Performance nervousness/anxiety?

floridasfinest · 08-25-2014, 08:57 PM

Hey all,

New member here! Seems like an awesome community so far...
Anyways, I am 24 year old male, and just performed my 2nd open mic. My first open mic (last week) went something like this:

songs 1 was horrible (very nervous sounding voice), songs 2, 3, and 4 were ok/good...I even got compliments from people saying my voice sounded great!

Tonight I only played 2 songs, and they sounded god awful...i guarantee it was because I felt nervous/rushed..mostly nervous. I could feel my stomach even shiver while I was singing, and I could just tell my voice sounded so weak and shaky.

I can sing...alone that is, and was wondering how long it took any of you singing/playing performers to finally feel comfortable on a stage. I am not a shy person, but I'm not very outgoing either. I approach people, and converse when they approach me. However I know I need to break this barrier, and would simply like to know what others have to say about playing live and finally becoming comfortable.

Thanks in advance!

**Frownland** · 08-25-2014, 09:07 PM

In all honesty the best way to do it is to do it more often, but there are other things you can do. First off you can do a bunch of drugs and the nervousness melts away! Then (on to real advice) you can flex your leg muscles before going up or during the performance, this releases stress and helps relax you. Staying hydrated also helps because you can avoid cottonmouth. Lastly, use the nervousness to your advantage and put that energy into your performance. But practicing is really the best way to go about it, maybe for your situation you can play your songs in front of a family member, girlfriend, or pal of yours to prepare for having eyes on you as you play.

I hope this helps.

floridasfinest · 08-25-2014, 09:20 PM

Im thinking that it will just come with experience...I dont drink too much, but have at least 1 before I go.

Thanks for the advice!

GuD · 08-27-2014, 07:39 PM

"floridasfinest"

reported or whatever

Roxo has 2 accounts.

BananaPhish · 08-28-2014, 11:04 AM

You could just learn to sing in the key you are trying to do...isn't that the point of singing? I mean its just practice, I don't have the balls you do, or lack there of, not sure if you are a chick or not, just so covering my ass. Anyways, its really just memorizing the key you are comfortable singing in. Whether you are uncomfortable or not, shouldn't effect your performance eventually, until you are in the "big show" so to say. Practice!

JuiceBawcks · 09-07-2014, 05:51 PM

You need to get used to playing infront of people. Play it to your friends or family or even pets. To be honest I try not to think to much about it.

Pet_Sounds · 09-07-2014, 07:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WhateverDude

"floridasfinest"

reported or whatever

Roxo has 2 accounts.

It's Roxy's style all right…. But it doesn't make sense.

RoxyRollah · 09-08-2014, 04:51 AM

Its not me...

This person is clearly a juice box!

Plus I wouldn't ever pretend to be male guys....

08-25-2014, 08:57 PM	#1 (permalink)
floridasfinest Groupie Join Date: Aug 2014 Posts: 2	Performance nervousness/anxiety? Hey all, New member here! Seems like an awesome community so far... Anyways, I am 24 year old male, and just performed my 2nd open mic. My first open mic (last week) went something like this: songs 1 was horrible (very nervous sounding voice), songs 2, 3, and 4 were ok/good...I even got compliments from people saying my voice sounded great! Tonight I only played 2 songs, and they sounded god awful...i guarantee it was because I felt nervous/rushed..mostly nervous. I could feel my stomach even shiver while I was singing, and I could just tell my voice sounded so weak and shaky. I can sing...alone that is, and was wondering how long it took any of you singing/playing performers to finally feel comfortable on a stage. I am not a shy person, but I'm not very outgoing either. I approach people, and converse when they approach me. However I know I need to break this barrier, and would simply like to know what others have to say about playing live and finally becoming comfortable. Thanks in advance!

08-25-2014, 09:07 PM	#2 (permalink)
Frownland SOPHIE FOREVER Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: East of the Southern North American West Posts: 35,548	In all honesty the best way to do it is to do it more often, but there are other things you can do. First off you can do a bunch of drugs and the nervousness melts away! Then (on to real advice) you can flex your leg muscles before going up or during the performance, this releases stress and helps relax you. Staying hydrated also helps because you can avoid cottonmouth. Lastly, use the nervousness to your advantage and put that energy into your performance. But practicing is really the best way to go about it, maybe for your situation you can play your songs in front of a family member, girlfriend, or pal of yours to prepare for having eyes on you as you play. I hope this helps. __________________ Studies show that when a given norm is changed in the face of the unchanging, the remaining contradictions will parallel the truth. d e a f b o x

08-27-2014, 07:39 PM	#4 (permalink)
GuD Dude... What? Join Date: Oct 2013 Posts: 1,322	"floridasfinest" reported or whatever Roxo has 2 accounts. __________________ I spit bullets in my feet Every time I speak So I write instead And still people want me dead ~msc

08-28-2014, 11:04 AM	#5 (permalink)
BananaPhish Groupie Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 46	You could just learn to sing in the key you are trying to do...isn't that the point of singing? I mean its just practice, I don't have the balls you do, or lack there of, not sure if you are a chick or not, just so covering my ass. Anyways, its really just memorizing the key you are comfortable singing in. Whether you are uncomfortable or not, shouldn't effect your performance eventually, until you are in the "big show" so to say. Practice! Last edited by BananaPhish; 08-28-2014 at 11:22 AM.

08-25-2014, 09:20 PM	#3 (permalink)
floridasfinest Groupie Join Date: Aug 2014 Posts: 2	Im thinking that it will just come with experience...I dont drink too much, but have at least 1 before I go. Thanks for the advice!

09-07-2014, 05:51 PM	#6 (permalink)
JuiceBawcks Groupie Join Date: Sep 2014 Posts: 10	You need to get used to playing infront of people. Play it to your friends or family or even pets. To be honest I try not to think to much about it.