[JKYTE]

I just joined sotw today and saw your forum. I started playing the clarinet about 2 1/2 years ago at the age of 49! I am loving it, and now want to give the soprano sax a try. On Saturday I am playing my clarinet in public for the first time! It's only a social evening at the music school but I am so nervous!! Does any one have any calming tips (other than smoking 'funny stuff!)
Jayne

 

[Dr G]

Too late.

Wear dark pants.

After the performance, realize that you still alive and that nothing you did at time jeopardized your safety.

Enjoy!

 

[Bubba06]

Remember, your being nervous for no reason, really, and... Being worried about something isn't going to help you out.

Good luck man!

-Bubba-

 

[Finnerski]

I pretend like I am the only one in the room, just like I am at home alone practicing. I have played more bad solos than anyone, and i am still alive. I have 3 solos to play tonight and I don't feel nervous even one bit. You have to play many bad solos before you play a good one, and even after that the bad ones will come back.

Smoking the funny stuff will only make you more self concious and nervous, although 1 or 2 drinks might help calm the nerves, just don't get sloppy drunk. There's no substitute for practice and performance experience. Playing a solo is like public speaking, either pretend you are alone, or pretend everyone in the audience is naked. Good luck!

 

[ismail]

alcohol can be calming, but a little too much and your tongue gets slow (been there). a lot too much might make the whole experience great again.
i guess my best pieces of advice are:
a) breathe calmly, expanding your belly. if you have a good backstage room, do some jumps, screams, both, or anything that will put yourself in an energetic mood (this is actually the thing that sometimes works best for me)
b) at first nervousness might be annoying, but you will be thankful for the adrenaline once you have enough experience to handle it in a positive way. it may be rough at first but it should get better.
c) if you practice at home until you do things really right, you will definitely know that it`s nothing but the nerves that may hamper your playing, thus giving you less reason to be nervous, if you catch my drift.

 

[Bubba06]

Oops... Doubled up.

Removed by user.

-Bubba-

 

[Dr G]

a) ... if you have a good backstage room, do some jumps, screams, both, or anything that will put yourself in an energetic mood (this is actually the thing that sometimes works best for me)
b) at first nervousness might be annoying, but you will be thankful for the adrenaline once you have enough experience to handle it in a positive way. it may be rough at first but it should get better.

Interesting. Wouldn't that depend on what kind of performance you are giving? I cannot imagine preparing for a classical performance by drinking a bucket o' coffee and jumping up and down. Even for high energy jazz ensembles, I usually prepare with quiet meditation so I am best focused on the music.

 

[Bubba06]

Interesting. Wouldn't that depend on what kind of performance you are giving? I cannot imagine preparing for a classical performance by drinking a bucket o' coffee and jumping up and down. Even for high energy jazz ensembles, I usually prepare with quiet meditation so I am best focused on the music.

My guess is it would depend on the person. For a naturally energetic person, movement and excitement is a natural medium for them.

Though it does depend on the situation as well, more or less. Ex: When I played basketball/baseball competitively, I listen to some really rippin' stuff. Whether it was rock music, big band, etc. But... When I'm getting ready for a gig... It's a completely different story.

-Bubba-

 

[JKYTE]

Thanks for the advice. I got a few friends to come around for coffee a few times, and played for them. ( they called themselves Rent-a-Crowd) definitely got better after a few times. I practiced pretending they weren't there! I've put in the practice so it is only the nerves I've got to master!

 

[Pete Thomas]

Playing a solo is like public speaking, either pretend you are alone, or pretend everyone in the audience is naked. Good luck!

This works for me, if I get bored with so many naked peole I start on the funny underwear.

I did an article on Performance Nerves which you can read here:

http://tamingthesaxophone.com/stage-fright-performance-nerves.html

Also a couple of very good links on that page.

Good Luck!

 

[artstove]

if you have a good backstage room, do some jumps, screams, both, or anything that will put yourself in an energetic mood (this is actually the thing that sometimes works best for me).

I would do this for a variety of performances/events, but even earlier while still at home. Nervousness - of the voice quavering, hands shaking, stomach churning variety - is a form of energy. Rather than trying to make it go away, or contain it, I found I could focus it and use it. Put on some good dance tunes and dance around the living room, jump (don't hurt yourself) and yell. I found this both energized and calmed me.

