Gigs, still get that feeling . .

[Stofferson]

Afternoon guys,

Next week i shall be playing probably the biggest gig we've done to date.

As a band (originals) we do around 80--100 gigs a year, but even with this coming up i'm still bricking it, what if my bass explodes, what if my cables turn to dust?

Doe's anyone else still get the old butterflies before a gig?

[FinnDave]

Yeah, seems to creeping in since I quit a couple of bands and was gigging just about every week, to play in a more specialised band that plays bigger venues, but less frequently. Tomorrow I'll be playing my first gig for two months, headlining a festival in Kent - and it doesn't help that the band on before us is one I used to follow in the 70s and whose bass player was quite an influence on my playing. 

The fact that we change the set list for every gig doesn't help me either - though they are a great bunch to play with. It'll be a friendly crowd as well, we know a lot of the people in the UK Deadhead scene.

 

[4000]

I suffer from anxiety, depression and ptsd. Whether because of this or simply because the universe likes to kick a man when he's down, I always get nervous before gigs, even if no-one is there. Always have done (started gigging at 17 and am now 55 and it's made no difference whatsoever). The degree varies; sometimes it lasts a few numbers, sometimes the first set, sometimes pretty much all evening. Recently it's been especially bad as it's been a terrible year, for various reasons, and my nerves are shots to bits. But still, I plod on because the option is to not plod on, and I've seen first hand where that leads. 

We played a couple of numbers at the start of the year at a fairly large local event event that was being filmed by the BBC. Amazingly, we got through it without a hitch (I've seen the footage and we were spot on), but to say I was nervous would be a huge understatement. Frozen to the spot is more accurate. 😉Typically of course, they didn't show our bit, so it was a complete waste of nervous energy. 

I think the most nervous I've been in recent years was playing to a packed (and very large) tent at the Acoustic Festival of Britain the other year, going on immediately before Martin Turner of Wishbone Ash (something of a legend in my eyes) and on the same bill as Fairport Convention, Howard Jones etc. It was by far the most prestigious gig we'd done, and one where we were very aware of the possibility that we might not be up to it. Thankfully I wasn't alone as the rest of the band (well, bar one) were absolutely crapping it too. I was so terrified I could barely move my fingers. Once again, we actually played fine and went down really well, even getting a great review in Acoustic magazine (as I stated in another thread). I have to say that occasionally when I haven't been so nervous the band performance generally has been terrible, so there's always that. 😂

It would be nice to play one of these gigs completely (or even vaguely) relaxed though, as I'm always firing on about 3 out of 6 cylinders and it would be lovely to play with the full compliment. I think I've only ever been in one band where I was hardly ever nervous, but I was generally very drunk at gigs in those days, which helped a great deal. 😉

 

[Lozz196]

I don’t seem to get nervous, though I do get rather impatient to get on and play, and always make sure I take a pee before going on (so I don’t want to go when on stage). Maybe these are symptoms of pre-gig nerves, who knows.

[Newfoundfreedom]

I'm like a bear with a sore derriere on gig days. Before we even started the band I was fully upfront and told everyone that I didn't want to be out gigging every weekend, and half a dozen, party / BBQ type gigs a year would do me just fine. Yet, here we are again, another Saturday night gig coming up and I can already feel my mood darkening. 

I just don't think I'm built to be in a gigging band. Like 4000 above, I have my own personal battles with depression and anxiety and being in a gigging band just causes me way too much stress. So much so that I've just told the band that after our last booked commitment at the end of the month, I think I'm jacking it all in. I just don't need the stress in my life. 

Edited August 3, 2019 by Newfoundfreedom

[chris_b]

20 hours ago, Stofferson said:

Doe's anyone else still get the old butterflies before a gig?

Not for years.

If you are confident in your ability and those around you you shouldn't feel nervous.

Stress and nerves happen when we don't feel in control. I've done my homework so I just focus on the positive stuff, like the anticipation of a great gig, being up for the challenge of playing well and feeling excited that we're going to entertain an audience.

[mcnach]

I can't remember the last time I felt stressed about a gig. If I do it's more to do with bad logistics and "where is the singer???"   -it's always the singer-

Gigs are fun, for me, otherwise I really don't think I'd be doing them. Money is just a very welcome bonus which often gets reinvested in music related things.

 

[Leonard Smalls]

10 hours ago, Lozz196 said:

I take a pee before going on so I don’t want to go when on stage

I always take a decent sized bowl onstage as I find that sort of thing adds to the spectacle... Fills in those boring guitarist tuning up moments.

It worked for GG Allin!

[4000]

56 minutes ago, chris_b said:

Not for years.

If you are confident in your ability and those around you you shouldn't feel nervous.

Stress and nerves happen when we don't feel in control. I've done my homework so I just focus on the positive stuff, like the anticipation of a great gig, being up for the challenge of playing well and feeling excited that we're going to entertain an audience.

