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Topic: Do you ever suffer performance anxiety? |
tom anderson
From:
leawood, ks., usa
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Posted 22 Mar 2009 10:35 am |
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Sometimes when I have to do a specific intro, I get what I refer to as "performance anxiety". I get this knot in my stomach & more often than not fluff the intro. This can happen even though I have practiced the intro dozens or more of times, play it perfectly with the band in practice, drink a beer, don't drink a beer, drink 2 beers, etc. Doesn't always happen at each show & usually goes away when it does after a set or less.
Does anyone have any suggestions on how to get rid of this, short of more practice? |
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Charles Davidson
From:
Phenix City Alabama, USA
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Posted 22 Mar 2009 10:43 am
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DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT,IF YOU SCREW UP,JUST KEEP ON PICKING AND GRINNING,AND BLAME IT ON THE DRUMMER FOR COUNTING THE TUNE OFF IN THE WRONG TEMPO. DYKBC.
_________________
Hard headed, opinionated old geezer. BAMA CHARLIE. GOD BLESS AMERICA. ANIMAL RIGHTS ACTIVIST. SUPPORT LIVE MUSIC ! |
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Edward Meisse
From:
Santa Rosa, California, USA
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Posted 22 Mar 2009 11:31 am
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I don't often get paid to play. I mostly practice and jam. I play for free even more rarely than I get paid. But I find that the more I get out there and play, the less I worry about my performance. As the bikers like to say. Stuff happens. So more practice, more playing out and a little bit of just relax. Not the answer I think you're looking for. And from a source you may not think as much of as some more experienced people. But I think that's all there is to it. Do the best you can. And let the chips fall where they may.
_________________
Amor vincit omnia |
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Jim Cohen
From:
Philadelphia, PA
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Posted 22 Mar 2009 12:01 pm Re: Do you ever suffer performance anxiety?
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| tom anderson wrote: |
| ...This can happen even though I have practiced the intro dozens or more of times... |
FWIW, there's a story about Luciano Pavarotti, who used to judge the Pavarotti international opera competition. Prior to the competition, he would meet with each contestant and ask them 'how serious' they were about their music and their careers. Naturally, they would all say that they were 'very, very serious' and occasionally one would say that he/she had practiced their audition piece 'at least 50 times'.
"Fifty?", asks Pavarotti "Fifty times?? That is not 'serious'! Serious is FIVE HUNDRED TIMES!"
Like I said, FWIW...
_________________
www.JimCohen.com
www.RonstadtRevue.com
www.BeatsWalkin.com |
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tom anderson
From:
leawood, ks., usa
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Posted 22 Mar 2009 12:23 pm
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I was pretty sure somebody would tell me to practice more. Point taken.  |
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Jeremy Threlfall
From:
now in Western Australia
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Posted 22 Mar 2009 7:24 pm
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I play guitar and bass often and don't get 'performance anxiety' at all - but I quite often get it for the first 15 minutes of a PS gig.
I think it is something to do with me being a relative novice and just the sheer complexity of the physical requirements and the propensity for a stupid mistake to be made.
Now, I have good blood pressure, but I had my doctor prescribe me some beta-blockers to assist with this. I just pop one 15 minutes prior to starting - I have done this on a number of occasions, not every occasion - and it has made a huge difference to my state of calmness.
DISCLAIMER: Consult your GP before following my example. |
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Charles Davidson
From:
Phenix City Alabama, USA
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Posted 22 Mar 2009 7:49 pm
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Not bragging,just a fact,But I have never been nervous on stage,It helps always being a sideman,never was a singer or front man,if things don't go right the guy out front takes the heat,The ONLY time I almost sweated was one time I was in a band,we were playing a Hank Sr. birthday party show in Montgomery,We were doing nothing but Hank's song,I was doing my best to play Mr. Helms licks on my 6th neck [very poorly I must say].As I was taking a ride on one of the tunes,the bandleader leaned over and said,Don Helms is sitting there in the front row.I replied[Why the hell did'nt you wait till the set was over to tell me that ?] But I made it through ok. DYKBC.
