BS: Stagefright...er terror..ever overcome?

Subject: RE: BS: Stagefright...er terror..ever overcome?
From: JulieF
Date: 13 Mar 02 - 05:03 AM

Look If I can improve - so can you. I don't shake so much now. I can remember some words and I even remember to breathe.

All the best

Julie

Subject: RE: BS: Stagefright...er terror..ever overcome?
From: Cappuccino
Date: 13 Mar 02 - 04:51 AM

I know I've said this before, but it's still true - remember that YOU are in command the moment you appear before them. They don't know what you're going to do - you do. You have the psychological advantage! Enjoy the power!

As for drink... some years back, after playing a not so good first set with a rock band, I had a few shots at the bar during the interval. To this day I don't remember playing the second set. Now I just have one small slug before playing, just as a heart-starter. (Except when playing in church, of course... it isn't available!)

Hope your presentation goes well, Diva.

- ian B

Subject: RE: BS: Stagefright...er terror..ever overcome?
From: Trevor
Date: 13 Mar 02 - 04:51 AM

I agree with Diva - if you aren't a little bit nervous you may not be concentrating as much. You can bet your boots that the day you don't feel the nerves will be the day that you're not bothered how the performance is going to come out.

I'm pretty sure that alcohol is a mistake - it would be for me at any rate. Attention wandering, voice going off key big time and all the rest.

I do a lot of work with people who are worried about making presentations and some of the things that help them may be of value here:

Be at the venue early so you can get used to the feel, the sound and the general atmosphere of it.

Deep breathing for two or three minutes before you go out is really effective for calming the body and the mind.

Try and work out a ritual that you always follow as you prepare for your spot.

Remember that the audience generally wishes you well - they're not out to get you! And that usually, hesperis, its true - they can't see how nervous you are.

Put it in to perspective. It's fifteen minutes out of your life - if it goes wrong, well that's experience for next time isn't it.

When you have the 'bad vibes monkey' on your back - you know, the one who claws at your throat so that your vocal chords make a sound like you've just breathed helium, makes your arms five feet long, cements yout to one spot on the stage - throw him into the audience. Talk to them, get comfy.

Having said all this, I've got to say that the moment I face the audience is always pretty stressful, but the buzz at the end when I've got through it is well worth the pain.

If all else fails, wear brown trousers and bike clips!

Cheers

Subject: RE: BS: Stagefright...er terror..ever overcome?
From: Diva
Date: 13 Mar 02 - 04:01 AM

I have been assured by one who knows that we need to have a bit of this stagefright because it actually helps the performance...adrenalin I suppose. I am awful..in knots before I start but as soon as I do......its ok. I am trying to apply this theory to the presentation I have to do this afternoon but this is the worse I've ever had.

Diva

Subject: RE: BS: Stagefright...er terror..ever overcome?
From: nutty
Date: 13 Mar 02 - 03:48 AM

I gained real confidence after watching Martin Carthy preparing to go on stage at Redditch festival some years ago .......... he was a nervous wreck ....... yet once he got on stage, he was marvellous.
That taught me that performing is all an act - you may never get over the fear but you can learn to cover it up.

Subject: RE: BS: Stagefright...er terror..ever overcome?
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 13 Mar 02 - 03:45 AM

DON'T DRINK BEFORE A GIG! It will screw up your voice and your finger co-ordination and maybe prevent you from noticing; and you'll suffer just as much terror if you have to go on without a drink. Cold turkey is the only sure-fire way to handle it. Your need to perform outweighs your stage fright, and the stage fright will fade you become accustomed to performing. Everyone gets it, especially at a strange venue, but we (i.e. you and us) can handle it--just believe!

Steve

P.S. And you can always have that drink later.

Subject: RE: BS: Stagefright...er terror..ever overcome?
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 13 Mar 02 - 02:33 AM

"ever overcome?"

I'm lucky enough I never had to...

