any tips on performing? i get really nervous and lock up every time...
Haha nice timing. I'm at home getting ready for a house concert on Saturday night, so it's a good time to put down some thoughts on performing. Good mental prep, you know?
The most important thing in performing is to be bulletproof in your playing.
I've been performing since I was 6 or something, on piano. So you could say that I have a lot of performance experience. Small audiences? Sure. Audience of 2000? No problem. But back then, I was just having fun. If you put me in front of a 2000-strong audience now, you would see me trying to crawl off of the stage with a severe case of jelly legs. I didn't really know what was going on, even through middle school. Most of what I'm going to say is what I learned from my first "gig" earlier in July.
This time, I had a job. I had to keep diners entertained and happy while they munched on fancy food. It wasn't like the usual classical concert, where you'd go up and perform a piece that you practiced for months to a classical music loving crowd. It was a completely different game, but I learned so much from it (and the subsequent gigs that followed from it).
The two weeks before the gig, I averaged around 7 hours of practice a day. I was that nervous, and wanted everything to be perfect. That's probably the worst mindset to have when you go into a performance. I was extremely nervous for the first few songs, and concentrated too much on analyzing my playing and technique. It was pretty soulless, and I berated myself for every tiny mistake I made. After my third song, Van Wagner (the awesome musician that I opened for, check him out at
vanwagnermusic.com) waved for my attention and mouthed, "have fun."
If you feel like you can't get into the zone, don't start worrying. That's the last thing you want to do! Analyze your playing offstage, not on the stage. You play music because you love it (I hope. Don't get me started on people who pick up guitar for other reasons). When performing, try to concentrate on that simple happiness you get when you play music, and everything will click. If you're having fun, the audience will have fun with you.
In order for this to happen, though, you need to be "bulletproof." You have to be completely comfortable with the technique. The only way to get to that point is to practice. Repetition is the key. Practice over and over until your fingers are on autopilot. That way, you can free the rest of your brain to focus on adding expression to your playing, which is what really makes the music come alive.
You'll get less nervous as you play more gigs, too. Or, you'll learn how to use the nerves positively. I still get super nervous when I perform, but now that helps me get in a performing mood. With each one, you'll focus less on yourself and more on making sure the audience has a good time. Give each gig your all, even if it's just a little house concert. Every person listening to you is important and deserves your best. And it could lead to another gig! Also, try to find someone that is better at doing what you're trying to do and
do whatever they do. Seriously. I learned so much by watching Van handle an audience. It's also important to structure your playlist well. If you're playing at a new venue and no one knows of you, start big! Hit them with your flashiest playing to get a good impression right off the bat, and feed off of the crowd's energy from there.
