first time since 1981

Damn you, sir, I thought that this was going to be a thread about your love life!!! :lol: :lol: :lol:

Here are some random bits of advice:

Have you chosen which songs you are going to do?

If not I would make sure you have at least one or two songs that you find easy and that you can use to get more relaxed and accustomed to playing in front of the crowd, then you will get warmed up before playing something more challenging.

Get there well enough in advance that your guitar will adjust to the room temperature and tune it before you go on.

Also before the gig, record yourself. Then you can see how you sound and what you might need to work on. And when you make mistakes, you will hear how you cover them. You'll be more comfortable playing in front of a crowd if you know that even if you make a mistake you can recover from it.

Do you have a video camera? if so, videotape yourself practicing your set. You can pick up on things about your performance you wouldn't with just audio. Are you looking at your fretboard the whole time, things like that. Practice making eye contact with the camera.

Also try your set infront of someone you know, family or friends. That helps you get comfortable playing in front of someone, and you also practice ways to engage them, so that it isn't like there is an invisible wall with you on one side and the audience on the other. In other words to make it like you are playing to them, and not like you are just playing. I don't know I can't really describe what I mean well. I don't mean so much involving them like, "Everybody Say 'Ho!'"

"Ho!"

Though that is one way to do it I guess.

But more like so they feel you are singing to them and not like you are just in your own world singing and they are watching, which is subtle and is more like an energy thing.

Since you've been in a band, None of that is really new to you and it will probably come back to you easily.

Also just to qualify, I've only been playing a little more than a year, and have yet to play guitar in front of an audience, but I just listed things that I will probably do to prepare myself when I get that opportunity. So my advice doesn't come from experience, but more from a lack of experience. But my advice might be helpful because I can relate to your situation. And I've found that whenever you are going to be in an unfamiliar situation if you can minimize the unknowns you can approach it more confidently, which is the main purpose of the ideas I listed.

And so when you are there infront of the audience you'll be focusing on all the specific performance elements rather than on your anxiety, and it will come out good.

But I'm sure those more experience with performing will have great advice.

Thanks evil, sounds like great advice to me!I have about 4 songs iv'e been working on.

set list
1) In my time of dying -led zep.
2) death letter blues-son house
3) Chevy blues (on of my songs)-Its a bootleging song! :P
3) 44 blues-rosevelt sykes

mostly delta type blues, I will try to accentuate the playing and keep the vocal parts simple. :wink:
I went to this place a few weeks ago and it seemed pretty cool, some better than me and some not, no tomatoes or chicken wire in site :lol: :lol:

Thanks for the advice, the dog

Here's a little thing that may or may not work: create a 'persona' for your stage-self. Like when you go up on stage you're no longer you - you're (for instance) 'Smokin Dog.'

It's a mental thing, which for me is, well...it fits. :wink:

Sorta like Jagger; when he goes on stage, he 'becomes' Mick Jagger - the one everyone expects to see.

Or like Pagey - there's two distinct Jimmy Pages - the Studio Page and the live, onstage Page.

Okay, Onstage Page rhymes too much - just stick with Smokin' Dog. :)

Good songs

I'm sure it will be a great experience. Be sure to post to tell us all about it afterward.

Don't try the "I'll just have a few beers before I go up so I won't be nervous" trick. :roll:

I'm sure you will be nervous, that is perfectly normal. But try to prepare your mind now. Just tell yourself you are gonna go in there and have fun.
And then do just that. Don't take it too serious. If you get yourself too wound up your knees will be shaking, your lips quivering, and all that.

So, practice relaxing now. Relaaaaaaax. Take a nice deep breathe through your nose. Then sloooooo-ly exhale. Do this several times. But don't hyperventilate! :oops:

Forgive me, I'm joking around a little. But seriously. Just try to relax and have fun and you will do fine.

We expect a full report!

Wes

3) Chevy blues (on of my songs)-Its a bootleging song! :P

As I rode shotgun with the mayonaise jar in my lap, my cousin's husband glances over. " That there's twenty years sittin' 'tween yore knees."

"So what happens if we get stopped?"

"You jus' let me worry 'bout that. I kin get us away."

I had a brief vision of the chase -- bootlegger's turns, rubber burning, our rusty Pinto in flames.

Really.

gnease, I can relate to that one. thirty years ago, my uncle, in a Pinto, a police car behind us, replace the whisky with a qaurter pound. :oops: :oops: --NO, i don't do that kind of thing any more :lol:

I also began playing again after a long break a couple of years ago and I have a few tips that I would like to share .
1. Make eye contact with your audience . Too many performers close their eyes and miss the show that their audience is putting on for them .
2. Realize that most of those people out there don't have the faintest clue how to do what your doing and wish they could .
3. Don't be afraid that there is another musician out there who might be better than you . As a musician myself , I have been entertained many times by players of all talent levels . The key is being prepared to be YOUR best .
4. Zip up your fly !