Conference napalm::guitar

    I can really sympathize, Steve.  I played in public for my first
    time this past Saturday.  I wasn't sure how I would handle it.

    What I found was that I wasn't nervous until we actually started the
    first song.  That song has a short guitar solo that I usually improvise
    during the intro.  I suddenly got all shakey and all and totally muffed
    that solo.  But before the end of the song, that paniced feeling
    subsided and didn't bother me at all the rest of the night.  Hearing a
    little applause at the end of that song didn't hurt either. :-)  I had
    a blast!

    Some suggestions:

    1) Play material that you know well, it generally reduces anxiety.  And
       play the instrument you're most comfortable.  It's not going to
       impress anyone if you just bought a great new Les Paul that looks
       wonderful, if you're not used to the action.  You'd be a lot better
       off playing the old beat up Mustang (or whatever) that you love. 
       (Just an example, I wasn't putting down your Mustangs).
    2) Have some friends in the audience, or better yet, in the band with
       you.  You'd be amazed to find how helpful it is to look up and see a
       friendly face encouraging you!  I think it's quite intimidating playing
       with musicians I don't know.  Friends in the band make you feel
       comfortable, even if it's not the whole band.
    3) Don't worry about it too much.  I know that's easy to say, but face
       it, the world's not gonna end if you hit a sour note with people
       watching.  That's part of being a human playing an instrument.
       If you want perfection, get a sequencer.  The guys in my band went
       a long way in helping me to think like this.
    4) Play the way you typically play. Ie, if you normally play sober,
       don't have anything to drink first.  If you normally have a beer or two
       before you play, have them (not too many %^) ). 
    5) Keep in mind that it's fun!  If you start taking things too
       seriously, then you will likely feel a lot more nervous.  To me, music
       is fun.  If it wasn't, I wouldn't play.  
    6) If you're still feeling real nervous, play the first time at a time
       when there aren't a lot of people.  Like at the jam night when the
       band first starts (if possible), or really late after a lot of people 
       have left.
    7) GO DO IT!  If you *want* to play out, (and it sounds like you do)
       putting it off is just wasting your time!  
    
    (Oh, no!  The dreaded personal story...) One of my guitar teachers
    tried to talk me into sitting with his band about three years ago, just
    for one song.  I'd get all nervous and I never did it, even though he
    asked me several times.  I went to his shows, I just didn't bring my
    guitar and play.  I felt intimidated, shy, incompetant.  Now I look
    back and say, "What a fool, you should have done it".  He wouldn't have
    asked me to sit in with them if he didn't think I was good enough to do
    it.  He was making his living playing these places (and doing a few
    lessons :-). Do you really think he'd take the risk of not getting
    hired someplace again or getting chewed out by the rest of his band by
    having someone sit in with them that was going to make them sound bad?? 
    Come *ON*, there's no way.  He really thought I'd play and enjoy it.
    
    Sounds like it's just like that for you.  Your music teacher says go
    play.  Your friends say go play.  Hey, they're not going to willingly
    ask you to do something that will embarrass you.  
    
    Go do it.  That way you won't be sitting back this time next year, or
    the year after, saying "I should have done it...".  Face it, if you
    *want* to play for people, you have to start sometime.  If it's bad,
    it'll only be better the next time.  If it's good, you'll feel like a
    king.

    I think that the basic thing to do to reduce your nerves is to set
    things up (and get your mind set) so you will feel as comfortable and
    familiar as you can.  Keep in mind that if you feel nervous about it
    now, it probably won't help the first couple of minutes, but more then
    likely if you make it through those you'll be fine.  

    Sorry about the book-length reply, I hope it helps!
    
    Greg
    

    
    About three years ago I entered a talent contest,in which I sang solo
    on stage in front of about 100 people.I was very nervous.I completly 
    fouled up the beginning of the first song,because I forgot the words!
    well,I quickly decided to stop and sing another song,which I did
    remember.I stumbled through it and managed to finish.Each time after
    that I was less nervous,so,eventually I overcame it.I guess for me it
    was something I had to fight thru by continuing to get up and doing it.
    My desire was strong enough to keep at it.
    
