it really helps when you are playing for a familiar audience that accepts and shouts out encouragement....that's the case it is with me......but playing in strange territory stage fright can certainly can be an issue
I know what song or rhythm I don't feel comfortable with and I avoid those until I can play it. I learn that the bad way, but when I play now I try to select only song that I feel good playing.
---------- Sorry for any misspell, english is not my first language.
Everyone has heard the advice "picture the audience naked." I do the opposite. I picture myself naked, and the fact that they aren't laughing and pointing at me makes me feel better. :)
Going thru stage fright comes with the turf if you're a performer regardless if it's a musician, actor, athlete, etc.. Everyone goes thru it at some point in their lives evenif it has nothing to do with playing on a stage. ---------- Sincerely, Barbeque Bob Maglinte Boston, MA http://www.barbequebob.com CD available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bbmaglinte
When I resumed playing out in the late '90s after close to a 20 year break from playing in a band, I went to a few jams and started sitting in during the last set with musicians I knew. I would get really nervous at the mic: knees shaky, worried about making a mistake. I was consumed by fear of not sounding good enough to the point that it was interfering with sounding good enough.
The best and most useful advice I received at that time from a steady gigging musician was to stay with the music and not worry if I might make a mistake. Just keep with the music...
He noted that few in the audience were likely to even notice a small mistake unless I let it derail my playing and turned it into a big mistake. Gradually the shakiness went away. I felt it again when I started singing at gigs, but that too has passed. I am usually pretty comfortable these days, though in new situations I may feel it a bit. Harmonica event situations in front of really good players sometimes brings it up again briefly.
Iceman, I don't totally buy the idea that we should "NEVER play/perform above your competency level."
If we hold back from approaching the edge of our capability from fear of exceeding our limits, then some of our most inspired musical moments will never occur and the audience will have to settle for safe and bland. Risk taking (within limits!) can spur creativity and bring out ideas that we might never have expressed if we were playing it safe.
Sometimes you just have to COMMIT and go for it. You need to learn to trust yourself to play well, even at the edge of your ability.
That being said, before you go too far out on a limb approaching your limits you need to have developed good recovery skills so you can keep on playing beyond the glitch if you momentarily slip.
Don't hold back and limit yourself out of fear, but don't try to play something that you KNOW you cannot achieve. ----------
Doug S.
Last Edited by dougharps on Aug 01, 2019 12:59 PM
"Playing above your competency level" is the arena for confident and accomplished folk - not those who are dealing with stage fright. After all, this thread is about stage fright.
For instance, at the Miles Davis high level of competency, he told his sidemen - "Don't play what you know - play above what you know". ---------- The Iceman
Last Edited by The Iceman on Aug 01, 2019 1:17 PM
I was born a natural ham. Sure early on I had nerves because I did not know much when I began showing up at jams and playing with friends in the living room. Part of my progress came when something new would come out of the harp seemingly unbidden, out live someplace- jam or early gig especially. I was making progress in my mind and it would manifest in the world when I did not expect it.
My wife Jolene had learned some basic folk style guitar when she was a kid and left it behind. Some 45 years later she volunteered to be my partner when I was between bands. She had to work to learn the mechanics of blues guitar, and as she improved I got her out in public. Once she began singing too, she began to lose herself in the music and lost her fear. I must stress she worked HARD at home for year or two before she began to find her real presence and chops. It's indescribably cool to see someone turn into a pro. She has been challenging ME the last few years! ---------- Music and travel destroy prejudice.
@The Iceman You are, of course, right about that...
@Moon Cat If you "get freaked out every time" then you must have the rare alchemical ability to transmute your stage fright into positive musical energy, channeling it into stellar musical performances! ----------
It can be managed by learning skills to control and mitigate it so you can focus on performing whatever it is you need to do, get in the flow zone, and knock one out of the park - so to speak. I was taught some of these techniques by sports psychologists when competing in World Championships and they contributed greatly to me and my teammates winning multiple medals.
