NormanKliman -> RE: Nervous when playing for others (Mar. 7 2009 0:07:48)
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Make sure you've got your sh*t together: Keep your guitar in tune (new strings must be stable), play material that you know you can handle, don't play too long or too harshly, and remember to offer variety (silences within the piece you're playing and a change in dynamics from one piece to another). Don't rush the tempo (it's like talking too fast when nervous). Make sure you're having fun: This is the big one, because it's all about pleasure you are experiencing and transmitting to the audience. You've got to feel eager to do your job, but if you're dreading it, something's not right. It's usually an illogical fear, and it's up to you to find out what is illogical. Imagine worst-case scenarios (What if I forget what I'm playing? What if the audience starts booing?) and, if they're improbable, write them off. Remember that you're going to play material that you know you can handle. In a number of day-to-day situations, anxiety can be quelled by focusing on feeling (sensations) rather than thought. If you've ever felt nervous before sex, you probably just relaxed and focused on the pleasure factor rather than dwelling on the anxiety. Before each toque, shut out all other stimulii and get the underlying pulse going inside you BEFORE you even touch the strings. Even if you have to do that in an obvious manner in front of everyone, I think the audience is only going to appreciate your effort. You've got to feel playful with the compás, and nobody can do that if they feel threatened. After squaring away the above points, make sure not to take anyone too seriously: Aside from the fact that there are a lot of screwballs out there, there's always going to be someone who just doesn't "get" an excellent performance (see Duende's post). I'll close with my three-point strategy for today's guitarists: 1.- You're not Paco de Lucía. 2.- So what? 3.- Paco's not you.
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