    Mike
    

    playing in front of people is like giving a presentation to
    your management (at least it is to me; maybe I'm wierd). Just
    know your stuff and the nervousness goes away after a few 
    minutes; it focuses the mind intensely!
    
    -Dave

    Here's a suggestion: don't get up there and try to be the star of the
    show, or even think of yourself as one. Get up while there's some other
    guitarist playing lead, and just back him/her up with rhythm. You'll
    get used to being on the stage, and no one will be paying any attention
    at all to what you're doing. After you've gotten comfortable at that
    level, go for more of the limelight.
    
    It might help to take along a more accomplished guitarist friend who
    could "cover" for you until you get your sea-legs at center stage.
    
    - Ram

    	It's OK to be alittle nervous. It keeps you on top of things and
    gives you an edge. Not to mention that it also keeps you from falling
    asleep.  ;^)  
    One bit of advise for ya though... always... _ALWAYS_ keep looking
    forward and NEVER look back. If something didn't work out right
    in that last verse, don't worry about it cause you can't take it back.
    Chances are "you" were the only one who noticed. Don't play too
    loud either. Many a blown line had to do with the musician not being
    able to hear the other bands members properly. Most of all and THE
    most important, ask yourself "why are you doing this"? Aren't you
    doing it for the fun of it? Sure you are! So just relax (take a
    few deep breaths) *focus* on what you are going to do, *believe* in
    yourself and everything will work out fine. A beer *might* help,
    BUT too much will screw you up more. Remember, if something goes
    off along the way in a tune, FORGET IT and concentrate on the rest 
    of the tune. Really... it's no big thing! Nobody gonna shoot you
    either.  
    	Once you've found a home with the band and everything feels
    good to you, relax and enjoy it! 
  
    Fred (who's still gets alittle shakey sometimes, but uses it to 
          his advantage.)

    Yeah, yeah, don't look back !
    
    One thing that I *like* about being on stage... If ya screw up,
    it's too late to fix it !  Just blow it off and get ready for the
    next riff.
    
    Now, being in the studio will drive me beserk...Play...Whooops...
    rewind...play...whooopss...play...Ahhh, I finally got it right....
    bass player/drummer/other-people... "WHOOPS"...
    
 _    /|   
 \'o.O'    AcK!!
 =(___)=   
    U      
    
    I'm forever getting frustrated if I know I'm being taped...
    When I get nervous, my forarms cramp...I can't hold the pick, 
    I move my fingers...  It always goes away after the first two
    or three measures.
    
    Maybe a trick would be to start the first set with a song that has
    only one chord in it for three or four measures ?
    
    ;^)

>          <<< Note 1347.6 by ASAHI::COOPER "It's just me and my Z" >>>
>    Maybe a trick would be to start the first set with a song that has
>    only one chord in it for three or four measures ?

	When I joined this 4 piece (which eventually became my Duo, after
	pruning the Bass Player & Drummer), We compared notes to see what 
	songs that they played that I also knew. Turned out there was about 
	a 60% match. We didn't rehearse the ones that we both knew. Guess
	what, I started songs in the wrong key for the first 3 gigs (that
	sure made me popular) & occasionally reverted to a song a night in
	the wrong key for the next few months. Well, at least I stood out.

								Jens

    	I think .1 had many great points, as did the other replies...
    
	This is really a timely note, as I have been away from live performing
    for about seven years, and back then we only played a few *REAL*
    gigs...
    	I've recently gotten together with some folks and
    my new band, "Presence", is looking forward to our first real gig
    in a few weeks. We have practiced and prepared our songs so that there
    shouldn't be any surprises that can throw us, and I'd suggest being
    prepared musically and prepared in dealing with "The Fright".