@HoB- I am a very lucky man and I know it. If that was not enough, in early March we were clowning on a beach near Myrtle, and Jo fell back onto the sand. Sand is hard. Burst fracture of the L5 or top lumbar vertebra. It was touch and go for a while, fortunately I had a place where we had our travel trailer/home parked and I worked for a site and played nurse/caretaker when I was home. Note- we are full time on the road since late last year. Our goal has been to play every damn place we can and carry on until we're too old to continue. That's part of why we were near Myrtle, to see about gigs.
So Jo had to take it very easy for about 10 weeks. Back brace and all that. No surgery thank the Powers! Guitar was iffy for a time but the neuro guy we went to okayed her to play if she sat straight. She worked her way back and has most of her stamina again! We've made our way to Vermont in recent weeks where I have a job for the summer, working to cover an RV site so we can explore, play music, and enjoy this great part of the country.
The big news is, we just played a farmers' market last week, first gig since mid February on the Florida panhandle. We have onetomorrow and the next 2 weekends after that we have more! Jolene is back! Things are some different, there are things she can't do at this point, like get out the big skillet or do dishes, but she is the baddest ass woman I've ever been with. He heart and determination have been a real inspiration.
2 weeks ago I fell and broke my wrist. She stepped in and helped me with my job several hours a day.
I didn't mean to hijack this great thread, but when inspiration HITS.....
EDIT Jo wanted me to add that, once you have some chops and you make it on stage, and you get some real appreciation from an audience, that's when you get addicted. It's not a bad thing to be into at all.
Be yourself---don't try to be cool or act the way u think suppose to act------be yrslf
from my college speech class look at peoples foreheads, not in their eyes-looks like yr looking at them
also its not cancer--not bad news about yr wife or kids-- etc its just doing something in front of people---its simply not as important as we build it up to be and neither are we----life will go on
Admire yrslf for "putting on the line" some people go there entire life wanting to go on stage---some way more talented than u or me
people when nervous get dry mouth--- bad for harp "bring water" i still have too have water
do everything slow motion---people play and starts songs too fast when nervous
Don't give up, once u get that rush from the nervousness and play through it , its exhilarating afterwords u think, ok, got that over with---when can i do it again
Ive practically dragged good players who were to nervous up to the stage at jams---they couldn't stop thanking me---they got their feet wet---they always want more ---main thing: Im not that important
First off, I really appreciate this video. It’s nice to see someone address the issue for the problem it can be . . . so thanks, Adam.
On the other hand, I see a somewhat overarching theme in responses (paraphrasing) that it’s not the end of the word, or you can get over it, or you just have to get up there and do it, and with exposure it gets better, and that it happens to everyone. All of these opinions are well meaning, I’m sure, and in certain cases not inaccurate. My acknowledgement of the comments is not intended critically.
But the fact is, sometimes, you don’t get over it. There’s stage fright, and then there’s STAGE FRIGHT. The former is relatively mild form of anxiety disorder . . . the latter is full blown panic attacks and the like that can be partially or almost completely debilitating.
I’ve dealt with this for 45 years (it kicked in at age 14) have read book after book, seen therapists and MDs, taken public speaking courses, taken medication, meditated, exercised, drank rum, sought metaphysical answers, forced myself to give speeches in front of hundreds, and performed (guitar) at a few talent shows and outdoor festivals.
Repeated exposure - or in more clinical terms, cognitive behavioral therapy - only made the abject terror of each public demonstration become worse (before, during, and after).
I was more fortunate than most who deal with this, as I was a talented enough writer that I could always make a decent living working strictly on my own, scribbling out stuff on a local, regional or national level. You see, when you have a panic disorder, it can affect things as seemingly simple as an office meeting, an interview, or giving a presentation. I learned a lot of solo skills over the years because I enjoy learning (building and playing guitars, wood carving, custom bbq smoking, dog training, harmonica to name a few) and some of these unintentionally pulled in money as well (not to mention giving me huge amounts of pleasure).
