeling of playing in large venues .
If I claim to be a wise man , it surely means that I don't know .
There are two schools of thought . . .
idea 1 -- play in front of small, intimate groups of people you know.
Advantage -- you KNOW they won't be too hard on you, and you can get some really good feedback.
Disadvantage -- you know them, and that can be the source of a lot of anxiety in itself.
idea 2 -- play in front of a larger group -- and make sure no one you know is there.
Advantage -- you don't know anyone, and if it's big enough, you won't be able to really see a PERSON out there, but just a crowd.
Disadvantage -- it's a big crowd
The reality is that unless you really really really suck, no one is going to "boo." And even if you really really really suck, no one is going to come at you with flaming torches and pitchforks.
And, even if they don't love you, most people will give you polite applause.
"The music business is a cruel and shallow money trench, a long plastic hallway where thieves and pimps run free, and good men die like dogs. There's also a negative side." -- HST
One other thing to remember is that 90% of your crowd will probably not be musicians. So, they will not notice every little mistake. You don't have to be perfect. Hopefully, that will take a little preasure off.
all good posts.
get a rehearsal going and invite a bunch of friends.
play songs and have everyone sing.
have a party in the garage. then some strangers might stop by too.
this is an easy way of getting accustomed to people checking you out.
the main thing is to concentrate on the music. keep playing even if you make mistakes. play thru it. no one will know.
eventually, you'll be gigging and you'll be too beat from load in and waiting to care;
you'll just wanna play yer a** off.
I heard something from very accomplished musician once that may help:
"it is NEVER bad to have a music stand in front of you to help keep track. EVER!"
Put it up in front of you for the first songs then you will find out you don't need it and can push it aside.
If it helps your confidence at all, bring it.
I heard something from very accomplished musician once that may help:
"it is NEVER bad to have a music stand in front of you to help keep track. EVER!"
Put it up in front of you for the first songs then you will find out you don't need it and can push it aside.
If it helps your confidence at all, bring it.
If you don't want to use a stand, I always put a sheet on the stage floor in front of me with the song list and chords. I don't use it much anymore, but I like having it there, just in case.
Yeah I used to be pretty much what everyone else has said. But it is true that you're probably nervous for the first few songs, and then you start to relax a bit more and realise that it basically is just practice but with a few people in front of you.
Hope it all goes well. After all, its the experience that counts. All bands had to do some shitty gigs (have a bad audience, make a few mistakes etc) but its just part of the live band experience. After all, you're only human...no-one will expect you to be totally note perfect through the set.
Click
Congratulations on getting in a band.
First, quit worrying so much, you are just gonna make more mistakes doing that.
Second, before you play in front of crowds you are gonna have to practice with the band and learn the songs. This is great, because it also gives you time to work on your stage presence. Yes, stage presence has to be practiced just like the songs.
Learn to look at the crowd and smile. Sometimes you have to look to make a chord change, just glance long enough to make the change and then look up at the crowd again and smile. Act like you are having fun (you will be having fun), and the crowd will have fun too. If you make a mistake, laugh and keep going. Don't make a sour face.
Psyche yourself up a little. Go out there and be the Fonz. 8)
Practice, practice, practice. Nothing will give you more confidence than knowing your songs inside out. During the week when the band is not practicing, practice on your own, especially songs that give you difficulty. Practice to a metronome or drum machine to improve your timing.
Tell yourself you are going to have fun. Seriously. Before every gig I look at all the guys in my band and say, "Alright guys, let's have lots of fun tonight!" Sounds silly, but it works.
You gotta have a little crash and burn attitude. You gotta tell yourself you are gonna go out there and give them a show good or bad.
But don't worry, if you go out there with that attitude you will be very good. :D
If you know something better than Rock and Roll, I'd like to hear it - Jerry Lee Lewis
OH, man, Wes, you hit it all.
I agree to know the songs....that's all you really need. If you know them then the battle is over. Everything else will come without pressure.
Now go have fun and give us a great gig report. 8)
Bish
"I play live as playing dead is harder than it sounds!"
yeah dude i had your same problem when i did my first show at a sunday night church i was throwing up in the bathrooms ahead of time!! i used to have to wear layer of clothing to cover up my worry sweat haha!!
their are 2 things you can do
1. just stomach through your 1st performance and if you screw up on a few notes dont dont yell or make a funny face because if you dont show it odds are the audience wont know!! and the even sadder part is 1/2 the time your fellow band mates wont even realize it! (they will have butterflies too)
2. the other thing you can do is just memorize the song!!! i meanplay it so you can do it and watch t.v and carry on a conversation at the same time!!! it will take a week or so for 1 song, but it works ive done it many times!!
for me when i know exatctly what to play without thinking about it it helps me concentrate on my vocals(hope this helps)
let me know if that works out for ya!!
Go out there and be the Fonz.
Oh, Wes! I'm sorry to say it, but I too remember when Fonzie was "cool". :lol:
Click, Exposing our weaknesses is not something most of us do naturally. I encourage you to take the "risk". First, because you won't get passed it until you do. And, secondly, because the "risk" is not as great as your mind is telling you it is.
Regards,
Wyle :)
Mentally prepare as well. Visualize what you are going to do, how it is going to go and that it is going to be successful. Always visualize success, but not perfection (as there is no such thing). Visualize things going wrong and your handling of it (successfully). Sometimes we doink up a song really bad(we think), but we have people come up to us at the end and say how much they enjoyed that song. As others have said mistakes are will happen, but if you are adequately prepared it won't be noticeable. Good luck and you will enjoy it. There is something about making music and watching the joy that it brings to others that will hook you. Next thing you know we will have to recommend support groups to help curb your new addiction :-)
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