_________________
Hard headed, opinionated old geezer. BAMA CHARLIE. GOD BLESS AMERICA. ANIMAL RIGHTS ACTIVIST. SUPPORT LIVE MUSIC ! |
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John Gould
From:
Houston, TX Now in Cleveland TX
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Posted 22 Mar 2009 7:57 pm
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If you don't get a little nervous somethings wrong.
But you shouldn't let it effect your playing.
Everyone makes mistakes from time to time.
I've seen some of the great ones blow a intro or
lick once in a while. The art of recovery is almost as important as being able to play well to begin with. Take a deep breath and don't psych yourself out.
Believe you can play the lick , visualize it in your head and then go for it. Don't let a drummers in ability to count the song off correctly throw you off count the song off yourself.
Most important is have fun and just play.
_________________
A couple of guitars
Fender GTX 100 Fender Mustang III Fender Blues Jr. Boss Katana MKII 50
Justice Pro Lite and Sho Bud Pro II |
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Edward Meisse
From:
Santa Rosa, California, USA
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Posted 22 Mar 2009 8:43 pm Re: Do you ever suffer performance anxiety?
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| Jim Cohen wrote: |
| tom anderson wrote: |
| ...This can happen even though I have practiced the intro dozens or more of times... |
FWIW, there's a story about Luciano Pavarotti, who used to judge the Pavarotti international opera competition. Prior to the competition, he would meet with each contestant and ask them 'how serious' they were about their music and their careers. Naturally, they would all say that they were 'very, very serious' and occasionally one would say that he/she had practiced their audition piece 'at least 50 times'.
"Fifty?", asks Pavarotti "Fifty times?? That is not 'serious'! Serious is FIVE HUNDRED TIMES!"
Like I said, FWIW... |
Also FWIW, I agree with Pavarotti. But unfortunately many of us here got serious later in life when other responsibilities necessarily interfered with both practice and performance. I think things need to be kept in perspective given one's personal cicumstances. I think that, "Most important, have fun and just play," was the best advice I saw. You just can't do any better than the best that you can.
_________________
Amor vincit omnia |
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Jim Cohen
From:
Philadelphia, PA
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Ben Lawson
From:
Brooksville Florida
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Posted 23 Mar 2009 4:11 am
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I recently posted a thread about finger/brain freeze.
The problem is similar to this post. I have been working on songs that we will do in a new show starting in April. Paul Franklin played steel on some of the songs and I wanted to get it right . The more I worked on them the more I realized that I was not PF. Because I couldn't do it exactaly like Paul I felt that I was totally inadequate. Guitar great Van Manakas & I work together on these shows and we talked quite a bit about my situation.
I found that after I figured out how to play the "Married to a Waitress" song I regained some confidence. I also realized that we all can't be Paul or Buddy or Jim Cohen or any of the great players. I also know that we can't all be Dale Earnhart, Chuck Norris, Johnny Bush or any of the top people in their field. If everyone could be as good as the best, there would be no great stars or variety in anything.
Armed with that philosophy I can now sit and play without putting so much pressure on myself. I still ain't Paul Franklin but that makes it a little easier to be me.
I still get a little nervous when it comes to "chicken pickin" solos but the stuff that that is more temperate in speed seems to be OK. |
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Jim Cohen
From:
Philadelphia, PA
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Richard Sinkler
From:
aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana
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Posted 23 Mar 2009 6:57 am
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I almost never get nervous when playing.
