Comments on: Dealing With Gig Nerves And Performance Nerves, The Ultimate Guide http://www.independentmusicadvice.com/2010/07/dealing-with-gig-nerves-and-performance-nerves-the-ultimate-guide/ Who Needs A Record Label? Wed, 15 Jun 2011 04:19:33 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.1 By: Independent Music Advice http://www.independentmusicadvice.com/2010/07/dealing-with-gig-nerves-and-performance-nerves-the-ultimate-guide/comment-page-1/#comment-14920 Independent Music Advice Sat, 25 Dec 2010 12:22:04 +0000 http://www.independentmusicadvice.com/?p=1128#comment-14920 Glad you enjoyed it, that's some great tips you've shared there too. It does often take a few performances before you find your flow, but generally the more gigs you do the easier they'll become. This isn't the same for everyone, but even if you're still nervous you'll get in a routine and it will become more manageable. It sounds like your family was able to give you some valuable feedback, it's good you have people that can tell it to your straight. That's something a lot of people have difficulty finding, maybe you should invite them to all your gigs. :) Glad you enjoyed it, that’s some great tips you’ve shared there too. It does often take a few performances before you find your flow, but generally the more gigs you do the easier they’ll become. This isn’t the same for everyone, but even if you’re still nervous you’ll get in a routine and it will become more manageable.

It sounds like your family was able to give you some valuable feedback, it’s good you have people that can tell it to your straight. That’s something a lot of people have difficulty finding, maybe you should invite them to all your gigs. :)

]]> By: Bisonpowers http://www.independentmusicadvice.com/2010/07/dealing-with-gig-nerves-and-performance-nerves-the-ultimate-guide/comment-page-1/#comment-14856 Bisonpowers Sat, 25 Dec 2010 00:40:07 +0000 http://www.independentmusicadvice.com/?p=1128#comment-14856 Good article and well put - Cheers! Have to disagree on the family bit though. Maybe ultra close family is okay. I played a gig tonight and it was going well then I saw my girlfriends brother and parents come in to watch and it my playing completely degraded. With strangers I find that I don't care to much about their opinions so I can play freely without the worry. I do take feedback though and their is always something. First is was to look less stiff, then to speak to the audience more, then less time between songs, then to change out weaker songs. If you can't take criticism then your in the wrong game. At any one gig their will be people cringing at you and people dancing and really getting into it. There will also be better musicians that judge yo and worse musicians that look up to you. Just try to improve one thing at a time, it take double digits gig wise before you find a set that your audience like, you can play well and look natural on stage. Takes a lot more to get a good reputation so good luck - just remember, when your on your death bed you'll be glas you did it whatever the result. You had the balls to get on that stage and expose yourself to peoples judgment, most people in that room could never do that (excluding jam nights) Good article and well put – Cheers! Have to disagree on the family bit though. Maybe ultra close family is okay. I played a gig tonight and it was going well then I saw my girlfriends brother and parents come in to watch and it my playing completely degraded. With strangers I find that I don’t care to much about their opinions so I can play freely without the worry.

I do take feedback though and their is always something. First is was to look less stiff, then to speak to the audience more, then less time between songs, then to change out weaker songs. If you can’t take criticism then your in the wrong game. At any one gig their will be people cringing at you and people dancing and really getting into it. There will also be better musicians that judge yo and worse musicians that look up to you.

Just try to improve one thing at a time, it take double digits gig wise before you find a set that your audience like, you can play well and look natural on stage. Takes a lot more to get a good reputation so good luck – just remember, when your on your death bed you’ll be glas you did it whatever the result. You had the balls to get on that stage and expose yourself to peoples judgment, most people in that room could never do that (excluding jam nights)