Chronic anxiety and depression means you never feel confident or in control. People have said to me in the past that it’s about being prepared, but it doesn’t matter how prepared I am, the anxiety kicks in anyway. If it was that easy I’d just chuck my meds in the bin, scrap the counselling and samba my way through life, instead of spending most days wishing I was dead.😉

[4000]

31 minutes ago, Leonard Smalls said:

I always take a decent sized bowl onstage as I find that sort of thing adds to the spectacle... Fills in those boring guitarist tuning up moments.

It worked for GG Allin!

I had to go for a pee mid gig once. But as I’ve seen John Frusciante do the same thing at Leeds Festival I didn’t feel too bad about it. 

Edited August 3, 2019 by 4000

[ambient]

Not playing particularly no, my gigs over the last three years have mostly been solo gigs too. The only one I was very nervous about was one I did with Steve Lawson. I find meditation beforehand really helps. The thing I’ve always disliked is the period before and after the gig, having to interact with people. Especially if you’ve just played solo, people assume you’re this super-confident person, and I’m not.

If you get nervous playing, just make sure you’re well prepared. It’s only music at the end of the day. If you get so nervous that you don’t enjoy it, then why are you doing it?

[4000]

12 minutes ago, ambient said:

 

If you get nervous playing, just make sure you’re well prepared. It’s only music at the end of the day. If you get so nervous that you don’t enjoy it, then why are you doing it?

I covered the preparation bit above, so I won’t repeat that bit.

In my case, a few reasons. One, because on the odd occasion where I do enjoy it, it just about makes up for the rest. Two, because I’m masochistic enough to want to put my songs out there, although why, I’m not sure. Three, and probably most importantly, gigs fund everything else the band does, particularly recording. If we didn’t earn money from gigs we’d be struggling to afford to record and put out music, which is my main aim. So it’s kind of a necessary evil. Plus of course, nerves or no, it’s part of the creative process in many ways. Also, as I suggested before, stopping doing it would probably fold the band, and then what I would be left with would be a miserable - but likely pretty short😉 - life doing a job I hate 8 hrs a day and hating myself for the rest. Unfortunately, for some of us, in order to keep moving forward in life we sometimes have to do things that we find difficult, otherwise we have no life at all. 

Edited August 3, 2019 by 4000

[ambient]

5 minutes ago, 4000 said:

I covered the preparation bit above, so I won’t repeat that bit.

In my case, a few reasons. One, because on the odd occasion where I do enjoy it, it just about makes up for the rest. Two, because I’m masochistic enough to want to put my songs out there, although why, I’m not sure. Three, and probably most importantly, gigs fund everything else the band does, particularly recording. If we didn’t earn money from gigs we’d be struggling to afford to record and put out music, which is my main aim. So it’s kind of a necessary evil. Plus of course, nerves or no, it’s part of the creative process in many ways. Also, as I suggested before, stopping doing it would probably fold the band, and then what I would be left with would be a miserable - but likely pretty short😉 - life doing a job I hate 8 hrs a day and hating myself for the rest. Unfortunately, for some of us, in order to keep moving forward in life we sometimes have to do things that we find difficult, otherwise we have no life at all. 

Have you tried hypnotherapy? Both my aunt and my brother have used it successfully, one for fear of heights, the other flying. I suffer terribly from anxiety problems, I use propranolol, it can help for performance anxiety too, lots of classical musicians and opera singers use it. You’d need it prescribed.

[4000]

4 minutes ago, ambient said:

Have you tried hypnotherapy? Both my aunt and my brother have used it successfully, one for fear of heights, the other flying. I suffer terribly from anxiety problems, I use propranolol, it can help for performance anxiety too, lots of classical musicians and opera singers use it. You’d need it prescribed.

Food for thought. I shall look into it.

[ambient]

It’s actually quite a widespread and very much misunderstood problem for musicians. Isn’t it why Kate Bush stopped performing?

I spent three years studying at one of the London music colleges. I have anxiety problems anyway, mostly due to my ASD. I’d been playing professionally for a few years beforehand, and never really had a problem with performance anxiety. I had a major problem with it at uni though. We used to have live performance workshops each week. I would get so nervous though, I’d literally be trembling with nerves. It was the same in exams. Of the four or five tutors I had, only two understand and helped, the others were; to put it frankly, hopeless.

As people have already said, meditation, and being fully prepared can help. The Alexander technique is good too. Alcohol doesn’t in my experience work. I don’t drink, but I’ve encountered people who do, and I’ve seen people using it to suppress their nerves, it actually makes it worse, and definitely has an adverse effect on the performance. I think it can become that you drink to relieve nerves, it makes you mess up, so you get nervous, so drink more......etc.

 

[knirirr]

1 hour ago, ambient said:

 Alcohol doesn’t in my experience work. I don’t drink, but I’ve encountered people who do, and I’ve seen people using it to suppress their nerves, it actually makes it worse, and definitely has an adverse effect on the performance. I think it can become that you drink to relieve nerves, it makes you mess up, so you get nervous, so drink more......etc.

 

Agreed - even one pint can be enough to put a spanner in the works, I find.

[4000]

2 hours ago, ambient said:

It’s actually quite a widespread and very much misunderstood problem for musicians. Isn’t it why Kate Bush stopped performing?

