Nerves - General Discussion

RE: Nerves

david — Sat, 18 Dec 2021 19:17:59 +0000

I recently played an original at a well attended open mic. This song contained a lot of the most intricate fingerstyle I've ever mastered. Before it was my turn I mentally went through all the questioning of WHY I voluntarily put myself in this position! I ended up following an awesome entertainer who used to tour with Gordon Lightfoot and who played lead guitar for years in the house band at Billy Bob's nightclub. I preferred to suffer a massive coronary right then and there to get out of playing. I sucked it up and played my song, convinced I had blown several phrases in the two fingerstyle solos it contained. I was dead certain my singing voice was doing nothing but conveying a massive amount of fear. There was a lot of applause when I finished which I thought were mercy applause to sooth my humiliation. Imagine my utter surprise when later that night I saw a video someone took of my performance and posted online. The fingerstyle solos were note perfect, both of them, and my singing voice was flawless all the way through. The person who posted it also added a comment I get a lot, "there's a definite Cash vibe when Dave sings". I was dumbfounded at how my fear had me convinced the song was a total train wreck. A professional recording engineer told me that even famous people he's worked with experience the same false impressions that tortured me that night. I guess the moral of the story is to forge ahead no matter what you're experiencing and just trust all the practice you've done to overcome the anxiety. That's easy for me to say but yet just a few days following this I skipped a jam session I said I'd be at because the anxiety was at an all time high. I kicked myself for that and committed to not doing it again. There HAS to be a point at which it gets easier, right?

RE: Nerves

jrick92 — Thu, 22 Apr 2021 03:47:14 +0000

@canuck My GD is !6yo and loves the Beatles. I think she knows them all.

RE: Nerves

j.phillips189 — Tue, 20 Apr 2021 03:28:23 +0000

Thanks for reassurance everyone, good to know I’m not the only one! I’m now taking my guitar over to a friends house and just playing without intent, it seems more relaxing without audience focus. My cat remains my number one fan so I may ask everyone to wear a cat mask! Perseverance remains on all fronts!😀

RE: Nerves

jerseychicadee — Sun, 18 Apr 2021 20:36:24 +0000

I’m good howling like a branchee

RE: Nerves

Christopher Quinn — Sun, 18 Apr 2021 18:16:51 +0000

It happens to me too. It has with all instruments. It is mortifying.

RE: Nerves

George Lange — Sun, 18 Apr 2021 17:17:39 +0000

You are not alone. It happens to me too. Just keep performing in front of friends and evetually you will get it right. Persistency is the key here

RE: Nerves

canuck — Sun, 18 Apr 2021 01:51:41 +0000

Maybe there is hope for the next generation ! At 15 she liked songs from the 60's, 70's, 80's ! She even tried "House Of The Rising Sun"...that was a flashback !!! lol

RE: Nerves

canuck — Sun, 18 Apr 2021 01:39:22 +0000

Our granddaughter was here for a couple of days. She asked if she could try my guitar. She did take lessons for a while and wow ! Maybe it was the Martin but she couldn't put it down...and a beautiful voice as well ! I think it inspired both of us to work harder !

RE: Nerves

Susan Wagner — Sat, 17 Apr 2021 22:40:37 +0000

I think it's normal to be nervous in front of an audience. Don't know how these musicians do it, especially in front of an audience of thousands!

Maybe if you went out and busked in front of a lot of strangers you'd lose your nervousness. Sorry, that's all I got. LOL

RE: Nerves

jerseychicadee — Sat, 17 Apr 2021 13:53:36 +0000

I was sitting here last night all alone, playing guitar with Devin as usual. I sounded great! Then the dog barked and I heard someone come in. My grand performance was just ruined.