So, I'm always a little annoyed by the misconception that one can overcome stage fright via some of the more common or cliché methods.
No . . . not always.
Sorry for the length here. I’m not one who’s big on venting personal things in public, and will likely regret it, but felt this needed to be addressed.
If what Rontana is saying is that "There is no magic bullet that works for everyone", that is true in regards to stage fright (and so much else in this world).
However, I'd venture to say that the % of "Incurable Stage Fright Folk" is a much smaller one than those that tackle it head on and keep at it to eventual success.
To those that can not get over the "frozen with fear" stomach cramp, perhaps 1.25 mg of valium would help a lot. (That's 1/4 of the smallest dose available). ---------- The Iceman
Last Edited by The Iceman on Aug 02, 2019 8:43 AM
"Just keep at it" Larry The Iceman says. As an aside it reminds me of another Larry, Sir Laurence Olivier, who -- though by no means a neophyte on the theatrical scene, but rather one of the more experienced actors the world knew -- started to develop stage fright in his latter period. It will always be there as a toxic possibility.
Speaking for myself, à propos toxins, I´ve found that alcohol is the only reliable companion here. Very carefully metered out it can help you to say, "OK, this might turn into a disaster but I´ll surely do my best anyway and I won´t be hampered by stage fright". Then, as you get more experienced, the amount of alcohol lessens, since you more and more understand what you can and can´t do. It has worked for me for a good many years, and now I´m down to, well, a beer and a shot and then I´m ready to rock.
I know many people have problems with alcohol and I´m sorry for them. But there was a British actress who told Sir Laurence when he was beside himself with fear of not being able to perform, "Take drugs, Larry, we all do." And alcohol is one such drug.
Once again -- I know people have terrible problems with alcohol (a drug) and I don´t intend to make light of it, but for the rest of us: there is an available source of lessening the at times almost paralytic fear of not being up to par. Another is to practice your part, but I guess we know about that.
I love playing harp on stage and seeing smiles from people in audience...…..its a rush to me...….so many of you guys can play circles around me...….but that's not what its about......the happiness I see in the audience negates any stage fright
You don't have to "get over it", you just need to learn to manage it so you can operate effectively. Many professionals never get over it entirely, but they learn to manage it so they can perform. I should also clarify that learning these skills is sometimes not easy, and takes a lot of work before they become a skill you can deploy when needed. But once learned they are more effective than taking a pill or a drink.
While pills/drinks do work to a degree (and let's face it, a lot of fun at times too) they also have multiple potential downsides including performance degradation and a slippery slope to addiction. Obviously there are performance enhancing drugs too (sport doping wouldn't exist otherwise) but they also have downsides and risks. Unless you win and get away with it I guess (sic) ... ask Lance "I'm still a winner even though I cheated and lost a testical to steroid doping oops sorry I mean cancer haha" Armstrong about that.
That said, the human mind/body is a complex beast and if you're on the extreme edge of the spectrum who's to say what's making it more difficult for you to manage it? In some cases it's not a bad thing as it opens up other channels.
I would also say don't give up. Just because nothing has worked so far doesn't mean something in the future won't, new techniques come up all the time.
Sorry Adam, I had to turn that video "OFF". I don't need anyone putting monsters under my bed. I can't advise others, but I just immerse myself in the sounds coming from the other musicians and concentrate on the time, the groove and coming up with something that contributes.
@Thievin' Heathen I thought it was just me! A little more than halfway through I started feeling anxious about my next gig in front of an audience, so I shut it off!
Well, I tried to implement some of these ideas tonight and I found it quite helpful. Thanks, Gussow.
