Ask any musician and they will tell you they have experienced stage fright at some point in their career. It doesn’t matter who you are. Whether you sell out arenas worldwide or are coming up to your first ever gig in your local bar, it’s ok to feel nervous. These nerves can get the better of you, causing you to make mistakes that do not represent your genuine talent. If you have a gig coming up and feel nervous, consider these confidence-boosting tips.
Practice, Practice, Practice
There is no better substitute for practicing your instrument. It doesn’t matter if you’re still mastering the essential guitar chords for beginners or are going over a new song. The fact is, you won’t get very far without a solid practice routine.
This is often what sets musicians apart. Those who only practice less will never be as good as those who spend hours working on their craft. Furthermore, the more you practice, the more confident you will be on the guitar or your chosen instrument.
Musicians, Put Yourself Out There
It’s understandable to be nervous. If you’ve never played in front of an audience before, it can be daunting. Nevertheless, you can work around this by putting yourself out there. In addition, giving yourself a feel for how people might receive your performance.
One of the best ways to do this is by uploading videos to YouTube or similar sites. Sometimes strangers will view your work better than anyone you know personally. Similarly, smaller gigs will help you prepare for larger attendances thus making you more comfortable performing in front of an audience.
Push Yourself Creatively
Don’t just practice the songs you are going to play. If you want to be more confident, it’s better to push yourself and go beyond. In addition, If you attempt more complicated chords and songs, you will find your usual set much easier to manage. You’ll know you have the skill to do more even if you challenge yourself in practice.
Get Advice From the Pro Musicians
Stage presence is a significant element of a successful gig. Furthermore, the right presence can trick your brain into being more confident. Through this, you can fake it til you make it. Take inspiration from the pros, whether Hendrix, Richards, Page, Knopfler, or Gerard Zappa of Wooster, to get an idea of how they turned themselves into rock stars as soon as they stepped on the stage.
The audience will be able to tell if you’re nervous, and this can affect the energy surrounding the gig. By channeling rock ‘n’ roll’s greatest performers, you will generate the confidence you need.
Be Prepared
Even the best guitarist on the planet can feel nervous in the days and hours before a big performance, but being prepared and trusting the skills you have worked on day and night will make you a better guitar player and will allow you to focus on the music rather than who you are performing for.
Craig Smith is a professional Guitarist, Teacher, and Writer living in Sanford, Florida. Craig has taught guitar lessons, performed 200+ gigs per year for nearly 30 years, and published 4 guitar instructional books. When he’s not gigging or writing, you may find him by the pool with his wife Celeste, 4 Chihuahuas, and a drink. 🎸