Now, about performance anxiety. I see ads on late night TV that says their products will take care of that.  |
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Ben Lawson
From:
Brooksville Florida
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Posted 23 Mar 2009 2:31 pm
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| OK Jim your off the list. But you're still a great picker. |
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Ben Lawson
From:
Brooksville Florida
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Posted 23 Mar 2009 2:31 pm
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| OK Jim you're off the list. But you're still a great picker. |
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Ben Lawson
From:
Brooksville Florida
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Posted 23 Mar 2009 2:32 pm
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| I guess I got nervous and posted twice. Sorry. |
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Roual Ranes
From:
Atlanta, Texas, USA
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Posted 23 Mar 2009 2:57 pm
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| Only when it is my time to play. |
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Jim Cohen
From:
Philadelphia, PA
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Randy Beavers
From:
Lebanon,TN 37090
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Posted 23 Mar 2009 5:33 pm
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| Jim, your not having performance anxiety are you? |
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Ben Lawson
From:
Brooksville Florida
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Posted 23 Mar 2009 5:42 pm
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Jim while I admire your humility I feel that you are among the elite. If there is something else in the post that I should edit I must have missed it.
(I think you're on to something Randy) |
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Joe Goldmark
From:
San Francisco, CA 94131
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Posted 23 Mar 2009 6:48 pm
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Hi Tom,
Here's some things that will help:
- practice the afternoon before the evening gig. That way you'll have your parts down. If you can't practice (work, etc.) try to take a few minutes to visualize your parts in your head. This is harder than people think, but really good practice.
- second, warm up at the gig before you start. Have some good right hand exercises that take you up and down the neck, and up and down the strings, so that you're really ready to pick.
- alcohol. You mentioned it doesn't seem to help, but one beer, even with some food, should relax you a little. Someone mentioned beta blockers. That helps also, but I would only use for "big" gigs where nerves are a sure factor. Also, this is only for folks who want to go that way, and is not for everyone.
- and finally, try to psyche yourself out. Remember the gigs where you nailed it, and also remember when you've seen big stars flub it, and nobody cared. Remember that you're way more critical than anyone else, so don't sweat it.
Joe |
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Tommy Shown
From:
Denham Springs, La.
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Posted 23 Mar 2009 7:12 pm
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| Charles Davidson wrote: |
| Not bragging,just a fact,But I have never been nervous on stage,It helps always being a sideman,never was a singer or front man,if things don't go right the guy out front takes the heat,The ONLY time I almost sweated was one time I was in a band,we were playing a Hank Sr. birthday party show in Montgomery,We were doing nothing but Hank's song,I was doing my best to play Mr. Helms licks on my 6th neck [very poorly I must say].As I was taking a ride on one of the tunes,the bandleader leaned over and said,Don Helms is sitting there in the front row.I replied[Why the hell did'nt you wait till the set was over to tell me that ?] But I made it through ok. DYKBC. |
Charlie I can relate to that, in 1999 I was doing a songwriters showcase in New Orleans, and there was this guy that walked up to the stage from Atlantic recoerds.But I didn't know until after my set. I have suffered from performance anxiety, when I play. sometimes it'll make you want to find a hole crawl in and pull the dirt over you. There is one thing that has helped me with it. Before I take to bandstand or stage,I will go outside and take a few minutes to collect my thoughts and say little prayer, and while saying that prayer I thank God for Blessing me with the talent to play and (I know think I am crazy) I talk to my parents that have passed away. I also ask God to give me the wisdom to pick the right notes when it is my turn to shine.
Tommy |
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Mickey Adams
From:
Bandera Texas
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Posted 23 Mar 2009 7:47 pm Simple
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Guitar-no...Steel-YES
_________________
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John Neff
From:
Athens, GA
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Posted 23 Mar 2009 10:50 pm
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| This is something that I struggle with occasionally. A lot of good input here, especially from Joe Goldmark. |
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W. C. Edgar
From:
Iowa City Iowa, Madison CT, Nashville, Austin, Phoenix
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Posted 24 Mar 2009 7:53 am
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| It has to come as second nature. Meaning if you have to THINK about what you're doing you WILL screw it up. You should have it down to the point you can play it with your eyes closed without even thinking about it one bit. Works for me. WC |
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