I've been hogging the 'Live' section a bit so I'm giving them a break and it's back to my old faithful, Off Topic !
Stage fright.... what exactly is it ? I've been reading a few threads about stage nerves etc and I too get a bit nervous before going on. But... really, what is it that we're so scared of that makes us react anywhere from a little nervous to squeaky-bum, butterfly stomach and jelly fingers ?
I assume it's a deep-rooted fear of looking foolish or incompetent in front of other people. You're scared you're going to play badly and people will point and laugh. Is that the case for you ? Or do you worry about something else ?
Why do you care about being judged by complete strangers - most of whom couldn't tell a guitar from a double-bass and think a chord is a thing you pull to turn the bathroom light on ?
What is really at the root of stage fright and how do you deal with it ?
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Comments
I have no idea what I was so scared of, if you'd asked me at the time whether I cared much about playing the odd bum note or forgetting an intro I would have told you it wasn't that important and I would've meant it.
I was a fairly shy teenager so getting on a stage was an inevitable byproduct of playing guitar to me, not the reason I did it.
I still occasionally get jumpy even now, but only over silly things like feeling that band mates are underprepared or that I haven't checked a piece of equipment is ok.
It's a strange, internalising feeling which I'm convinced is distantly related to depression, and when I feel it growing my solution is to keep my head up and engage with my surroundings, rather than staring pointlessly at my left hand.
It's an odd one for sure, I couldn't possibly care less what most people think of me and I'm confident enough in my guitar playing to get through most musical situations, but it still crops up occasionally.
There are pressures involved in charging someone a lot of money to perform at their wedding, but that's no different to anyone who is providing an important service and is not related to stage fright in my opinion.
These days it's very context specific. I've played in church so much I don't care. It feels like home, and I'll just get on with it. If I screw up it's all part of the community feel. But when I started singing (out of necessity) I hated it, because my voice was so rusty, and singing and playing was tricky (other than straight rhythm). Again, now I've done it lots I don't mind, although I prefer to have another (good) singer with me for the songs in stupid keys.
But ... I'm winding myself up to doing an open mic as my last "before I hit 50" challenge, and I will be shitting myself about that. And when I played in the local panto pit band this year I was hideously nervous (didn't sleep the night before) because I was convinced I was out of my depth (no rehearsals, most other people pro or semi-pro). In the end it was fine.
So for me it's fear of the unknown, fear of looking a twat, and a total lack of self-belief.
Used to get terrible stage fright but it just went away as I did more gigging.
Having a technique base helps, as does being able to play other instruments.
I think it is mostly down to being more experienced now.
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I found that the only solution was to be so well-rehearsed that I was confident I wouldn't have to think while playing. I still get nerves just before a really big gig, but not full-on stage fright.
I don't get stage fright if I know my instrument/the songs. So, if I'm not prepared, then yeah I'll be worried I'll fluff it up. Not bothered about being on stage though; it's a rush!
I do however get anxious talking to people who have that awful way of making people feel on edge, like a few bosses I've had. That just annoys me as usually I am pretty happy to be who I am.
You have to NOT let your audience OWN YOU! - - You must OWN THEM!
Best way to do this is not initially play anything that they can 'judge' you against. Don't engage in any compromising conversation like - "I hope you like this, is our first time at this" or somesuch about new material. Play with conviction and be damned.
I don't usually like people I know being in the audience as though I'd have to live with the shame of a poor performance for ever. Very little of it is about looking like a fool in front of complete strangers, indeed the abandonment to do that is part of what makes playing a gig a joy.
I read a thing with Jools Holland and he said he didn't have stage nerves because he would play as much piano as possible beforehand and then the gig would just be more playing. Although it's quite hard to engineer that situation there is obviously something about playing and gigging as much as possible that usually helps reduce or at least manage stage nerves.
I think being in a physically calmer state helps otherwise you end up being like a yappy terrier who needs a walk. A lot of musicians will do some form of physical exercise before a gig (I remember a story about Jaco Pastorius who used to make nervous students go for a swim before a lesson so they could play bass better). Humping gear into the car and then into the venue might actually help you perform better. As I play a bit of harmonica in the band I find the harder breathing associated with that helps so maybe breathing exercises might help.
I can't remember who it was but someone on here wrote about a feet apart stance for singing and that has been a bit of a revelation. That is another thing that helps with breathing and it's a more balanced way of standing and helps offset nerves. Such a tiny thing but really useful.
Seriously: If you value it, take/fetch it yourself
Most people I play in front of play in bands or at least play as well but I don’t feel I need to prove anything. Enjoying myself and showing it is what’s important. No one wants to see a musician on stage not looking like they wanna be there!
As for the shaking hands/jelly fingers stuff, I remember one evening during a part-time course at ICMP, Dario Cortese explained it as a panic attack. He said the body sees itself as being under attack, so keeps all your blood in the middle bits for vital organs to function, Therefore your extremities (hands/fingers) have a reduced supply of blood and don't work properly. You also see it on Masterchef when people are plating up under pressure.
Next time you get shaky hands, take a couple of deep breaths and tell yourself it's just your body flapping. Knowing what it is, is half the battle.
Seriously: If you value it, take/fetch it yourself