I’m fronting a quartet and I am happy enough to play and sing, but I find the audience engagement part really hard. I’m not particularly practiced at whatever it is that people who have an engaging witty personality do. Banter, schtick, I just don’t have much. I used to be very full of myself and about 30 years ago I saw that and I didn’t like it so I shut it down. Now I seem to think twice before I speak, with the result that I often don’t speak. Anyway, that plays on my mind when I’m in front of an audience and I’m also quite focused on what I have to do, all the stuff to remember, like words and smiling and having fun and not having a personality doesn’t help. So today when I started to get a bit uptight I took a few of Gussow’s idea and put them into practice. I still didn’t have much of a personality but I didn’t feel so bad about it and I found I was actually able to talk a little. And I sang much better and played ok too. And my presence of mind was better; I wasn’t so wound up. And thanks Gussow, for getting me into this.
On the topic of “substances” to help with butterflies and performance fright, in 1984 I was dating a woman ten years older than my 26 years. That in itself had its own wonderment….but I digress.
This woman I had bumbled into had within the previous couple of years come out of a fairly significant ballet career. While she had never been bestowed the ‘rank’ of Prima, she had danced the lead in some notable performances until an ankle injury sustained slipping on the stairs headed into the Paris Metro in the rain killed a career in a field notable for some serious conniving and backstabbing.
One morning I picked up her phone and a man with an international-man-of-mystery accent asked for her. She was in the shower but he gave his name and asked that she call him back, since he was in town for a couple of days.
That evening, I sat like an awkward goofball and sipped a cocktail at a small table with my girlfriend, Alexander Gudunov and his partner, Jacqueline Bisset. Heady stuff for a kid. A couple of jokes about the Tiny Dancer and her Deepsea Diver (I don’t think the term ‘cougar’ was a thing yet), and my telling Ms Bisset that her wet t-shirt some years earlier had quite probably been a key element in my heading towards my career path.
Part of the reminiscing included the two dancers describing how it was a ritual that in ballet the dancers would quaff down a beer immediately before heading out on the stage. Not socially, but as a tool. The sugar and the carbohydrates were a fuel to burn, and the alcohol was just enough to take the edge off, but was burning so as to not really intoxicate.
I’m not advocating alcohol for anyone other than myself, but that bit of revelatory anecdotal info was a fascinating tidbit and insight into a very alien world for a knucklehead like me. Other than that, Ms Bisset was nice enough, but the blonde dude was a pretentious and drunkenly condescending asshole. I was glad when John McClane whacked him……
Bruce Willis. There’s your harmonica connection.
---------- ~Buzadero Underwater Janitor, Patriot MBH poseur since 11Nov2008
I may be overconfident but even that can be a help. I make mistakes, who doesn't? I don't let it stop me. I get distracted and lose my place sometimes! Thankful to have a partner who notices and holds things down until I can get back on point.
I thank the audience even if the response to a song is small. "I hear you back there, thank you!" Introduce the duo a few times through the night. Tell about our roots and journey that brought us to that place. Not in depth but just enough. Talk about the song we're about to do, author, how old it is, who covered it, pretty geeky stuff but folks seem to appreciate it.
Last Friday, first full gig in 6 months, busy little burger stand, lots of coming and going. I DID get distracted but we found our way. I did do the banter thing. People tipped us. I noticed a couple or 3 guys who may have been "competition", a local band maybe? They sure were watching us hard. But why worry about that? WE had the gig and we're booked back next month! The gal at the cash box told us they'd had a very big night afterward. If you have a bit of courage, step out of your comfort zone, and trust your audience and even employers, you do get rewards you may miss otherwise.
What I found that works for me is similar to what I learned in high school as one of my courses was Public Speaking. If being on stage, be it behind a mic stand, or even a podium, and getting nervous, just focus your attention primarily on a fixture behind the audience such as the exit sign. But also make sure to occasionally look down at the people so they don't feel ignored.
I was at a Blue Grass Festival yesterday. One of the "family" bands was talking about getting stage fright as they were driving into town. Their solution.., read passages from the Bible. So apparently there's more than one approach. I'm thinking, whatever works for you.
no stage fright for me whatsoever in my local area......blues jam on Wednesday nights and occasional call up from local keyboard/vocalist at another spot......I look at the audience......they are smiles on their faces...….that being said...….Ive gotta get better