        One of my band mates has NEVER been on stage before. He has
    expressed his fear of getting stage fright and is just a little worried
    that he might not deal with it as well as we hope he will, but we've
    been helping him to visuallize those stages that each of us seems to
    have gone through when first getting on stage.
    	Start with fright, but don't panic! Follow it with confidence,
    then adrenaline, then bliss...it's funny but it's helping him to
    prepare mentally for the feelings so that they wont take him by
    surprise.
    	I'm pretty sure *ALMOST* everyone goes through this and I think
    that this is O.K., I've heard of seasoned veterans getting stage
    fright, some times even becoming physically ill at times, though I've
    never had it quite that bad! (But then, I've never been in front of
    80,000 people either!)
	I have had the shakes so bad at times that I thought I would
    drop dead from the fear and I can usually hear my heart *POUNDING* so
    loud that I feel like everyone can hear it. I know how easy it could
    be to just run from the stage screaming and never go back. But I
    think about how much sillier I'd look doing that than I would by
    making a few mistakes (And Lord knows I've made some doozies!) and
    just going on with the show. 

	I think the thing that's done it for me in the past is to start
    with a song that you know so well you can almost do it in your sleep,
    one that the audience knows well also. The trick is getting your
    confidence high enough to deal with the fright and put it to work
    for you in a positive manner.
    	I used to just look at my drummer when we got on stage (He NEVER
    had stage fright!) and he would calmly but confidantly say "O.K guys"
    and start the count. That usually set me on auto pilot and after the
    first notes come out O.K. usually I can look at the audience and see
    them enjoying the song and that fright turns into confidence which
    quickly turns into adrenaline which helps me really start to ENJOY
    playing *FOR* the folks in the audience. Kind of like that "runner's
    high" or something. Before you know it, you are in control
    of the audience and your own emotions. Then you start thinking
    "Oh, boy, we're having some fun now! People get paid to do this?"
    Now you know why you wanted to play, and what it is that drives
    others to play.
        
	Tom T.

I went on stage for the first time in my life two weeks ago. I'll put forth
a few observations:

a.) One thing that made it easy was the fact that I knew most of the people
    there. It was a backyard BBQ for a college graduate party, and there were
    only about 30 people there or so, and I knew half of them. It was a 
    comfortable atmostphere for a first time.

b.) Although it relly hurt an 'stage presensce', I noticed I spent a lot of
    time playing to the rest of the band, rather than to the people. This
    made it seem sorta like a practice, just one that was being held outside.
    Afterwards, people commented that I was the only one that looked like 
    he was having 'fun' up on stage!

c.) Don't think about it too much beforehand - you can psych yourself out so 
    much, so that you're a mess before you even get near the stage. Just 
    relax, and try not to make a big deal out of it. (Easier said than done,
    eh?)

The real test for me will be a party we're playing down the Cape next month.
There will be a few hundred people there, none of whom I'll know. I hope
that one goes half as well as the last one!

Alan S.

    Another thing that helps me...
    
    Play an intro tape.. You know with the lights down... Something
    that builds (as most intros do), and something that will relax you
    AND get you pumped up.
    
    I like to use stuff from "The Omen"...
    ;^)

    
    OK OK I got one for ya...
    	I fell into this band with Les Paul's grandson while I was
    living on Long Island in NY. Now this guy was good. Very good as a
    matter of fact. Actually the guy was an unbelievable guitarist.
    OK, the "1st" gig with the guy, he had this habit of talking
    to the other band members "while" we were playing. Hey, if the
    lead singer doesn't mind who cares ya know? Anyway, somewhere in
    the 1st set I have this guitar solo, so I'm alittle concerned on
    what I'm going to play let alone what I'll actually play. This band
    DIDN'T reherse you see. No originals, all radio stuff. So, I'm getting
    ready and Chuck (the other guitarist) says to me, "Ya ready?" "All
    psyched up?", during the song I told him I was as ready as I was
    going to be. SOLO TIME! I go to hit the first note of my solo and
    I can't hear myself! What happened? No sound? No power? NO SOLO! 
    
    $%$^&*(()*&^%$#@%^&*()&^%$#@%^&*(()_**&&^%$#%&*()...  etc
                                                               
    	Chuck took *my* solo instead! He had turned my amp off! 
    WHAT THE...? Why did he turn my amp off? He said I was too nervous 
    and I needed something to break the ice. Could you imagine how I 
    felt at that time?
                                                       
        To make a long story shorter (hard to believe huh?), I got even
    with him for that. Towards the end of the night, I detuned his guitar
    "during" his solo and hit every effect box I could.   :^)
        From that point on, when we got together (every weekend for
    4 years?) we had alot of fun playing and getting paid for it! 
    The audience loved it!
  
