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Posted by: sigma7 Mar 19 2009, 12:36 AM

urg GMC! I am so sick of being shy. Like it gets in the way of my daily life. And now when I think my guitar is an escape of my panic attacks, i get an even bigger one when i play in front of people. Like i can memorize a song completely 100% and i still will fudge up and freak out. I donjt know what Im going to do with myself. Im starting to depressed again cause of tendonitis and am freaking out. Can someone hopefully help me with stage fright or else my guitar will be another pain provoker? Like, maybe articles, techniques, exercises, mental challenges? Nething

Thanks
Alex

o yah, i need something for the tendonitis as well because im freaking out, any times to help with my studies besides studying? haha

Posted by: Andrew6 Mar 19 2009, 12:41 AM

hmm as far as tendonitis I would say rest and re-evaluate your technique to make sure its not contributing to the tendonitis. Stage fright is something I am dealing with as well but the only way to deal with it is to do it. PLay for one or two people close to you every once and awhile and eventually work your way out of it. I 've found posting videos here on GMC also helps me as I am getting better at playing in front ofpeople every day. annnd thats all I got . Good Luck!

Posted by: MickeM Mar 19 2009, 01:00 AM

Something that helps is to know the gig, inside out. Being able to play all songs and add some on rehearsal gives you the opportunity to hold back a little when you play live. Saving that margine allows for some nervosity.

Always begine a gig with an easy song, just to get warm and comfortable. By that time you could already have forgotten about the audience.

Stay focused! If you start thinking - I wonder what comes next, a bridge or the chorus, what chord should I play next etc etc - that's a guarantee for messing up when your thought starts wondering off.

Plan your gig, bring the set list and chords... just in case. You said you can know a song 100% and still mess it up. I suspect that can be cause of you being more concentrated on not messing up than to go with the flow.
Think like an athlete, they wouldn't enter the course not knowing they couldn't pull it off .


Summing it up. Be focused, know your role, have everything planned, know that you can do it.

Posted by: Ivan Milenkovic Mar 19 2009, 01:18 AM

We all have stage freight don't worry, it will wear off in time, and you will learn to play with it. It's a normal thing and accept is as like that. There's no reason to be in fear, life is good! Live every day, cause they pass pretty quickly, and they don't come back!

Posted by: Pedja Simovic Mar 19 2009, 01:20 AM

I suggest getting your friends and family somewhere and create performance like situation. The more you do it, sooner stage fright will go away

Posted by: fkalich Mar 19 2009, 01:53 AM

1) I can be tough at your age. Just is, a lot of pressure on kids, coming from their peers, parents, etc.
2) Just let the panic attacks happen. I had them when I was young. You have to learn to just accept it when your heart goes "bumba bumba bumba bumba at 150 beats a minute for no good reason". It will pass if you just accept. I mean, if it explodes. someone else has to cart your rotting carcass away. It you faint, fine, just don't hit your head on the cement, somebody will take to to the hospital, no biggie. What I am saying, is that if you just let them come and go, they just pass, and it is not a panic attack anymore. I got over it, you can.
3) Nothing wrong with being shy. I am shy also. I was just playing Hot's Mozart piece, and looked up when I finished, and there was this guy on the sidewalk outside who stopped, holding his two little girls hands, to listen. I felt shy, and was not going to play more till they left. Nothing wrong with that. I felt flattered. Then I turned it down so nobody could hear me, and my dog picked up his squeaky rabbit toy, and he played that to accompany me. I am not making that up. My dog is amazing. Anyway, it is just your personality to be shy. Just keep working on your guitar. You will get over the stage fright, if you just keep working on your guitar, and getting better, don't worry about it. If you pee your pants in front of an audience, just move to a new town where nobody knows you, and give it another go.
4) I got some tenonitis, but got over it. I think the cold weather was a factor, but mostly I was playing with tension in my hands, so I worked to stop doing that.

I deserve a 5 star rating for these kinds and sensitive remarks. Sick of being the only guy here with 3 stars, everyone now, give me a 5 star rating, I deserve it for this.

Posted by: Pavlov Mar 19 2009, 08:57 AM

Are you having actual full-blown panic attacks, as described here? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panic_attack

If yes, I noticed you said something interesting; "or else my guitar will be another pain provoker?" - does that mean you avoid certain objects or everyday settings you associate with those panic attacks?

