anniehall
Hoodrat
challenger of the unknown
Posts: 277
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Post by anniehall on Dec 4, 2008 9:12:23 GMT -5
OK, So maybe it's just that one of my songs isn't even finished yet, but I'm sort of freaking out about my gig tonight. I've performed on clarinet a ton of times, but here I am, volunteering myself to sing and play ukulele to open for my friend Olivia.
What are your techniques for dispelling stress before you play?
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Post by lilhan on Dec 4, 2008 9:13:59 GMT -5
i don't play or sing, or do anything. but to get rid of nerves for my driving test i listened to BAGIA and SS and it felt much better. it could've been the dancing!*
*i say dancing...
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Post by gushingblood on Dec 4, 2008 9:16:19 GMT -5
When I am under pressure; school exam, guitar exam, I just listened to my "lucky" song.
The Doors - When The Music's Over; 11 minutes of bliss.
It just helps me calm down.
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toastie
Sniffling Indie Kid
Posts: 159
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Post by toastie on Dec 4, 2008 9:17:00 GMT -5
Find a way to reign it in. A lot of people try the sauce, I personally go for anti-anxiety tablets and knock a pile of them back.
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Post by gushingblood on Dec 4, 2008 9:17:06 GMT -5
OOOooo and remember, whipe your hands before you go on stage, playing guitar with sweaty hands is tres difficule, and I presume ukelele is as well
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Post by 212margarita on Dec 4, 2008 11:06:05 GMT -5
when i used to act i would always listen to Ziggy Stardust before i went out on stage...that and a couple of beers
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Post by hoodrat on Dec 4, 2008 11:15:49 GMT -5
i got no musical talent to speak of but i have done and still do different kinds of public performance. do NOT succumb to the advice of pills, booze and weed. honestly, i love booze and i got nothing against the other things, but it doesn't help. and does make you sloppier and less coordinated and more likely to fuck up.
i usually go with music, something loud and shouty that i can shout along with and work out the excess energy. or, if you have time, something physical. go for a run. dance. do pushups whatever burns off the shakes.
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Post by gushingblood on Dec 4, 2008 11:20:02 GMT -5
i got no musical talent to speak of but i have done and still do different kinds of public performance. do NOT succumb to the advice of pills, booze and weed. honestly, i love booze and i got nothing against the other things, but it doesn't help. and does make you sloppier and less coordinated and more likely to fuck up. Actually a small amount of booze is extremely helpful in calming you down. Darts players drink when they play to steady their arm, but they get sloppy when they have a bit too much to drink. The main challenge is finding the right amount to get you "in the zone" |
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Post by njtownie on Dec 4, 2008 11:30:28 GMT -5
I listen to a genre of music that is completely opposite of what I am about to play. I play in a rock band, but when I drive in to shows I would listen to Dr Dre: The Chronic or The Chronic 2001. Takes my mind off the task at hand.
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Post by hoodrat on Dec 4, 2008 11:31:14 GMT -5
i got no musical talent to speak of but i have done and still do different kinds of public performance. do NOT succumb to the advice of pills, booze and weed. honestly, i love booze and i got nothing against the other things, but it doesn't help. and does make you sloppier and less coordinated and more likely to fuck up. Actually a small amount of booze is extremely helpful in calming you down. Darts players drink when they play to steady their arm, but they get sloppy when they have a bit too much to drink. The main challenge is finding the right amount to get you "in the zone" i drink when i play darts too. sometimes i get my best shots when i am a few shots of jameson in too. but that's just not the same thing as performance anxiety. you need a different kind of calm to deal with the adrenalin and the fear. my public speaking is a different game altogether, i realize. but i go to a fair number of shows. older musicians who get their drink on before or after taking the stage do fine as long as they're not too sozzled to stand up. (ahem. not naming names here.) young musicians who are nervous and drink for the nerves do . . . less well. no amount of drink can settle that adrenalin surge. so they keep drinking. and then they often fumble early on stage and miss some notes and get more nervous and . . it's a bad cycle. |
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Post by nosferatu on Dec 4, 2008 11:58:46 GMT -5
Do something physical for a bit, get giddy and worked out backstage... then when you're on, fixate on a point in the distance and don't flinch from it.
Talk to your audience when you feel comfortable.