    	I could tell you about the time that Chuck, myself and the bass 
    player took away the drum set of our drummer DURING his solo, but I'll
    leave that one for another time. (Watch out Willy!) 
    
    	Playing can ba alot of fun, don't deprive yourself of having fun! 
       
        Do it and have a blast too!
        
    Fred (who says, "if you can't have fun doing it...  why bother!")
    
    :^)
 

    Well, all these things have probably been said (I haven't had time
    to read the replies) but:
    
    1) Woodshed - one things that works very well is if you can play
       things in your sleep.   At every gig, I like to play at least
       one tune that presents a challenge (either chops wise, band wise,
       or MIDI-techno-wise).
    
       I used to have a minor problem with stage fright, but one thing
       I found was that if I *REALLY* knew the parts well, I could play
       them even tense.
    
    2) I think someone said, you are your own worst critic.
    
       I don't think I could ever possibly convince you that all the
       little AND even many of the BIG mistakes you hear aren't perceived
       as mistakes by the audience.
    
       I remember playing this really technically difficult piece at
       a DECjam a few years ago.  I thought it wasn't too bad, but
       definitely fraught with lots of little timing problems and more
       than a few misses and bum notes.
    
       Another player whom I really respect and who was familiar with 
       the tune came up afterwards and said "you nailed that".  And
       that's when I learned how hard we are on ourselves.  I figured
       that if this guy couldn't hear all those mistakes, surely no one
       else did either.
    
    3) So what's the big deal if you make a mistake?
    
       Part of the problem, I think, is that we get nervous because we
       think that's the worst thing in the world that could happen.
       And when it does happen, we get so bummed that it causes us
       to fuck up again (and again).
    
       It's been my experience that aside from the grief we bring on
       ourselves, making a few mistakes really is no big deal, even
       when other folks notice.
    
    4) Play to a friendly crowd.
    
       If possible, the best gigs when you're starting out are non-paying
       customers.  Like a DECjam, or at a party, or just some place where
       the expectations aren't based on how much you're getting paid.
    
    5) Tell the audience that this is your first gig.
    
       Many people identify with these problems.  Tell them that you're
       a bit nervous, and you'll find that suddenly they're rooting
       for you.   It's always nice to have the audience "with" you.
    
    6) Just keep doing it
    
       The first gig I ever played, I was very stiff.  The 2nd gig, I was
       nervous before and thru the first couple of songs.  By the 3rd
       gig, I really didn't feel any nervousness to the degree that it
       affected my playing.
    
       By the fourth gig, it was all behind me.
    
       My fifth gig was a mis-booking that caused my Top-40 power-rock
       band to get booked doing a 40th anniversary party that didn't
       have anyone young enough to know who wrote the songs we were doing.
    
       If it was my first gig, I probably would've had a heart attack
       (like the guitar player almost did).   But, actually it was
       kinda fun.  Whereas everyone else in the band really freaked,
       the drummer (who is REALLY an old hand at gigging (he used to
       be a salaried drummer for Motown)) and I just sorta took control;
       I read polkas, minuets, Big band charts, etc from a fake book
       and everyone else just sorta faked their way.
    
       And by the way, to underscore what I said about no one in the
       audience noticing, the guy who paid us thought we were "great",
       gave us a big tip, and said "I'm glad to see that some younger
       folks still have an appreciation for this stuff".  He thought
       that was the style of music we normally did.
    
       Sheeesh!!!!  What could be more convincing about no one noticing
       than that????
    
    		db

    
    re: .0
    
    Y'know, I've been gigging for about ten years now and a few weeks
    ago I did a blues jam where I was on stage with a drummer I had
    never met and as a precaution, the house bassist had disconnected
    one of the speaker cabinets just in case I was a dork (he had never
    heard me play, I can dig it), thereby making it hard to hear myself. 
    