If no to neither, I can't help, I've never had the experience of playing in front of anybody but my girlfriend.

Posted by: Tank Mar 19 2009, 10:57 AM

In my experience, stagefright is the fear of things going wrong in front of an audience. The best cure for it is to play lots in front of people. Try to do at least 50 really bad gigs, where things go wrong for you. No, honestly!

Here's why. Bad gigs usually fall into three catagories:

1. Technical Failure - You'll be play away, all is well. Suddenly your amp cuts out, you have no idea why. Or you break a string, or your micstand falls over, or the entire PA system dies in the middle of one of your solos, or a cloud of smoke comes out of your amp. (All of these I've experienced by the way!) You can't do anything to stop this happening. After a dozen or so of these, you soon realise that it really doesn't matter. If it's the micstand or a string, make a joke of it with the audience. They'll love you for it. If the technical failure means you cannot complete the gig, get another gig tomorrow night.

2. "Someone else's hands" - It was great in rehearsal, but now I'm on stage it feels like I've got someone else's hands. I'm hitting bum notes all over the place, and I'm sure that person at the front walked out in disgust because of it... You cannot do anything about this. It happens too. Just rely on your practice (if you've practiced enough, you'll get through the gig). Enjoy it, the more that the audience see's you enjoying yourself, in spite of the mistakes; they'll enjoy the show.

3. "Someone else's audience" - You're playing great. You're relaxed, enjoying it, the band are really tight, you're listening for cues from your drummer and bassist, all is brilliant. So why are the audience staring at you like goldfish? Have you left your flies undone? Nope. Can't do anything about this either I'm afraid. You'll play a brilliant gig, but the audience will not respond. Just enjoy it while you're there (even if they don't) and tomorrow night there will be a new audience

So for most of the things you could be afraid of, there's really little you can do about it. Instead be confident about it, and eventually "dealing with it" becomes a really enjoyable feeling. If you make a mess, it really isn't the end of the world. If you hit a bum note, there's probably only you, and perhaps one other guitarist somewhere in the audience that will hear it. If a string breaks tell everyone after the song is finished, and change to your spare guitar, or apologise you'll have to change it on stage, get the guys to cover for you. The audience will love the drama.

I've fallen off stages, had other things fall, broken more strings than I can remember, completely forgotten the intro to songs just as I was about to start playing (and had to ask an audience "Em... how does this one go again??"). I've tripped over cymbal stands, had guitar straps fail while I was playing... Eventually it doesn't matter.

Upon reflection I'm kind of lucky that all that stuff didn't happen on the same night...

/T

Posted by: Pavlov Mar 19 2009, 11:29 AM

I loved reading that post, Tank.

Posted by: tonymiro Mar 19 2009, 11:30 AM

Well I just gave you five but it may take a few more members before it has an effect.

Also - nice to see you back Tank .

Back OT - Apart from playing I also lead seminars, lecture to classes of @300 students, do conference presentations and teach presentation skills. From these a few observations:

i) the majority of us are nervous and, of it self, that is no bad thing. Over confidence can often be worse as that often leads to poor preparation.

ii) As a few people have already said prepare, prepare, prepare. Know the pieces as best you can, practice them with the band at rehearsals in front of a small audience of close friends. Check your equipment before hand, amp is ok, spare fuses, new strings on guitar and properly stretched, new batteries in effects etc...

iii) Over prepare - have more then enough songs ready so that you can switch to different ones for encores or requests or if the set list isn't good for the audience.

iii) Don't concentrate too much on the audience and what they are doing - stay focused on what you are doing.

iv) Everyone is human - if some mistake happens don't worry, carry on. In a lot of cases most of the audience won't notice small mistakes anyway.

v) Go to the venue a few times just to get used to the place. New environments are often both strange and threatening. If you can maybe even do a few rehearsals there.

vi) Talk to the owner and their staff and get to know them if you can.

vi) If the audience doesn't like you don't over-analyse their reaction afterwords. Learn from it yes but move on.

Posted by: Marcus Siepen Mar 19 2009, 12:01 PM

What can I say that hasn't been mentioned already? Stagefright is normal, many people have it, beginners, Pro's, Rockstars, so you are not alone with this. Preparation can help, also getting used to play in front of an audience, you could play some songs at home, in front of a couple of friends or relatives, this can help you getting used to this feeling before going on stage.

