The EM Poll

Playing Scared

Mar 14, 2008 5:19 PM, By Robin Poultney

           

British guitarust Julian Carter got especially nervous when other musicians were in the audience.

Photo: Courtesey Julian Carter

Controlled Substances

Psychologists agree that a lack of control often leads to anxiety or fear. For example, bomber crews in World War II experienced much higher levels of anxiety than pilots, because they weren't the ones flying or controlling the planes. Musicians can gain a greater sense of control by devising structured routines around performances so that each one feels more predictable and familiar. Activities could be anything from always cleaning your instrument or warming up exactly one hour before a gig to putting on the same underwear (freshly washed, of course) on each occasion. The routine itself isn't necessarily important; what is critical is the fact that you do it — the same way — before every performance.

The performance environment is also a factor. Continually coming into contact with unknown venues is an occupational hazard, but if you learn their basic details in advance — capacity, stage dimensions, layout — you can remove some of the uncertainties that fuel anxiety.

Image Consciousness

Other valuable sources of help that shouldn't be overlooked are your fellow band members, who share the common goal of cultivating an onstage image. In creating a strong group identity, people can be protected from anxiety by the social cocoon of playing a role. A classic experiment carried out by social psychologists illustrates that phenomenon. A group of prison inmates was divided into two parts, one playing guards and the other, prisoners. In reality all were prisoners, but in the simulation, the convicts acting as guards were so transformed and emboldened that the test had to be stopped to protect the others.

If you're in a group, your onstage image is partly an issue for the whole band. Whether you perform solo or with a group, don't think that creating an identity has to be an unimportant or purely commercial exercise. Its significance helps explain the paradoxical performers who are able to ooze confidence onstage yet come across as shy elsewhere.

It's easy to overlook the fact that a moderate amount of tension is perfectly natural; a slight case of nerves can actually enhance your performance and provide the spark that is the hallmark of a musician playing at the optimum level. That alone is sufficient reason to avoid the temptation to ingest large amounts of alcohol or other controlled substances to eradicate nervousness. If you practice the right psychological techniques to control your nerves, the only thing you will want to intoxicate yourself with is the audience's applause — the best drug of all.

Onstage Hotlink

www.nefsky.com
Art Nefsky's Stage Fright Help Centre.

Tips for Reducing Stage Fright

Don't be afraid of the audience. Remember that people want you to do well.
Remind yourself that it's normal to make small mistakes and that most will go unnoticed. Also remember that a little anxiety is normal.
Make eye contact with the audience. By acknowledging individuals in the crowd, you'll feel less like the center of attention.
Engage in structured preshow routines (such as warming up, cleaning your instrument, and reviewing the setlist) that you do in the same way, in the same order, for each performance. Doing so will give you an increased sense of control, thereby lessening your anxiety.
Practice deep breathing or exercise lightly before a performance. They can help stimulate brain chemicals that reduce tension.
Avoid using drugs or alcohol to combat stage fright. They can impair your judgment and adversely affect your performance.
Visit or learn about new venues you'll be playing at well in advance of shows. Advance knowledge of the physical characteristics and layout of a venue can help reduce the stress of performing there for the first time.