    I was plenty nervous even though the songs we did went OK, mostly
    because of the unfamiliarity of the situation.  If it had been my
    *own* band on that same stage I would have been cool as a cucumber,
    you figure it...

    
    I am one of those who has been known to be physically sick before a
    gig.  It used to be merely intestinal, which wasn't too bad to deal
    with.  Sometimes when I took off my guitar (I played rhythm) and
    went out front to sing I would find my throat tightening up during
    a guitar solo or something.  I always made it through okay though.
    One time a few years ago I got so nervous before a jam with a local
    band called The Boyz, that I had to go outside and wretch.  I came
    back in and played some of the best, most flawless solos I've ever
    done.  I guess I found that optimum stress level for performance. :-)
    
    Guy

	One thing that helps if your playing to an audience that you don't know
is to look straight ahead at the far wall such that everyone in the audience
(except maybe the people in the back row) will think that your looking at the 
person behind them.  Eye contact is very good once you get your "sea legs" so
to speak, but it can be very nerve-racking in the beginning, especially if
you are playing to a "hostile" crowd - or worse, to a crowd of musicians!

	I, myseslf being the "lead guitarist" (whatever *that* is) and the 
rythm guitarist/singer are the so-called "front men" and most of the audience
attention is directed at us.  Needless to say, this can be terrifying *if* you
let it get to you.  The drummer and the bass player are very calm on stage,
and it seems to help if you have someone to turn to that isn't going to 
look at you as nervously as you look at them.  Am I making any sense?  Also,
the drummer and bass player *never* make mistakes, at least in my opinion,
so I can always rely on them in case I am unsure of something that I am doing.
Sort of the "calm in the middle of the storm".  On occasion, they have decided
to follow me and the results have been *disasterous*.  

	Hope this helps a bit.

							Brad

	This brings to mind the time that my zipper broke & I had red
	underwear on. Sort of messes up your concentration a bit, but
	it took my mind off of making a mistake. I ended up re-adjusting
	my guitar strap to hang a bit lower (a nice feature that I never
	really appreciated until that night) & cover up.

							Jens

    Remember, if something does go wrong...
    			look at the "bass player"!  ;^)
                                                  
    It's a known fact that the bass player's job is to be the timepiece
    for the band and also the person to *blame* for EVERYTHING and ANYTHING!
    
    Fred (a_bassist_who_got_the_heat_for_everything!)
                                               

    
    Good side tangent....

    I was in a band once where if anybody else (including the *drummer*)
    couldn't make it, it was assumed we could still have a practice,
    but if the *bassist* (me) wasn't there noone could *possibly* get
    *anything* accomplished.  Never could figure that one out.
    
    The idea of depending on the bassist is flattering but assumes
    that the bassist *never* screws up, never gets lost, etc. unlike
    the mere mortals in the rest of the band.  Ha!!!  

    I find one of the most important jobs a bass player has is keeping
    things together.  If someone in the band gets out of sync, its up to
    the bass player to reel him in.  If the bass player ever gets out of
    sync, forget it.

    Of course, the best thing about playing bass is that you can joke
    with the drummer about the guitarists behind their back :-)

    /rick

    
    
    
    	My LISTENING experience is that the last 3 replies are right!  And,
    BTW thanks all for the great replies.. wicked helpful.  The jam that I
    go to each Sunday features one heck of a lot of changing faces and I've
    noticed that when a really good bassist (as opposed to one that's good
    but learning) will make the same players sound tighter, more together
    and better in general.  There is one fellow who comes that can lay down
    some of the steadiest smoothest bass I've ever heard, and I usually
    enjoy any damn thing that's played when he's there....
    
    Steve

    Gee,
    
    I would have never thought that it was one of those global truths
    but in Synergy we always looked to Daryl Gleason (our bass player) when
    things got out of sync or whatever.
    
    I've been in bands where the bass player wasn't the guy to look at,
    but that's usually been because the bass player just wasn't generally
    a good player.   When I've played with experienced bass players,
    I find myself looking toward them.
    
