Re: Stage Fright
Posted: Mon Aug 27, 2012 3:44 pm
I can only offer some small things I've learned over my vast (now there is a laugh!) "career". I used to play in a garage band, but after those years, I pursued the guitar as a solo instrument, which puts all the spotlight on me in a performance. I used to think - these people are only here to see me make mistakes. That thought was totally wrong. The truth is, they have no idea what I'm doing, and most of the time - I don't either! If I miss a note, add a note that is not supposed to be there, make a note sustain too long or too short....they have no clue as to whether it is a mistake or not.
Several years ago I received some advice from a guy I jammed with. I did not really know who he was at the time, but I later found that he was a semi-pro guitarist (not fingersyle, but good nonetheless!). He told me to imagine as best as i could that I was sitting back in my bedroom where no one can hear me. Just play to have fun. If I mess up - so what? Just keep on going. If I REALLY have a case of nerves, I should just tell the listeners that I am a bit nervous but I want to do a good performance for them. I have heard Tommy Emmanuel offer this same advice recently...now 40 years after the first time I heard it, and he swears by it.
Believe it or not....most people really want you to do well, and they expect that they will hear a good performance. More likely than not...they won't hear anything but perfection! Now I know that what I do is far from perfect, but when I have fun in the performance, the audience generally seems to have fun too. I remember Chet saying he always drove himself to try things that could potentially be embarassing if he did not pull it off correctly. I don't remember anyone (other than a very few malcontents over his 50 plus years) of saying anything but how great his performances were - interesting....flawless....pretty....and in tune. Of course, he often said, "Fooled 'em again", when he was all done with the show. Maybe we can't all be Chet Atkins or Tommy Emmanuel....but we CAN have fun so that the listeners can have fun too.
Several years ago I received some advice from a guy I jammed with. I did not really know who he was at the time, but I later found that he was a semi-pro guitarist (not fingersyle, but good nonetheless!). He told me to imagine as best as i could that I was sitting back in my bedroom where no one can hear me. Just play to have fun. If I mess up - so what? Just keep on going. If I REALLY have a case of nerves, I should just tell the listeners that I am a bit nervous but I want to do a good performance for them. I have heard Tommy Emmanuel offer this same advice recently...now 40 years after the first time I heard it, and he swears by it.
Believe it or not....most people really want you to do well, and they expect that they will hear a good performance. More likely than not...they won't hear anything but perfection! Now I know that what I do is far from perfect, but when I have fun in the performance, the audience generally seems to have fun too. I remember Chet saying he always drove himself to try things that could potentially be embarassing if he did not pull it off correctly. I don't remember anyone (other than a very few malcontents over his 50 plus years) of saying anything but how great his performances were - interesting....flawless....pretty....and in tune. Of course, he often said, "Fooled 'em again", when he was all done with the show. Maybe we can't all be Chet Atkins or Tommy Emmanuel....but we CAN have fun so that the listeners can have fun too.