I spent three years studying at one of the London music colleges. I have anxiety problems anyway, mostly due to my ASD. I’d been playing professionally for a few years beforehand, and never really had a problem with performance anxiety. I had a major problem with it at uni though. We used to have live performance workshops each week. I would get so nervous though, I’d literally be trembling with nerves. It was the same in exams. Of the four or five tutors I had, only two understand and helped, the others were; to put it frankly, hopeless.

As people have already said, meditation, and being fully prepared can help. The Alexander technique is good too. Alcohol doesn’t in my experience work. I don’t drink, but I’ve encountered people who do, and I’ve seen people using it to suppress their nerves, it actually makes it worse, and definitely has an adverse effect on the performance. I think it can become that you drink to relieve nerves, it makes you mess up, so you get nervous, so drink more......etc.

 

It is indeed why she stopped. Ozzy suffers terribly too apparently. I know it’s very common; stands to reason really. I mean, how many folk like standing up and speaking in front of people? It’s essentially the same thing, and most people are terrified of doing that. I remember doing a presentation at school once, and 95% of the class were petrified, and yet all we were really doing was reading our notes out loud. Same with a best man speech I once did, and yet I was paralysed with fear. Being a musician and being a natural performer aren’t necessarily the same thing, and why should they be?

I’ve found that neither meditation nor preparation helps one jot in my case. I might be able to play a set backwards and upside down in my sleep at rehearsal, but in front of people it is always, always different, and I’ve been dealing with it for not far off 40 years now. Of course watching us you might never notice as I usually cover it reasonably well. 😉 I’ve also found that alcohol helps no end, but I tend not to drink hardly at all these days - I was never a big drinker anyway - and one of the band is a recovering alcoholic, so I usually opt to remain completely sober to show solidarity and provide support. In all those years though, I’ve never found alcohol affects me like in your example; past a certain point it will make playing sloppier, but it’s never made me more nervous/anxious. 

 

 

Edited August 3, 2019 by 4000

[4000]

21 minutes ago, knirirr said:

Agreed - even one pint can be enough to put a spanner in the works, I find.

One’s not enough. You need to drink at least a couple. 😉

[Newfoundfreedom]

I'm still very much missing the "love" side of gigging.

It's a horrible feeling of nervous energy all day (sometimes several days) before the gig, and the same feeling pretty much throughout. I maybe start to relax a couple of songs before the end, knowing it's almost over. Then there's the dopamine rush after. Which is just the feeling of having gotten away with it. That's pretty much the only enjoyable part, but it's certainly not worth the stress of the build up. 

For me It's kind of akin to getting into a fight and getting away without getting your head kicked in. 

[4000]

43 minutes ago, Newfoundfreedom said:

I'm still very much missing the "love" side of gigging.

It's a horrible feeling of nervous energy all day (sometimes several days) before the gig, and the same feeling pretty much throughout. I maybe start to relax a couple of songs before the end, knowing it's almost over. Then there's the dopamine rush after. Which is just the feeling of having gotten away with it. That's pretty much the only enjoyable part, but it's certainly not worth the stress of the build up. 

For me It's kind of akin to getting into a fight and getting away without getting your head kicked in. 

I think the thing that keeps it manageable - just - for me is gigging as frequently as possible. Time away is the worst thing possible, IMO, but of course YMMV. 

[Muzz]

I always, always look forward to gigging, tho on the day/night I'm never nervous, just keen to get on and get going. I don't mind the punters, mostly, as long as they're not hammered experts...two things which amazingly seem to go hand in hand...

[Bluewine]

On 02/08/2019 at 18:48, Lozz196 said:

I don’t seem to get nervous, though I do get rather impatient to get on and play, and always make sure I take a pee before going on (so I don’t want to go when on stage). Maybe these are symptoms of pre-gig nerves, who knows.

When I play higher profile gigs it always been fast pace shows. I'm usuallyy too busy to get nervous.

I can get nervous at times but it's usually not because of the size of the crowd but who's in tbe crowd. We have some local "heavy hitters" that can intimidate me.

 

Blue

[4000]

Bear in mind I do have ptsd, which I’m sure doesn’t help me. 😉

[bigjohn]

I sometimes get nervous. I find smaller crowds are worse and empty rooms. And when I know people, especially if they’ve never seen me play. Knowing someone is coming can sometimes make me nervous in a run up to a gig. Its easier to play to 1000s than to less than a hundred I've found.

Most often I forget about all that once were going. I agree with the associated stress too. Others being late or messing about can sometimes get on my wick a bit, which sometimes doesn’t help. 

Eating properly on the day of the gig is key for me. And not drinking too much the night before. If I do that, The nerves aren’t so jangly and are somewhat part of the fun. 

 

[BrunoBass]

I very rarely get nervous, only usually if we’re doing a big festival or some kind of special event. Even then though it’s pretty mild, and tempered with excitement / adrenalin which I find to be an enjoyable and addictive combination. 

I always get the butterflies feeling of anticipation, for any gig, which usually starts late afternoon as I start to think abut packing my gear up. I’m glad I get that feeling, even after all this time. It’d be a pity if gigging didn’t excite me that much anymore.