Also helpful (when you can no longer dance around and yell) is having a simple mantra you can chant that takes your mind off whatever it is fixating on, and puts it in a more appropriate mood.

 

[bandmommy]

Even after 40 years of playing I get nervous about performances. The 'sweaty hands Oh God I hope I don't royally screw up and I really need to pee' kind.
The only thing I can say to you is; Go potty before you play, trust your fingers, and don't forget to breath.

 

[Dave Dolson]

I don't get nervous anymore, but even at this late stage of my life, I refuse any alcohol before or during a gig. I have enough trouble doing everything right when I'm sober!! As far as "funny stuff", when I was on the street, it was a felony and that's still the way I view it. I don't care WHAT has changed since then.

The more you play in public, the easier it becomes. Just do it. And, good luck. DAVE

 

[artstove]

As far as "funny stuff", when I was on the street, it was a felony and that's still the way I view it. I don't care WHAT has changed since then.

In CA, possession of less than an ounce of marijuana for personal use (i.e. not for sale) has been a misdemeanor for quite a while (prior to 1990), but even then it only had a maximum penalty of $100 (i.e. no jail). But I would not recommend using any substance (alcohol, marijuana, coffee) before a performance that you are not used to using before playing.

I was told to remember that 1) no matter how badly you screw up, no one will die; 2) if you make a mistake and just keep playing and don't make a big deal of it, most of the audience won't notice (corollary - Art Lande said: "People say I am creative, but really I just make a lot of mistakes."); and 3) you are never more than a 1/2 step away from the right note.

Have fun!

 

[Mark Fleming]

I generally have three responses to stage fright.

First, think of times past when you've sat through mediocre or worse performances by others. Now, it's your turn to do it to them. There's no down side, in fact, you may surprise everyone with an entertaining performance.

Second, most of what you hear in your head, and what causes you your initial anxiety, is the fact that your tone may waiver or your timing might start off different than when you practice. But the audience isn't familiar with your "regular" tone and timing. This is what freaks people out about public speaking. You can tell in your head that your voice sounds different because of nerves and it snowballs from there. But your audience doesn't know whether your voice always sounds like that. Of course when you play you want to get in your groove because it's a comfortable place, but the audience doesn't know what your regular groove is, so you have time to find it. This is probably the most calming thoughts for me. Instead of worrying about a squeak I made in the last measure, I'm busy searching for that comfort zone where I can show what I know.

Third, public playing is simply reality. Practicing at home, or with a teacher or group that you are familiar with, can be too relaxed. Public playing is a reality check. Unless you've gambled your life, job, car, house, 401K, etc., on the outcome of the performance, there's no down side and you will learn a lot.

Mark

 

[Dave Dolson]

artstove: I am FULLY aware of that. But when I hit the streets it was a felony and that's been my mind-set ever since. I grew up when it was bad for you besides being illegal (beyond a misdemeanor sentence). Oh how times have changed. DAVE

 

[artstove]

Dave - oh, man, you must be even older than I am. But it is a good thing you didn't hit the streets during (the first) Prohibition, or you would have serious problems playing bar gigs...

 

[Dave Dolson]

Probably . . . But I just did my job. When the laws changed, I went with the flow, but I still have my personal experiences and opinions about what I saw. DAVE

 

[awholley]

Imagining the crowd isn't there is good. I'd also recommend practicing while imagining they ARE there. This will help give you a mental picture of success that you can draw upon.

I also advise students going for solo contest to walk into the audition/performance imagining they are a physically HUGE stage presence. I even go so far as to have them practice this visualization at home or in lessons by walking around a little bit with their arms outstretched to the side and perhaps imagining a cape draped from them Dracula-style. Drawing on the "I'm big and bad-a**" aspect of that seems to help some of the students keep their nerves in check as they enter.

As others have said, the only way to get past (not over) stage fright is to do it enough times that you finally realize no one is going to die because you screwed something up.

Good luck!

 

[Dr G]

In CA, possession of less than an ounce of marijuana for personal use (i.e. not for sale) has been a misdemeanor for quite a while (prior to 1990)...

Even as "only a misdemeanor", having a pot bust on your record can be career limiting - it can stop you from even participating in a lot of career paths. Let's not do any of our younger SotW members harm by suggesting that it is now viewed as "OK". That's just not true.