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Topic: Stage Fright |
Lonnie Terry
From:
Penticton B.C. Canada
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Posted 18 Mar 2007 8:06 am |
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Stage Fright
I recently returned to playing as a one man band sequencing my backing singing and playing live on stage, after a long lay off I sometimes find that my hands freeze up due to nerves playing in front of an audience. Anyone else have this experience ?
Lonnie |
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Ben Lawson
From:
Brooksville Florida
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Posted 18 Mar 2007 8:28 am
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I find it easier to play in front of 10,000 people than just a few. I find this happens when I'm aware of individuals rather than a large crowd.
If I focus on each person rather than a sea of humanity my hands forget where to go. |
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Ken Byng
From:
Southampton, England
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Posted 18 Mar 2007 8:50 am
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I had this problem only the once in the mid 1970's. I had to do a set knowing that the wonderful Maurice Anderson was due on after me. While it wasn't quite stage fright is was a real tension knowing the great man was looking on.
I later played at a country music festival in front of 16,000 people and had no nerves at all.
Reece - stay away! (Only kidding)  |
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ray qualls
From:
Baxter Springs, Kansas (deceased)
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Posted 18 Mar 2007 8:53 am
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A 5th of Jim Beam cures stage fright right away!  Ray
_________________
Ray Qualls
Member(KSGA)
Inducted into KSGA
Steel Guitar Hall of Fame 2008 |
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James Cann
From:
Phoenix, AZ
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Posted 18 Mar 2007 10:16 am
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| Right! . . . anything less, and we're on our own, don't you know! |
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Larry Strawn
From:
Golden Valley, Arizona, R.I.P.
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Posted 18 Mar 2007 11:16 am
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About the only time I get stage fright is when there's other steel players in the house, and every one is better than me! 
Larry
_________________
Carter SD/10, 4&5 Hilton Pedal, Peavey Sessions 400, Peavey Renown 400, Home Grown Eff/Rack
"ROCKIN COUNTRY" |
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Dennis Schell
From:
Shingletown, Shasta county, Kalifornia
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Posted 18 Mar 2007 11:23 am
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Stage fright? What stage fright? I think it's just another term for the "thrill" of playing live! 
Think "thrill" not "fright"...
Dennis
(But have your chops together just the same!)
_________________
"Bucks Owin" |
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Charles Davidson
From:
Phenix City Alabama, USA
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Posted 18 Mar 2007 12:11 pm
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Never had much stage fright,but awhile back was playing with a band in Mont,Ala at a Hank Sr.birthday bash,we were playing nothing but Hank's songs,I was making a VERY feeble attempt at Don Helms licks on my C6th neck,the band leader leaned over and said[Don is sitting right over there],now that DID make me sweat a little.Oh well at least got to meet Don,and he made me feel better with his kindness.GREAT GUY.
_________________
Hard headed, opinionated old geezer. BAMA CHARLIE. GOD BLESS AMERICA. ANIMAL RIGHTS ACTIVIST. SUPPORT LIVE MUSIC ! |
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John De Maille
From:
On a Mountain in Upstate Halcottsville, N.Y.
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Posted 18 Mar 2007 3:11 pm
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| I've been playing steel in front of audiences for a long time, and never once have I had "stage fright". But, it does happen to me when I play in front of my "peers" at a steel show or workshop. It comes in different severities, too. It happened to me at the last show for the PSGA. I just totally vapor-locked and played clams all over the place. It was very embarassing to me, personally. Someday, maybe I can figure out how to overcome this malady. |
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Lonnie Terry
From:
Penticton B.C. Canada
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Posted 18 Mar 2007 3:58 pm Stage Fright
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You nailed it right there ( John Vapour lock ) and (clamming up.) Can't explain why it happens I'm generaly quite confident I know it's a state of mind but how to resolve the problem,I don't know, all joking aside any sensible suggestions anyone ?
Lonnie |
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Tommy Detamore
From:
Floresville, Texas
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ray qualls
From:
Baxter Springs, Kansas (deceased)
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Posted 18 Mar 2007 6:37 pm
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Lonnie, seriousness aside, I think the best thing is just to be "agressive" and block out the audience and most of all, have fun! Everyone makes mistakes, so just laugh and go on! It also don't hurt to warm up a little beforehand.
_________________
Ray Qualls
Member(KSGA)
Inducted into KSGA
Steel Guitar Hall of Fame 2008 |
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Joe Goldmark
From:
San Francisco, CA 94131
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Posted 18 Mar 2007 6:52 pm
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I'm amazed at how many folks are saying "never happened to me..." I get nervous at any "big" gig, and especially at a place I haven't played before. There's a million things I can think of to rationalize the nerves away, but nervous is fear, and fear is irrational, so psyching myself up usually doesn't help. I'm never nervous for the second set, if there is one, which proves how stupid getting nervous is. Getting good tone and sustain helps immensely, but often the nervous gigs are at big, or outside venues where the notes just drop off the end of the guitar. It is what it is, and I know that it effects many musicians.
Joe |
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Ken Lang
From:
Simi Valley, Ca
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Posted 18 Mar 2007 7:21 pm
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I think the bigger the ham the less the stage fright.
At one of the most fun times we were playing a duo in a very small lounge. They took out one table and we sat in its place. It was easy to talk face to face with the customers sitting nearby, and in some cases it was possible to reach over and pull their drink from the table-in fun of course. It really was fun and there was no stage fright-in fact, no stage-. It was like playing before friends at a small party. |
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Leland Ogle
From:
Baxter Springs, Kansas, USA
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Posted 19 Mar 2007 3:35 am
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The band I play in opened for Ty England Sat. night. I usually am just a little nervous playing in situations like this. When we started playing, somebody turned the a/c on. There was a vent right above me, I was shivering so bad that I could hardly hold on to my bar. Just made me that much more nervous. We got through it and Ty's band was a great bunch of guys.
