Getting comfortable on stage; what's your secret?

[nbs2005]

Hi all,

I've been trying to get more comfortable onstage doing open mics. It still amazes me how something I can easily play at home or even in front of a few friends jamming gets so freaking difficult on stage. A good tip I got was start with a really simple song for your first to get warmed up and embellish the changes/picking as you work through the song and get comfortable. I also got to take advantage of a green room last night spending some time before going up getting warmed up. What else do you do?

I know open mics are tough as you basically have 2 songs to develop a rapport; a nearly impossible task. But this is the only way I can get in front of folks right now.

Thanks,

Jeff

[Queequeg]

Here's a quote from the Leo Kottke interview I just posted under the ARTIST board here:

Relax. You're going to mess up. You're not going to be happy or get it right every time. Just bring what you have, let go of all that, and don't treat it like it's a big deal. You wouldn't be devoting your life to music if it wasn't a big deal to you, but don't treat it that way. Give it a little dignity.

Good luck. Let us know how it goes for you.

[B0WIE]

Not everyone handles it the same so I'll list several different things to try.

-"Focus on WHAT you're doing, not HOW you're doing." Think about the notes in front of you and give no mind to what you just played or mistakes you just made.

-Repetition helps and attending karaoke night is a good way to get over performance anxiety.

-If you're shy, give yourself a character. Think of yourself as playing the role of an actor or musician you admire. Sounds silly but a friend of mine met his future wife after I gave him this advice.

-Zone out the audience. You can still look out at them, sing to them, etc, which is important. But, think of them as the wall in your practice room. Zone out their faces and sounds. And, when you practice, think of that wall as your audience. This helps you develop natural performance behaviors while lowering anxiety.

-My personal "trick" is to get myself excited. "This is my chance to perform, they're going to love me and I'm going to love that feeling." Of course, this only works I've you've been praised for a performance. If you have, think back to that and think, "I'm so glad for another chance to stand in the spotlight and be appreciated again." Turning performing into a negative thing, as so many do, is of course going to give you performance issues. Getting excited will do the opposite. And, when you seem excited to be there, people get excited to see you.

[eded]

Not everyone handles it the same


-My personal "trick" is to get myself excited. "This is my chance to perform, they're going to love me and I'm going to love that feeling." Of course, this only works I've you've been praised for a performance. If you have, think back to that and think, "I'm so glad for another chance to stand in the spotlight and be appreciated again." Turning performing into a negative thing, as so many do, is of course going to give you performance issues. Getting excited will do the opposite. And, when you seem excited to be there, people get excited to see you.

Along these lines...  remember the audience (possibly with minor exceptions) are all there to hear good stuff.  They are psyched for you to excel...  they want you to be great.  They know it's an open mic and not Carnegie Hall.  They want to have a good time, just like you.  

I'd add...  know your tunes.  Practice them the way you'll play them.  Speaking form experience...  if you practice and stop whenever you make a mistake, you will when you do it in from of people.  When you practice, if you make a mistake, keep going.  Don't miss a step, as Bowie said, "Think about the notes in front of you and give no mind to what you just played or mistakes you just made".  You can't redo that, it's gone, do what's next.  Excellent advice.  For me, having song sheets (whether just lyrics or chords and lyrics) is a must.  I have taken to typing up song sheets in the same font, the same type size, and with chords where they need to come in, and practicing with them..  And, if you do make a mistake, don't beat yourself up.  Learn from it.  See what you need to improve on.

Most of all...  have fun.  If you aren't having fun, it'll show.  Do your best.  

Ed

[Rene Asologuitar]

Hi all,

Hi Jeff,
Thanks for this topic.
Have not tried it, but this would help.
Respectfully,
Rene