I've never felt better than when I'm on stage...

;-)

Subject: RE: BS: Stagefright...er terror..ever overcome?
From: michaelr
Date: 13 Mar 02 - 02:28 AM

Jane - as a guitarist, I must strongly suggest that you put an end to the lack of accompaniment at once! There are lots of pickers looking to play; find one, and it may be hoped that the presence of a guitar (or other instrument) backup will help your confidence.

Good luck,
Michael

Subject: RE: BS: Stagefright...er terror..ever overcome?
From: PastyJane
Date: 13 Mar 02 - 01:41 AM

I haven't sung in public in maybe 30 years. I'm just beginning to get back to folk music and I would love to sing at an open mike session. I can't play guitar (or anything else) for s**t but I have a nice voice. I'd appreciate any suggestions on how to get rid of my nerves and how to deal with the lack of accompaniment.

Subject: RE: BS: Stagefright...er terror..ever overcome?
From: Lonesome EJ
Date: 13 Mar 02 - 01:23 AM

Cover up the little mistakes. Grin at the big ones. Makes everything easier.

Subject: RE: BS: Stagefright...er terror..ever overcome?
From: Justa Picker
Date: 13 Mar 02 - 01:11 AM

Yes.
But you have to know everything you're going to sing/play so well you could do it in your sleep, or in a coma, or in any frame of mind. Eventually (and it only takes a few gigs) you'll get comfortable with the idea, allow the constraints of nerves to diminish, start to relax and, actually have fun with the audience. Learn to play to the front row...or focus in on those who are digging what you are doing and feed off of them.

Subject: RE: BS: Stagefright...er terror..ever overcome?
From: SeanM
Date: 13 Mar 02 - 01:05 AM

Some people apparently never really get 'over' it, but just learn to work with it - that might be something to keep in mind.

My case was working a group doing fairly amateurish theatre in front of a large crowd. I'd gotten involved, and after a few seasons of being put on stage, finally just stopped worrying about it.

Amusingly enough, RECORDING scares the willies out of me. Locked up, lost range, lost lyrics - thank the powers that be for incredibly good engineers.

And beer. Thank them powers for beer too.

M

Subject: RE: BS: Stagefright...er terror..ever overcome?
From: Ebbie
Date: 13 Mar 02 - 12:54 AM

hesperis, that is a wonderful description of the forces at work. I've saved it and will print it out for a musician friend to read; I think it will help us both.

See, this mandolin player friend is as bad as I about solo (or even duet) playing. We meet once a week and work out tunes and songs and arrangements on the mandolin and guitar; we enjoy it a lot and sometimes we are very pleased with how we sound.

But then comes my Friday night song circle and he and I will do one of the songs/tunes that we are pleased with - and fall all over it. It is absurd, we are so much alike. We haven't found an answer yet. Keep in mind that we're among friends... Grrrrrrr.

In a group, onstage or off, I'm fine. I enjoy it and I like the adrenalin rush. By myself, the adrenalin overwhelms me.

The strange thing is that I can speak to a large group without a problem. I'm energized and up and excited beforehand, but I do fine. It's just creative things I can't handle.

Got any more techniques to share, anybody?

Thanks for the thread, BobS!

Ebbie

Subject: RE: BS: Stagefright...er terror..ever overcome?
From: hesperis
Date: 13 Mar 02 - 12:37 AM

Yes, it can definitely go away! I'm proof of that. And what helps it is just a little technique that anyone can learn.

The stage terror goes away if you recognize it for what it actually is - your desire to do well, your extra energy because it's a live show, all bundled up inside you because you haven't moved the energy where it belongs - the performance.

If you get butterflies or shaky legs and hands (and especially if you get cold and shaky and your friends tell you that you didn't look nervous! (Grrrr, I hated that!)), then just take a few deep breaths, take the energy that is stuck and move it around in your body for a while before going on stage. Just circle it around, so that it is moving, and doesn't get stuck.

