So for a few months now I've been doing sets with my friend Kim at a local bar in wilmington. It's fun as hell, nice chill atmosphere, and most of all- i get to do something i love. But I have terrible stage fright....When I actually start singing or am behind an instrument, it's ok but building up to that point.....it sucks.

My question: those of you that have been performing for awhile, how did you do it? How did you get over stage fright, if you had it?

10/30/2007 10:16:32 AM

I never got over my stage fright. I used to get sick before every show. You just have to make it long enough to get on stage because once you start going it usually goes away. At least for me. I played out for years and it never got any better.

10/30/2007 10:20:49 AM

i think its different for each person, because ive heard lots of people like blasphemour. But for me when I started, I had terrible stage fright. Now I hardly ever get nervous about the playing in front of people part. Im more nervous about messing up a complicated part for my own sake or the bands, not the crowd.

Unfortunately, I cant tell you what changed it...mine was gradual with experience and nothing that I actively did changed my stage fright :/

10/30/2007 10:26:58 AM

Gak.

10/30/2007 10:53:26 AM

yea, it just comes with time and lots of stage time. confidence in your ability to perform will also help, where you have a concrete understanding that your performance is good.

10/30/2007 11:00:55 AM

After a while, the stage fright will turn into just plain anxiety...you'll be nervous, but ready to go, because you know you'll be fine once you get rolling. I used to get that way up to three hours before a show, and I'd get snippy with everyone else;the rest of the band called it "club mode."

10/30/2007 11:51:01 AM

Do I have to be the first person to recommend getting crunk?

10/30/2007 1:27:00 PM

^

i was kinda the same way for a while. a couple methods i found that helped without just getting drunk were to either do something flamboyant towards the beginning of a show to ease the tension or not to face the audience directly until you get comfortable. as a guitarist it was easy to pull this off since you don't expect a guitarist to be up front the whole time.

10/30/2007 2:44:31 PM

I'm cool until the last few seconds, then it all sets in and you're like OH SHIT. I find it best to jump in. Don't wait around and take time to soak in the crowd. Realize the crowd after you've already started, then it's just awesome cuz you're rockin it (hopefully)

10/30/2007 3:49:55 PM

ummm. i don't really get much stage fright anymore? i guess like vinylbandit said, i get anxious. but in the end i know that i'll get most of the notes right. and the ones that i don't get, no one except the other people on stage will know that i missed them. another thing that helps is only performing stuff that you're very comfortable with playing (ie practice makes perfect).

10/30/2007 3:57:01 PM

you just have to realize that everyone fucks up and 8/10 times no one will notice when you fuck up, and sooner or later you will.

10/30/2007 6:16:32 PM

i'm always nervous when i'm performing in front of other people

but i just have to learn to deal with and PLAY

10/30/2007 6:30:32 PM