Lee |
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Bill Hatcher
From:
Atlanta Ga. USA
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Posted 19 Mar 2007 5:08 am
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If I have a job that puts extra pressure on, I always get there early and get my gear all set up and start to practice and play at either no or very little volume. Folks will come into the venue and take their seats and I will still be playing though some of the music for the gig pretty soon it is time for the gig to start and I have gone through most of the things that are important for me, folks are their in their seats...the gig starts and I am already comfortable with what is going on. I have done very few situations where I could not get out on stage before the job starts and get settled in.
If the people scare you then just focus on your instrument. If your instrument scares you then your in trouble.  |
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Jim Sliff
From:
Lawndale California, USA
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Posted 19 Mar 2007 5:26 am
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| Quote: |
| I find it easier to play in front of 10,000 people than just a few. |
It's funny how that workks. I feel the same way.
But with a small club crowd, I find being more casual...like they're a bunch of friends in your living room...is a helpful approach. If you stay away from formal "stage presence" and use a more down-to-earth style of patter, you'll relax them and yourself at the same time.
_________________
No chops, but great tone
1930's/40's Rickenbacher/Rickenbacker 6&8 string lap steels
1921 Weissenborn Style 2; Hilo&Schireson hollownecks
Appalachian, Regal & Dobro squarenecks
1959 Fender 400 9+2 B6;1960's Fender 800 3+3+2; 1948 Fender Dual-8 Professional |
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Charles Davidson
From:
Phenix City Alabama, USA
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Posted 19 Mar 2007 9:41 am
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I've never had stage fright per say,if I'm with a good band,but I have had a few things happen that was a complete embarrassment,Was asked one time to play a benefit for a sick little girl[never turn these down]Got set up on a flatbed outside,huge crowd,the drommer was drunk as a skunk,The guitar player and bass thought Crazy was a three chord song[get the picture?]I pulled my hat as far down over my face praying NO ONE would recognize me.That not stage fright,that's TERRIFYING!
_________________
Hard headed, opinionated old geezer. BAMA CHARLIE. GOD BLESS AMERICA. ANIMAL RIGHTS ACTIVIST. SUPPORT LIVE MUSIC ! |
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Eugene Cole
From:
near Washington Grove, MD, USA
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Posted 19 Mar 2007 7:58 pm
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I find that playing in front of strangers is a lot less intimidating than playing in front of people that I know. The bridge to overcoming this fear for me is to get in to a mindset where I am "jamming-along with the gang." If I think in terms of "performing" then my confidence goes away.
Ray Qualls "A 5th of Jim Beam" system did not work for me at all. This system was problematic from the outset. I could not locate a genuine fifth and substituted a 750ml bottle. That big glass bar was ungainly and I did not like the tone at all, removing the label improved the tone (to my ear) only slightly.
I do use a bottle-neck for playing acoustic slide guitar every so often with some success. But the aftershave rule
--> DON'T USE THE WHOLE BOTTLE
holds true for me.
_________________
Regards
-- Eugene <sup>at</sup> FJ45.com
PixEnBar.com
Cole-Luthierie.com
FJ45.com
Sierra U14 8+5 my copedent, 1972 MSA D10 8+4, and nothing in the Bank. 8^) |
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Bill McRoberts
From:
Janesville, Wisconsin USA
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Posted 21 Mar 2007 6:21 am
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| I Get the shakes playing at steel show with fellow steelers more so than a club, festival or an "opening for" gig. There are so many good points presented already. |
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Dick Wood
From:
Springtown Texas, USA
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Posted 21 Mar 2007 7:53 am
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I've told this before so here's the short version.
Years ago our band was the warm up band for Freddie Powers with Jimmy Day on Steel. Well we kicked off with a Ray Price number and Jimmy was sitting just off to the side of the stage and I might as well having been playing an electric eel I was soo nervous. |
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Corky Anderson
From:
Alberta, Canada
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Posted 22 Apr 2007 9:35 pm
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Well I guess stage fright is pretty common. I can play any gig except steel shows. Last june I did a steel show here in Alberta that featured Doug Jernigan and Russ Hicks. My set included Caravan, Raisin the dickens, Stomping at the Savoy etc. I was shaking so bad I could hardly keep my hands on the guitar. I really butchered Savoy! However, I played Dallas last year with my good friend, and monster player Billy Phelps, and it went pretty good. Ha, I guess I needed support from my buddy! But, no more steel shows for me! I'm a spectator from now on!
Emmons D-10 Nashville 1000/400 Lexicon Mx200
Tele................twin.......Boss pedals |
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Klaus Caprani
From:
Copenhagen, Denmark
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Posted 22 Apr 2007 10:15 pm
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Don't be nervous. Be excited instead.
The physical effects are similar, and excitement has a way more positive bias.
_________________
Klaus Caprani
MCI RangeXpander S-10 3x4
www.klauscaprani.com |
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Larry Robbins
From:
Fort Edward, New York
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Posted 24 Apr 2007 11:13 am
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Dont worry,
If you mess up...do what I do and just glare at the lead player as if it were his clincker!!
Works every time.
_________________
Twang to the bone! |
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Lonnie Zsigray
From:
Saint Louis,Mich., USA
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Posted 24 Apr 2007 2:12 pm
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I once asked a veteran player if he ever got nervous like me,and he said everytime.But it goes away and you just do your best.Remember,after all is done and said,we're human.Just keep pickin'!!!
_________________
If I hear it,I'm gonna try to steel it |
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