Then recognize that what you thought was terror was actually the extra energy that you have been given for the performance. That same energy is the reason why live performance can be so much better than recorded performance - excitement. Passion. Blowin' them away with sheer force of energy. That's what it's given to you for.

If you're not used to paying attention to your energy normally, then the extra that you get before a performance can really throw you for a loop, and then it gets stuck, and you mistake it for terror, which becomes a vicious circle. So just move the energy around, to keep it doing *something* while you're waiting for the show to start.

Once the show starts, move the energy through your hands and your voice, into the performance, and into the audience, right to the back of the room. There's enough energy to do that, that's what it's for. (When you get better at dealing with the energy, let a teensy bit out as you move onstage, for a great entrance.)

And you know what else? It's the people who get that energy that make the *best* live performers!!!

Subject: RE: BS: Stagefright...er terror..ever overcome?
From: Maryrrf
Date: 12 Mar 02 - 10:40 PM

It does get better although there's always a little bit of nervousness for the first couple of songs. But ask yourself this - what really is going to happen if you're terrible or you mess up? Nothing. It will be quickly forgotten and passed over and you can chalk it up to experience and do better next time! I have "messed up" i.e. forgotten words, chords, etc. and just continued on. Try to feel that it doesn't matter that much - just to take the pressure off of yourself. Then get up there and give it your best shot!

Subject: RE: BS: Stagefright...er terror..ever overcome?
From: michaelr
Date: 12 Mar 02 - 10:31 PM

Bob - ya just gotta stick with it and work through it; it gets better. I've been performing for over 15 years, and I'm still nervous before a gig. I go into this head space I've taken to calling "gig mode" where I'm sort of withdrawn and distracted from the people around me (my wife hates gig mode!), and mentally I'm going through my equipment ("did I forget anything?"), the newer songs ("what's the first line?"), and the general circumstances ("do they feed us at this one?").

By the second or third song, I'm usually relaxing and able to get into the music, be part of the band, and have fun.

Hope this helps.
Michael

Subject: RE: BS: Stagefright...er terror..ever overcome?
From: BobS
Date: 12 Mar 02 - 10:27 PM

You know I was thinking tonite...its almost like golf...sometimes I have gotten up and done ok....but I don't know why. And then the next time I just stink like hell.

...maybe I need to keep my head down....

Bob

Subject: RE: BS: Stagefright...er terror..ever overcome?
From: MMario
Date: 12 Mar 02 - 10:25 PM

From my experience I would say yes; and no.

Overcome it, in as have I gotten over it? No - Overcome it as can get through it? Yes. But I still may shake for up to three hours after a fifteen minute set!

Subject: RE: BS: Stagefright...er terror..ever overcome?
From: khandu
Date: 12 Mar 02 - 10:22 PM

I am an adept solo guitarist, I have confidence in my playing abilities. I know that when I play, the audience will enjoy it. But I rarely play solo in public because of stagefright/terror! Of course, this has limited my musical career drastically.

I often play with others publically and, at those times, I do not experience such terrors. I am totally relaxed! But, alone (which is how I play my best) I feel naked and exposed. I actually shake with fear!

This is extremely frustrating, especially in view of the fact that I was a minister for many years, preaching before some large crowds, and never experienced stagefright on the pulpit!

I have no advice to offer you, but I wanted to share this with you to let you know that you are not alone by any means!

khandu

Subject: RE: BS: Stagefright...er terror..ever overcome?
From: 53
Date: 12 Mar 02 - 10:17 PM

Try to find a place or a thing to focus on, then once you find it, then give it all you have. If at first you don't suceed, then try and try again, and it will pass with time, I know by experience.

Subject: RE: BS: Stagefright...er terror..ever overcome?
From: Sorcha
Date: 12 Mar 02 - 10:15 PM

Yep, had it, done that. "Lubrication" does NOT help me at all.....just makes me all bumbly. My first public gig (when I was really, REALLY nervous) the cops showed up looking for me. Seems my son at age 2 had run away from the babysitter and tried to find me.

