"As a listener, open mike nights are great. As an inexperienced performer they are a bit of a challenge, but really useful"
How I did it: One day I just went along and I got up. Oh shit! I have never been so nervous. I don't play guitar, I play keys.. bad choice in these situations as though there might be a keyboard it may be particularly difficult to get used to a different touch, height, sound etc.. I needed an octave transpose and while I was figuring that out my adrenaline must have been flowing freely as when I started to play, my hands didn't quite want to do what I asked of them and my brain most of all kept deleting vital bits of information like what chord came next, or what the lyrics were. I actually gave up and was concerned that I'd created even more nerves for myself in the future. However, it's conquerable!!!! read on!
Lessons & tips: The thing is, most people practice to be able to play not to be able to perform. You need to distinguish the two. Whilst you might be able to rattle something off for yourself, or for your mates, a public performance requires that you are thoroughly prepared..
I didn't really relish the open mike type of situation as the hanging around and steppign up onstage in that kind of scenario makes me more nervous than if I was to perform a set. However learnt fast from that experience.
Where possible (as far as keys go at least) have your own keyboard and know how high you need it and what settings are needed.. so you can do this without thinking and so that you limit the number of extraneous problems that can put you off your stride.
Be very confident in your ability to play without really needing to concentrate: in your preparation you can test this by adding difficulties to simulate the pressure of being in an unfamiliar and public situation. Use a video camera to create the sense of being watched, play withouth looking or with eyes closed, or after running upstairs.
Link in other aspects of hte performance other than the purely musical.. can you easily go from one song to the next (i.e. changing transposition, tunings, setttings etc) can you start exactly as you want to , can you look at your audience/look like you're enjoying yourself at least..|( And good mike tecnhique useful) Again a video camera is helpful.
Listen and watch yourself.. learn and be secure about how you look and behave.. (that way you won't suddenly be consumed with self doubt on stage).. try different clothes too (especially for a peformance).
Oh, and to be really prepared, make crib sheets or at least a few words that remind you how the verses start (I usually find that if Ican remember the first few words the rest follow). Analyse where the weak spots are and go over and over them.. Weak spots can be anything from making a mistake when shifting from a chord to another, to forgetting words, thin sound, intonation.
ALWAYS play like you mean it, like it's wonderfully easy, and that you love every minute. If you do this, then playing onstage will be an extension of everything you've set it up to be!!
Resources: 1. A video camera, film and a tripod!
2. Friends to listen and comment on the set
3. A decent home set up - amp, keys, mike etc.I love my Korg
4. A lesson or two on vocal technique (breathing especially useful) from Alison Heath in Sheffield
5 Palying with other people really useful
6 A metronome (if you CAN play really tightly when listening to a beat then when you play without it you'll be in your comfort zone and your mind will be used to focussing wher eit's most use i.e. listening to the actual performance rather than what you think you're playing!!
Oh, years and years of practice etc.
Oct 17, 02:03PM PDT
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