Going to be playing my first show and....

[civicbud]

I am starting to get a bit nervous. I am not the singer, just the rhythm guitarist. I don't know what has overcome me, but I get all shaky thinking about it. I think just the fact that I could make, and probably will, make a mistake is what gives me this onslaught of anxiety. Anyways, if anybody has any tips or advice, or experiences to share to help calm me, it would be greatly appreciated! See ya!

-Bud

 

[Elpelotero]

The sooner you accept mistakes will happen, the easier it will be to get by. Even professionals make mistakes...You just don't notice it because they play through them. You have to do the same. Make a mistake, and play through it, just like you would at rehearsal. Smile and pretend like it never happened.

 

[droptrd]

The sooner you accept mistakes will happen, the easier it will be to get by. Even professionals make mistakes...You just don't notice it because they play through them. You have to do the same. Make a mistake, and play through it, just like you would at rehearsal. Smile and pretend like it never happened.

+1 What ever you do, dont stop and dont let on that you fucked up with facial expressions and what not. Just accept it and have fun with it. Have a Great Show

 

[Boz]

I have been gigging for 25 years and i remember my first gig like it was yesterday,we arranged the gig at our local hall and spent weeks selling tickets,we had 300+ on the night and when we went on i remember my mouth went completely dry!!

Any way we made a few mistakes but no one seemed to notice!!

It was a great gig and i will never forget the buzz that i had when we came off..

Just try and enjoy yourself and not worry too much if you make a few mistakes,chances are you will be the only one to notice!

 

[wildrat666]

my tip to you is WARM UP properly at least one hour. adn you are gonna make misstakes who cares.........if u feel nervous about the crowd put on some dark sunglasses. it works i promise

 

[bernerdawg]

The sooner you accept mistakes will happen, the easier it will be to get by. Even professionals make mistakes...You just don't notice it because they play through them. You have to do the same. Make a mistake, and play through it, just like you would at rehearsal. Smile and pretend like it never happened.

+2

That, and practice the **** out of your material. If you are well prepared chances are that even if you do make a mistake it'll be of the type that won't even be noticed by the audience. Knowing the songs backwards and forwards will not completely erase the anxiety of getting up in front of people and performing but it will help you to relax beforehand. I guarantee that after the first song, 90% of the tension will disappear.

 

[MrMarkIII]

The sooner you accept mistakes will happen, the easier it will be to get by. Even professionals make mistakes...You just don't notice it because they play through them. You have to do the same. Make a mistake, and play through it, just like you would at rehearsal. Smile and pretend like it never happened.

+2

That, and practice the sh!t out of your material. If you are well prepared chances are that even if you do make a mistake it'll be of the type that won't even be noticed by the audience. Knowing the songs backwards and forwards will not completely erase the anxiety of getting up in front of people and performing but it will help you to relax beforehand. I guarantee that after the first song, 90% of the tension will disappear.

+3

Yup, when you make a clam, do it again, only louder!
Everyone will think that you did it on purpose, and that your playing is "outside", man!

 

[Chris McKinley]

Feel the fear and do it anyway.

Break a leg!

 

[ktulu909]

If I had a nickel for every time i screwed up on stage,I could retire.

If I had a nickel for every time I screwed up on stage and everyone noticed,well Id be broke like I am now.

 

[MF]

The sooner you accept mistakes will happen, the easier it will be to get by. Even professionals make mistakes...You just don't notice it because they play through them. You have to do the same. Make a mistake, and play through it, just like you would at rehearsal. Smile and pretend like it never happened.

+1 What ever you do, dont stop and dont let on that you f%&# up with facial expressions and what not. Just accept it and have fun with it. Have a Great Show

This is crucial.

i had to explain this a few weeks ago to my bandmates at a rehearsal leading up to a small show. They kept stopping every time one of us missed a cue, or messed up a chord. The chances of someone in the crowd (especially someone who isn't intimately familiar with your work) noticing this is miniscule...until you stop or otherwise let on that you've made a mistake. Just keep going and everybody will catch up and you'll be fine.

Unless your amp explodes, don't stop. And even if your amp explodes try to make it look like you did it on purpose :lol:

 

[DirtyNoise]

Yes - sheeet happens..9 of 10 times no in the crowd will pick up on or care about a few mistakes as long as you don't stop playing...just say screw it and have fun!!!

 

[fjk1138]

100% Agreed with all said so far, plus...

1. Expect mistakes to happen -- just let them go, recover as best you can, and move on.
2. Your heroes no doubt screwed up on stage countless times (check You Tube, you might find actual video clips).
3. Concentrate on other people in your group who might not be as solid/rehearsed, as you might see your potential mistakes lessen, or not happen at all. As long as you practiced, etc you did your part.
4. Don't drink or take anything to ovecome the fear of mistakes -- your playing will only suck more (record the performance and play it back later if you don't believe me).
5. Chances are, you'll be playing so loud/the audience will be so drunk that no one will notice the difference.
6. "F" the critics in the audience -- you already practiced your butt off (the fact that you have anxiety proves you care about your performance) and let them do better, if they can.
7. Tomorrow is another day to improve your playing that much more -- learn from your mistakes.