Posted by: Artemus Mar 19 2009, 12:08 PM

Already some wise words have been said here and the bottom line is you're not alone so don't worry - you're in good company. Perhaps a very important activity to do when under pressure or when nervous is to breathe. Breathe deeply. I know a little Chi Gung and it does help.
Another thing that is perhaps a bit unorthodox is the whole "imagine them with their pants down". Of course respect the audience - they're there for you and that should be appreciated but on stage, if you're battling with nerves then it helps me to focus on what's important by thinking of the audience as a bunch of blithering village idiots, or cartoon rabbits stunned in the spotlights, or an admiring mass of fans that wouldn't notice if I played nursery rhymes for all my solos - anything that diminishes the pressure and banishes any thoughts of what the audience thinks. Not everyone in the audience will be a guitar virtuoso and mistakes can go unnoticed.
Preparation is key though and don't do what I used to which was to drink yourself to a stuper - that never works out well.

Posted by: Tank Mar 19 2009, 04:39 PM

Cheers Toni. I've been lurking, I just thought I'd throw my oar in here

Posted by: sigma7 Mar 19 2009, 08:39 PM

wow, guys thanks SO much! all your responses have made me feel so much better and have so much more confidence. It does make sense that people wont know if you make a mistake or not and it makes just to be prepared and relaxed. Ive taken all of this in consideration and now look forward to practicing in front of people. Im might need someone to stand by just in case I pass out Maybe Ill even learn Tai Chi or some sort of meditation or something.

Thanks again GMC
You Rock

Posted by: fkalich Mar 19 2009, 08:54 PM

I go further, I imagine them totally naked. When you do that, at least what occurs to me, is how so much of what we think of as human behavior, is really little different than that of just typical mammalian behavior.

Another thing, maybe think of, at least over time, that the idea is to give yourself pleasure in your playing, and also maybe to give others, to do it for them, not be thinking that they are doing something for you, by giving you an "attaboy".
We can all be that way, look for them to give us something. And maybe the solution is to think of giving yourself, rather than them giving to you.

What a touchy feely response! I almost make myself tearful. I deserve another 5 star from you Tony for that. Vote now, vote often.

Posted by: tonymiro Mar 19 2009, 10:07 PM

Posted by: Bogdan Radovic Mar 20 2009, 12:18 AM

Everything is mentioned already! Playing an instrument is meant to be heard by others.We all have stage fright from time to time (I played over 100 gigs and I still encounter it sometimes).I just try to take the best out of it..It makes me more focused, concentrated and precise somehow even though I feel nervous I see it as a good thing..Time somehow slows down and I can concentrate on what I'm doing...

here are some tips about playing live :

1. Prepare the songs well at home.If you can play them without much problem at home you will be okay.Its the most important step because this will allow you to feel confident on stage.
2. When it comes to the gig day your time is over and preparations are over...Its ok to do a last "grand" rehearsal before the gig but keep it short.You had plenty of practice before that and the gig day is all about fun.So leave your guitar on the wall and enjoy the day.
3. Start the show with easy songs , it is very important...Whole band will relax and loose any stage fright they had.Be confident that audience is not made of skilled musicians rather people who are there to have fun.They DO NOT care if you make some mistakes and don't do a precise bend, vibrato hammer-on...They listen to songs a different way and all they want to hear is groove and have fun.So your job is to have fun with them as you are entertaining them.
4. Every gig will bring you a new experience and you will develop all your "stage" skills through them.I can guarantee you that it will always be better and better for you.

Posted by: Atomicpumba Mar 20 2009, 05:41 PM

Isn't advice, but Public Speaking is the number one fear followed by death. Funny but true. Everyone has that fear of being on stage or the spot light.

I just know that in time it will get better, but you have to keep on keeping on. "Life's a garden dig it"

Pavlov you a psychology student?

Posted by: Joe Kataldo Mar 31 2009, 12:59 AM

Great suggestion marcus!

To me the worst place to play and at the same time a good test to understand how good I know something is play in small guitar stores, surrounded by guitar player, all ready to mark you at your first mistake!

control fright there and no stage will ever fear you