He knew where I was, and hit the Interstate. Couple of bikers picked him up and took him to the Cop Shop. He told the Cops where his mom was, so they came looking. Found me, I retrieved him--but nothing will ever quite equal that for "stage fright".

I was actually less than a quarter mile away as the crow flies, but he didn't try that. He walked to the Interstate Ramp instead.

I also had a bit of stage fright several times after that because of my "timing"--never sure if I was right or not--and tended to rely on the back-up/rythym, but it never was as bad as the first time. How could it be??

Subject: RE: BS: Stagefright...er terror..ever overcome?
From: Bobert
Date: 12 Mar 02 - 10:01 PM

Now the ol' bobert agrees with Tweed. A little lubrication helps. Now "little" is a relative term. Now four ounces of Crown Royal might be a tad to much fir me but now the Tweezer, he's been known to put that much on his breakfast cereal. Now I don't do much performing anymore but there was a time when I went at it pretty good and there are a few tricks. Sophocleese brought up one important one. Start with the song that you could do in you sleep. And if it's got some emotion to it all the better 'cause by the end of it you will have worked out the nerviousness. Another trick is in your intro to the song. Here you have an opportunity to tell a little story and you can mix in a little self defracation. "Danged, you all as nervious as me?" or "Anyone else here who just threw up in the bathroom?" Talk about the song you are going to lead off with and as you do you'll find yourself relaxing. Right, Tweed? Tweed? Danged, the boy used to be able to handle 4 shots. Look at Tweezer over in the corner fast asleep.... TWEED!

Subject: RE: BS: Stagefright...er terror..ever overcome?
From: sophocleese
Date: 12 Mar 02 - 09:41 PM

Well you're not alone with stage fright. Many musicians suffer from it. Different people find different ways of coping with it. Terry above seems to use alcohol but I stay far away from it if I'm going to sing. Sure it makes me more relaxed, it also sends my tuning out of whack. I memorize everything as firmly as possible so even when distracted I can still play/sing. I would suggest not trying anything too complicated for awhile until you get your nerves under control. If you're doing three songs start with a real easy one to calm yourself down. Mostly just keep working at it, try to think of the music instead of the audience at first and then expand your awareness to them as you get more comfortable.

Subject: RE: BS: Stagefright...er terror..ever overcome?
From: ddw
Date: 12 Mar 02 - 09:40 PM

Tweed,

Sacrilege! Crown Royal should be sipped — neat. No ice, no water and definitely no cola. Just sip and feel the peppery burst of flavor.

;>)

david

Subject: RE: BS: Stagefright...er terror..ever overcome?
From: Tweed
Date: 12 Mar 02 - 09:33 PM

I get it pretty bad too but came to the realization that it's just a load of nervous energy that needs unloading. I try just to focus it into whatever I'm gonna be playin' and it turns into some sort of elated high when it's all in place and feels pretty darn neat. Also I recommend three to four ounces of Crown Royale mixed half and half with one of the major Cola brands for maximum benefit and control during the focusing-in period. No other brand will quite do the job, so accept no substitutes;~)

Subject: RE: BS: Stagefright...er terror..ever overcome?
From: GUEST
Date: 12 Mar 02 - 09:28 PM

Yes, keep at it.

Subject: Stagefright...er terror..ever overcome?
From: BobS
Date: 12 Mar 02 - 09:21 PM

I started playing open mics about 4 months ago..maybe 2-3 times a month. My first time was just horrible. I thought my sweat would short out the preamp on my guitar. I have had a couple of "ok' sets...one I think I was actually pretty good. But the last couple of times I was so nervous I could barely eek out the words to the 1st song. It is SOOOO frustrating to not be able to play and sing like I know I can (alone in my basement!) .....

does it ever get better?

Bob