Okay, tonight I signed up for my school coffee house, and I am really bad infront of people. I have been playing gutiar for almost 5 years now, but I still choke up when I play infront of a group of people I don't know. Does anyone have any suggestions for me?
hmm, ive never had a problem with this. i usually just think of it as a bunch of people who really want to hear me play, but cant tell if i mess up a little, but really wouldnt care if it did. i find by thinking that i play better with an audience.
Just know that I have faith in you. And according to my friends (I've never tried it) smoking one or tow bowls may help. They won the school talent show that way.
If you mess up a little they wont notice unless they are musicians as well. I fuck up at least once on every song I play when I play at local bars. But no one notices casue they are drunk & dont have a clue about music. But they will notice if you fuck up a lot.
jeffro wrote:Just know that I have faith in you. And according to my friends (I've never tried it) smoking one or tow bowls may help. They won the school talent show that way.
Well the fact that you have faith in me helps, because I dont smoke, so I will keep you in mind
whenever i would get nervous at open mic night i would just pretend nobody was there at all, which isnt too hard in a dark room with the main lights pointed on you. If youve been playing for 5 years you know you can lose yourself in the song- just try to feel it i guess.
Play softly. When you first start playing in front of people live there is a tendency to play louder. Play softer, nuance and subletly are clutch when playing coffee-house style gigs.
peace,
CJT
~ And rain washed away all her tears and I smiled done away was the sum of all my fears ~
c_tietze wrote:Play softly. When you first start playing in front of people live there is a tendency to play louder. Play softer, nuance and subletly are clutch when playing coffee-house style gigs.
Good advice. Also, if you are really nervous about playing in front of people, then choose a few songs that are extremely easy for you. Remember that this performing thing is a process in the works....you get better and better the more you do it. So start out small, get the confidence you need, and build from there.
Good luck!
EDIT: If this has already happened, then change my post to "So how did it go?"
I played for the first time in front of people this summer at a camp I work at. It was like 90 people and I played Stay by Lisa Loeb (it was meant to be funny but sound right). I thought I did terrible and messed up a lot but everyone told me after how great it was. Just goes to show how nerves can mess with your head, but you can still play fine.
A couple of drinks never hurt anyone before hitting the stage. It will ease some "stage-frieght."
