I played a few acoustic numbers with a friend at an open-mic night on New Year's day, the first time I've done anything in well over a year. I didn't get as bad with pre-gig nerves as I have in the past but I was still physically ill on the day which affected my playing and I made several mistakes.
The few times I've played in recent years have been solo efforts and I've been a wreck beforehand, major stomach trouble and panicking.
How do you deal with pre-gig nerves? I'd love to get past it and have the confidence to play live more.
Comments
I found when I obtained Dutch Courage, that gigs played with more than two pints were always shite.
Toilet breaks seem to be my problem too, my stomach turns to mush on the day and let's just say it makes things complicated. If it's not coming out one end it's coming out the other.
It's a horrible feeling and it puts me off wanting to play again. Is there anything I can take before playing? I've tried Rescue Remedy but that doesn't work.
Try it. It might just work.
Saying that I put a little bit of ginger puree in my carrot soup but can't imagine eating it straight out of the tube!
Also don't worry about mistakes, everyone makes them. It's how you cover them that's important. Either A) play the mistake again on purpose to make everyone think you meant it, or B ) just carry on regardless. But never acknowledged them mid song with a nod to bandmate, because if you do everyone will know you messed up.
Ed Conway & The Unlawful Men - Alt Prog Folk: The FaceBook and The SoundCloud
'Rope Or A Ladder', 'Don't Sing Love Songs', and 'Poke The Frog' albums available now - see FaceBook page for details
These days everyone round here plays acoustic and usually solo so when I take part in things that's what I'm doing too. There's very few bands here and nowhere to play so acoustic sets are the norm.
Being so 'naked' on stage puts the fear in me but I was definitely better this time round as I was playing with a friend of mine, me on guitar and she was doing the main vocals with me pitching in with backing. There's something to be said for safety in numbers and I think you're right that playing regularly would help, it's just that opportunities to do so are thin on the ground.
Granted, I've never played to more than 600ish so when Eavis comes knocking begging me to play legato exercises, in my underpants on an office chair as the headline act I may tell a different story.
In terms of mental preparation, I usually just put it out of my mind - the end-game of crippling nerves is "I don't want to play the gig"...the fact is that I'm going to play the gig regardless, so I just consider it a fait accomplit and resolve to deal with any fuckups as they happen.
It certainly helps to have a plan for what you're going to do if anything goes wrong; try to imagine where you're going to have problems (eg a solo that's on the edge of your ability, or bits where you're having trouble getting the vocals and guitar to line up etc), and have an alternate way to deal with it. That goes quite some way towards killing nerves.
I play guitar and take photos of stuff. I also like beans on toast.
Supportact said: [my style is] probably more an accumulation of limitations and bad habits than a 'style'.
there's a good quote from Beethoven or someone like that ...
“To play a wrong note is insignificant; to play without passion is inexcusable.”
If what you are playing is right at the limit of your ability then the stress of gigging will mean you make simple mistakes because you are worried.
If you are playing songs that are only at 10-50% of your ability then you will have a much easier time.
Also gig so often that it is just another day gigging, rather than 'a big event' that must be feared.
Studio: https://www.voltperoctave.com
Music: https://www.euclideancircuits.com
Me: https://www.jamesrichmond.com