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anniehall
Hoodrat
challenger of the unknown
Posts: 277
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Post by anniehall on Dec 4, 2008 14:03:14 GMT -5
I know I will talk a lot because that's what I do when I'm nervous. And I believe a bit of SS will do the trick ahead of time! Thanks everyone  |
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Bowery
Clever Kid
"wired for sound and down for whatever"
Posts: 61 
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Post by Bowery on Dec 4, 2008 15:45:55 GMT -5
Breathe. Touch your toes, reach for the sky. Breathe. Shake it out through your hands. Breathe. Acknowledge the adrenaline, it's there, it's physical. Visualize it going through you, into the ground, into your instrument, into the music. Breathe some more. Sense your hearbeat, sense your internal metronome. Adjust - if it's fast it's fast and if it's slow it's slow, just feel where it is. Count out a measure. Breathe. Stretch. Breathe breathe breathe breathe......
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Post by stevietix on Dec 4, 2008 16:08:25 GMT -5
Breathe. Touch your toes, reach for the sky. Breathe. Shake it out through your hands. Breathe. Acknowledge the adrenaline, it's there, it's physical. Visualize it going through you, into the ground, into your instrument, into the music. Breathe some more. Sense your hearbeat, sense your internal metronome. Adjust - if it's fast it's fast and if it's slow it's slow, just feel where it is. Count out a measure. Breathe. Stretch. Breathe breathe breathe breathe...... Bowery - I thought about what I would right before I got down to your post. I can't put it so eloquently, but you're spot on. Sit down somewhere quiet and just feel your anxiety, accept it and let it swallow you up, let your heart pound away and open up to it. Its actually a great feeling when you realise this is it. This is your body's response. That's all its got. And then there comes this GREAT feeling of peace and calm, and you'll feel like you can do anything. |
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Post by katieee on Dec 4, 2008 16:39:25 GMT -5
Breathe. Touch your toes, reach for the sky. Breathe. Shake it out through your hands. Breathe. Acknowledge the adrenaline, it's there, it's physical. Visualize it going through you, into the ground, into your instrument, into the music. Breathe some more. Sense your hearbeat, sense your internal metronome. Adjust - if it's fast it's fast and if it's slow it's slow, just feel where it is. Count out a measure. Breathe. Stretch. Breathe breathe breathe breathe...... Bowery - I thought about what I would right before I got down to your post. I can't put it so eloquently, but you're spot on. Sit down somewhere quiet and just feel your anxiety, accept it and let it swallow you up, let your heart pound away and open up to it. Its actually a great feeling when you realise this is it. This is your body's response. That's all its got. And then there comes this GREAT feeling of peace and calm, and you'll feel like you can do anything. Agreed. Breathing is key. I find that for me personally, doing physical and loud things create this false adrenaline and buzz that I can't do anything with. Everyone I have worked with has their own personal "pre-show" routine and it's actually pretty interesting to see what works for different people. |
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Sunny D
Midnight Hauler
"We've gotta try a little harder..."
Posts: 1,900
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Post by Sunny D on Dec 4, 2008 17:04:12 GMT -5
Whenever I feel anxiety, I take a few deep breaths, butter myself up with compliments, listen to some music, stuff like that.
I really don't get it anymore... I pretty much said "screw it!" to my nervousness, and somehow I'm a lot less shy of a person.
But Holly always said hi to me because I, in fact, am not in love with my anxiety.
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Camie
Midnight Hauler
Posts: 1,093
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Post by Camie on Dec 4, 2008 21:06:05 GMT -5
I get nervous
I get up on stage
I make a fool of myself
I make fun of myself
People laugh
People enjoy music
People clap
Less nervous
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anniehall
Hoodrat
challenger of the unknown
Posts: 277
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Post by anniehall on Dec 4, 2008 22:40:59 GMT -5
People clapped so much I basically didn't know what to do with myself. It went great! All of my friends from the radio station and newspaper staff were there. I wish it had gotten recorded...!
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Post by lilhan on Dec 5, 2008 6:44:01 GMT -5
People clapped so much I basically didn't know what to do with myself. It went great! All of my friends from the radio station and newspaper staff were there. I wish it had gotten recorded...! YAYAYAY!! i am glad it went so well ;D |
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