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Beth Fridinger
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5/8/2008 1:49:23 AM
dealing with stage fright
Well last Monday I was jumping out of my skin before going on stage, and I ate 3 bananas which is supposed to help, but then, I had a beer. Beer did not help, it made it worse. I wasn't really nervous...but I was sloppy...I brought my electric, and forgot to step on the distortion pedal for the first song.
Well Wednesday I went to the open mike...and I was relaxed...I focused on the music...and when I do that, I do fine...I did great...my voice rocked...My playing was fine...got good comments from fellow musicians....got those admiring looks...that I get when I do really well. I had read a lot about stage fright...and about thinking and how to approach the stage...did a lot of thinking about this...so after tonight, I think there is hope that I can overcome this problem without resorting to a beta blocker. Being an intense emotional woman I tend to over react to stress and get horrible surges of adrenaline that are paralyzing. Tonight I had just a tad enough to keep my eyes open...it was nice to be able to go up there and be as good as I can be at this stage of the game.
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Conversation Suicide
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5/8/2008 2:32:42 AM
i'm not a woman, but have had knees knocking a few times before a somewhat hostile or uninterested or LARGE audience & played through it.
I find the same thing that you did Beth, once I get lost in doing my thing & trying to put on a really good show, I'm fine again.
THE BEST thing is ALSO to do LOTS of shows every year, even if a couple a month are kinda small, because then the stage becomes a NATURAL place for you to excel and get LOST in the mUSE & Music moment....
And the more places you play, decreases the likelyhood of stagefright for EACH individual place, they become like a HOME COURT for a sports team. Then you feel the same you might at a house party, for many clubs around your town.
AS FAR AS Touring? To strange locations that you hadn't played before? That's a WHOLE different ballgame! If there is any perceived hostility from a crowd a find there is a greater propencity for knees knocking-- BUT again, just play through it like you did, Beth! It's all about sharing your art in it's most natural form, with you relaxed and in a beautiful groove.
-phlegm's 2 cents (from Conversation Suicide)
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Andy Broad
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5/8/2008 3:54:24 AM
I've never got stage fright in a band context, even at my first gig, but I did used to get horribly nervous when I did floor spots at the local folk club, playing solo acoustic blues. I used to come off stage after my three songs feeling totally wired. I kept going back for more though, and it gradually eased. What really cured it for me though was busking. Once I'd played 50 'gigs' busking, I no longer got nerves when playing solo indoors.
I think the secret to solving stage beves is to playa as often in as many contexts as possible. Don't worry about each gig to much, it's just a gig. you'll do 100's more. If you miss a chord who cares, you'll get it next time.
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Conversation Suicide
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5/8/2008 4:01:39 AM
Good point. it's definitely easier when you're not up there completely alone! Being the FRONT Person though, it sometimes feels like I'm alone, when I leap out into the crowd or get off the stage and go into the audience to try and bring people closer to the stage! -phlegm
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5/8/2008 6:32:01 AM
I've never performed musically but have done many vocal, public speaking events and I never felt nervous because I knew I could always resort to turning mistakes in on myself. There is nothing like humour to get crowd sympathy it gives you a human face. I do panic about feeling ill for other reasons on stage however so I have to be careful what, if anything, I eat and drink prior to performing. Feeling sick, bloated or having indigestion is a little distracting. I would certainly find smaller venues more intimidating, when you can see the whites of their eyes and hear their comments heh!
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Jo Ellen
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5/8/2008 9:08:38 AM
I usually imagine myself singing at home or to my family. I do tend to make eye contact with others and it helps everyone relax which helps me relax. One of the best pieces of advice I ever got was in a college speech class: Remember that that the audience is pulling for you too. They want you to do well just as much as you do, and are more forgiving than you think.
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Beth Fridinger
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5/8/2008 10:24:37 PM
That is interesting about busking...I want to do that...I tried to do that today in the park and did not have the nerve...I just sat on the bench and played quietly (I didn't have amp and stuff with me today). I do have a Taxi amp and since there is no reverb on this I got a reverb pedal...and a shopping cart to lug this stuff but I am not sure how I will get this stuff around on the subway...it's a folding shopping cart so I don't have to worry about my amp falling off on the ground...mike stands etc. Maybe it would be easier to play in the subway (I need a license) to start because everyone knows what you are there for but I do love being outdoors. I wonder if I find someone to do it with me to get over the initial hump...I was thinking that busking would get me over the nerves. I really need money now too and if I could make money doing this this would be really good. But I am AFRAID to go out in the street and just start playing....Any advice on how to start doing this is welcome.
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