]]> By: Independent Music Advice http://www.independentmusicadvice.com/2010/07/dealing-with-gig-nerves-and-performance-nerves-the-ultimate-guide/comment-page-1/#comment-7499 Independent Music Advice Mon, 18 Oct 2010 19:10:25 +0000 http://www.independentmusicadvice.com/?p=1128#comment-7499 Hi Mike. Yer, that's one of the main problems with performing in front of some friends and family members, some times they won't have the heart to tell you what needs to be said. That, or some times they just don't know enough about the music to give constructive criticism. It would be ideal to perform in front of a fellow musician that's also a friend, ask them to be 100% honest with you when giving feedback. That way you can practice performing in front of people while also getting useful feedback. Everyone is different, so while the points mentioned in this article can be good as a guideline, they won't necessarily work for everyone. It's just about finding out what's right for you and moving forward. Thanks for your comment. Hi Mike. Yer, that’s one of the main problems with performing in front of some friends and family members, some times they won’t have the heart to tell you what needs to be said. That, or some times they just don’t know enough about the music to give constructive criticism. It would be ideal to perform in front of a fellow musician that’s also a friend, ask them to be 100% honest with you when giving feedback. That way you can practice performing in front of people while also getting useful feedback.

Everyone is different, so while the points mentioned in this article can be good as a guideline, they won’t necessarily work for everyone. It’s just about finding out what’s right for you and moving forward. Thanks for your comment.

]]> By: Mike http://www.independentmusicadvice.com/2010/07/dealing-with-gig-nerves-and-performance-nerves-the-ultimate-guide/comment-page-1/#comment-7497 Mike Mon, 18 Oct 2010 18:11:31 +0000 http://www.independentmusicadvice.com/?p=1128#comment-7497 Interesting article, but I find that I'm almost the exact opposite on a couple of points: I often found it harder to perform in front of friends/family than complete strangers. I also didn't tend to find their comments beneficial or I was more likely to just believe that they were telling me what I wanted to hear instead of being truthful (maybe that just says something about me?) Also, getting to the show often helped me relax instead of stress out. Some of my main concerns with a show was 1) Getting there on time 2) Making sure my bass was tuned and ready and checking my equipment so that everything was good to go. Until I arrived at the venue and knew that everything was setup and working properly, I'd have those concerns in the back of my head and find it hard to relax. Great article and good advice, perhaps I'm just wired a little bit differently! Interesting article, but I find that I’m almost the exact opposite on a couple of points:

I often found it harder to perform in front of friends/family than complete strangers.

I also didn’t tend to find their comments beneficial or I was more likely to just believe that they were telling me what I wanted to hear instead of being truthful (maybe that just says something about me?)

Also, getting to the show often helped me relax instead of stress out. Some of my main concerns with a show was 1) Getting there on time 2) Making sure my bass was tuned and ready and checking my equipment so that everything was good to go.

Until I arrived at the venue and knew that everything was setup and working properly, I’d have those concerns in the back of my head and find it hard to relax.

Great article and good advice, perhaps I’m just wired a little bit differently!

]]> By: Independent Music Advice http://www.independentmusicadvice.com/2010/07/dealing-with-gig-nerves-and-performance-nerves-the-ultimate-guide/comment-page-1/#comment-3169 Independent Music Advice Fri, 03 Sep 2010 14:57:21 +0000 http://www.independentmusicadvice.com/?p=1128#comment-3169 Agreed Gareth, but it's a very real problem that many musicians need to overcome before they can gig. I've seen too many people not pursue shows because their fear of live performances, them not gigging is only hurting their career in the long run. Agreed Gareth, but it’s a very real problem that many musicians need to overcome before they can gig. I’ve seen too many people not pursue shows because their fear of live performances, them not gigging is only hurting their career in the long run.

]]> By: GarethB http://www.independentmusicadvice.com/2010/07/dealing-with-gig-nerves-and-performance-nerves-the-ultimate-guide/comment-page-1/#comment-3046 GarethB Thu, 02 Sep 2010 07:54:47 +0000 http://www.independentmusicadvice.com/?p=1128#comment-3046 Great to see someone writing about dealing with stagefright/nerves in terms of playing a band booking. It's an often overlooked area - maybe cos we're all supposed to be "too cool" to feel that way! Great to see someone writing about dealing with stagefright/nerves in terms of playing a band booking. It’s an often overlooked area – maybe cos we’re all supposed to be “too cool” to feel that way!

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