    I guess it's because you can look to the bass player for both
    "time" and "context" (where you are in the arrangement).
    
    	db

    re: .20
    
    >There is one fellow who comes that can lay down some of the steadiest
    >smoothest bass I've ever heard, and I usually enjoy any damn thing
    >that's played when he's there....
    
    Gee Steve, there's the answer to your stage fright...
    
    ...if everything sounds good when that guy plays, only play when he's
    there!  8^)
    
    Greg
    

    
    
    	Yes... Greg, you're a genius...  I'd sound awesome behind this guy
    just playing a bunch of sevens and nines ;^)    That must be why, the
    line to play gets longer when he straps on his bass...

    
    makes ya wonder sometimes why it's so scary - especially when
    (at least for me) it's like them lyrics say
    
    	"when he gets to the end, he wants to start all over again".
    
    However, part of why i don't perform anymore is the fright. However,
    after many years, i can only say...
    
    	1. Do your best - you think it's frightening just being up there,
    		how about being up there and stinky!
    
    	2. Don't look back - this has been mentioned already, but face
    	it, once you goof on stage, it's non-correctable. Further more,
    	if you march on, you'll take your audience with you. Don't even
    	grimace - that makes the audience think about your mistake.
    
    
    		bs

    There's no easy cure for stagefright.  The only cure I know of is
    EXPERIENCE.  Just keep doing it when you have the opportunity. 
    I worked in bands for about 12 years, and since "retirement", my
    only current activity is a weekly blues jam.  What a great opportunity!
    My favorite music and the chance to play on stage again!! I think
    that blues jams are THE BEST situation for someone to break into
    live performances.  The music itself is uncomplicated and "pure".
    The situations is typically (in my experience) casual and informal,
    and the other musicians in the audience KNOW how you feel. Go for
    it!!

    So Steve,
    
    What happened?  Did you go play?
    
    Greg

    
    
    
    	Not yet, Greg....  But I've given myself a goal of doing it (at
    least) by this fall...  I've talked with some of the really good
    musicians in our area and they have said that they'd support me
    whenever I ready (like create a groove that it's impossible for me to
    screw up..)  I want to tell you how good it makes me feel that you'd
    ask.. thanks!!
    
    Steve
    
    playing D13/A

    
    
    	Well 3 months to go before my first gig (actually it may only be 2
    months...depends on whether we get the gig) and I am crapping myself...
    I found out about the gig last night and last night I dreamt about
    it, my amp blew up, I played the wrong chords to the wrong songs, my
    timing was off, I went out of tune (strange that coz my guitar never
    goes out of tune!!)......what a nightmare......I'm beginning to wonder
    if I really want to play live.............especially as it is my local
    pub where I know virtually everybody......
    
    J (who thinks it may be safer to play at home for the next 15yrs!!)
    

    Yes - you will play some sour notes.  So ?  You MUST keep in mind that 
    `Joe Blow Public' will probably never catch it.  It'll be the musicians
    in the crowd that *might* catch it.  Big deal.  If the BAND is good,
    you won't have any complaints.  My first gig with a known working band
    was a nightmare to me, but that's all.  My first lead was supposed to
    be in E, but I scalded a lead in A, ended it with a whammy dive bomb,
    everyone thought it was great ...  8^)
    
    Don't worry - go have some fun !
    
    Scary (armchair musician ...)
    

    I had my first gig last Wednesday night.  I was a little nervous, but
    was having so much fun that it didn't last long.
    
    Mike

    Yo J
    
    	Don't fret (har!)
    
    	Butterflies in the stomach are an omen of a good performance
    in the making. Its really true belive me. If you aren't nervous
    before you go on,.. then I'd be worried...
    
    	Of course the butterflies I speak of usualyy occur two hours before
    stage time,.. not two months!?!
    
    	Relax! I predict you will play better than you ever played before.
    
    							/Bill
    

    
    
    	Wow, has it been this long!!!  I can remember when I entered this
    topic and I've gotta say.. everything that folks said was pretty much
    right on advice... read the whole topic and go out and have some fun!
    
    [;^) I'm not nervous anymore, but I probably should be!
    
    Gree Vee