[dorio]

I'm a solo performer do gigs but i suffer from stage fright. Do you think that i'd be
cured if i performed with a real band ?

[Will_Wood]

I'm a solo performer do gigs but i suffer from stage fright. Do you think that i'd be
cured if i performed with a real band ?



Testing Testing Testing

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

it depends, mate...

It all depends on the guys you have backing you up. Your perception of the your own level of talent is a HUGE factor in stage fright. A band might hide it better, though in the end, it all comes down to YOU.

[Graeme! Yes, Graeme!]

There are so many factors involved...

Is your music suitable for a band arrangement? Do you know people willing to join a band with you?

If it's just a case of confidence, then experience should help you. The more you play live the more you can get used to it, and so nerves hould start to play less of a role.

[dorio]

If i'm alone up there i'm terrified with the spotlights and all eyes set on me.


My music is not yet suitable for band arrangements and i've never given serious thoughts for joining a band or start my own. And yes i know; it's all in my mind ...

[Graeme! Yes, Graeme!]

Experience is what you need then, I reckon.

I remember one of my old bands' first gig. We were the support act for our bass player's brother's band. It was in Swansea Grand Theatre in the arts wing, in front of a couple of hundred people. We'd only had about six practice sessions... Anyway, it was our bass player's first ever gig. He was nervous as hell. He ended up vomiting three times before we even got to the theatre. Once he got on stage though, he was fine. Granted, that was with three other people on stage with him, but still, the principle is similar. You just need to get up there and do it.

Nerves are nasty, but nerves can be overcome.

[Will_Wood]

I was never nervous for some reason...

I must be an out and out attention whore...

[dorio]

Nerves are nasty, but nerves can be overcome.

Yeah i agree and like willy says it depends on me. I think the audience and venue
are very important, and once you conquer stage fright, it doesnt matter if you're
in front of 20 or 2000 people.

And i also think it's better to be up there with a band than on your own especially if
you're inexperienced. I never knew you'd made gigs BTW

[Graeme! Yes, Graeme!]

I used to gig quite a bit. Then circumstances changed. I haven't done a gig in about four years now, which is a shame. I loved playing live. Best experience ever.

[dorio]

I've played at parties and all night sessions but never in front of more than 100 but
i'm sure i'd be bloody scared if i were alone playing for 2000. I'd miss the chords

[TheGrayMusk]

I'd Join a band because solo artists suck.

[Graeme! Yes, Graeme!]

I'd Join a band because solo artists suck.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Thanks for your insightful and helpful comment

Most I've played for was about a thousand in a local festival. The sound was terrible. They had nice big speakers set up, but there was something going wrong with them. From one speaker there was an echo or reverb or something similar going on, so everything sounded like it was being played two or three times...

If your music is more suited to solo performance, consider trying to add another part so that you could adapt it for duet. Even one person extra can take the edge of focus away from you enough to help you relax more. You can support each other in that way.

Playing at parties is a good way to start. Even though it'll just be a few people instead of a few hundred, it can really help boost your confidence. Not everyone likes playing in front of big crowds, so if you do end up gigging you could try just sticking to smaller venues like pubs and clubs. Solo/acoustic work tends to work better in those kind of settings anyway - it feels more intimate, which is one of the benefits of acoustic music.

[Crawdaddy]

Something that I found useful before I ever played live gigs in clubs was that I went into the city with just an acoustic guitar and played on the streets.I did this because in that setting there are 100's and 100's of people passing by,many of who are indifferent to the fact that your standing there playing and those people are not obliged to stop an listen.Some stopped and listened but most didn't.Some liked what they heard and some were abusive.I figured that by subjecting myself to people in this manner I would be able to condition myself to peoples negative reactions should they have them.I think that a major part of stage fright is a person being worried about what others will think of their playing.If you can get it in to your mind that not everybody is going to be supportive of what you do then you can accept that any negativity from others as being nothing more than their opinion and you can then with your own open mind get on with what you do best.At the end of the day your trying to share with other people a talent that you have so the freer that you feel about it the better.

[dorio]

Thanx. Very good point here i know people who started and learnt as street musicians

[badldragon]

I never seem to have a problem - maybe on the very first line i sing - if i am singin the first song but thats it.

ostly its cos I have a huge ego and think i can do anything. The other singer in the band is better than me but he doesnt quite have as much balls and is very self critical, me on the other hand - not the worlds greatest but got balls the size of coconuts (and thats not just cos the wife isnt putting out anymore!!! lol) and while not un-critical i can give myself due when i do do a good turn.

Dorio, if you can confidently play in front of friends then that is a really big step. Doing stuff in front of poeple you know is a lot harder than doing it in front of complete strangers - well i think so anyway.

All the best with future shows!!


Malc

[dorio]

Thanks Malc, and cool to see you back. Yeah, in fact, i'd love to play in the summer
festivals, that should be awesome i think.

I was listening to some of your demos the other day and they still sound very good, it's incredible that Track Suit Ambassador is still unsigned ! So best of luck to you too

[RedEye015]

i think you will be more scared from mixing up and all specially when you are with a pro band....but i think it's better if you would play with friends,,,people that you are comfortable with and you know that no matter what you do out there they ARe willing to forgive you,,,or with people who are just doing it for fun and it won't matter if they like totally scrued on the stage!!!

[MagicOPromotion]

I have wanted to get into this band for a long time, but since I dont know their albums very well, I thought maybe someone could recommend some albums to start with?