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IanD

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Posts posted by IanD

    Performing Live, Nerves and Forever Young

    in Guitar Playing & Technique

    Posted

    On 8/27/2019 at 4:06 PM, gotto said:

    Good luck on the open mic! You will do great. Hope someone is capturing the moment for you.

    Greg

    Well, I did it... I finally performed at my first ever open mic - and survived!

    I was encouraged to do it by another performer from the show at the top of this thread. She told me about an open mic she goes to at a nice pub that's on once per month. I went along last month to watch and committed to perform this time. 

    When I went to watch I realised how important song choice is, a few people said to me "if I'm going to the pub, I want to hear songs that I know and a few sing-alongs". I noticed that there was a young woman with a beautiful voice and finger style guitar playing 'Fields of Gold', but no-one was watching (except me) and you couldn't hear her over the din.

    I tend to play/sing, slow and miserable songs when alone - no good methinks. I found it really difficult to pick some songs though that everyone will know, are more upbeat, that I can play comfortably, that I can sing comfortably. I settled on 'Have You Ever Seen the Rain', 'Daydream Believer' and 'Paint it Black' (yes. miserable but everyone knows it!).

    Anyway, on the night the venue was incredibly quiet with far less open mic performers and far less patrons than last time - probably not a bad thing for first time. When I got up, I announced at the mic that this was my first open mic ever, anywhere and was amazed to get a huge cheer before everyone gathered round and actually stopped talking to watch - whoops, I just inadvertently created pressure! Massive cheer at the end of the first song and then everyone returned to their usual private conversations.

    I was really pleased how it went. I actually didn't feel too nervous, and people said I didn't look nervous, but the symptoms of nerves appeared. My hands shook, I rushed a bit and missed some chords. I had memorised the songs, but took lyric and chord sheets as a crutch in case I froze. I ended up with my eyes glued to the music stand which impaired the overall performance slightly. 

    Overall though: yes, really pleased. I've now done it so no more excuses. The audience were really supportive and probably wouldn't even notice the mistakes if they weren't watching so closely on the first song. I'm determined now to get back out and do it regularly. I've found some other venues and will try to get out to do one live performance per week if possible.

    Sorry about the long thread. If anyone reading this would love to perform live but thinks it would be impossible due to nerves, then I say if I can do it - anyone can. You just have to be patient, practice a lot, find performance practice opportunities, simulate performance environment (use a mic/p.a. and create distractions) and finally get out there and do it. First time probably won't go so well - KEEP GOING!

    Ian

    • Like 1

    Performing Live, Nerves and Forever Young

    in Guitar Playing & Technique

    Posted

    59 minutes ago, NeilES335 said:

    Great job Ian! I noticed this too, when you were playing guitar you really settled into the song; you voice became steadier and on pitch, and the feeling came through too. Perhaps playing while singing felt more comforting,  I've only played on stage once in a pick up situaton with a good band, and led a 12 bar blues with a singer... I was a bit shaky at the start, but I too settled in a bit after a verse or two.. Don't know if I'd have the voice to sing as well, but I see you have a singing coach so thats a great step too. Keep it up!  Regards; Neil

    Thanks Neil,

    Singing and playing at the same time are definitely harder than separately, but I do like to hide behind the guitar 😁

    Ian

    Performing Live, Nerves and Forever Young

    in Guitar Playing & Technique

    Posted

    34 minutes ago, CapM said:

    There can be so many distractions when performing live (our own errors, insufficient monitoring, and even errors by bandmates can be even more distracting because I think "what the heck was that" and then have a break in concentration). 

    Thanks Cap! Yes, I've noticed how the smallest, unexpected things can cause a distraction and then everything seems to go to pieces in that nervy environment. As part of my prep this time I deliberately tried to simulate as much as I could - I had my wife try to distract me or put me off, I practiced with and without a mic and amplification, I had the guitar too loud and too quiet and the same with the backing track and mic. I'd recommend to anyone thinking of playing out to get as much experience as possible and try to simulate a real word (non-ideal) environment in practice.

    Ian

    • Like 1

    Performing Live, Nerves and Forever Young

    in Guitar Playing & Technique

    Posted

    I have found that I sometimes get so nervous when playing in front of others that it's debilitating. I forget the lyrics, sing in the wrong key, my hands shake and can't find the correct strings and I often just look terrified. I'm determined, though, to keep at it and have been working hard over the last couple of years convinced that it'll get easier with more practice and experience.

    I was very fortunate to attend the Guitar Gathering in Nashville in June this year and my good online friend @gotto and I put our names down to perform the Bob Dylan song 'Forever Young' as a duet. It was a great experience, and one I'll never forget, but my nerves did appear as I stepped up on stage and I struggled - sorry Greg!

    However... my fabulous singing teacher gave me an opportunity to perform at her Summer Concert one month later and I decided to have another go at the same song, sadly this time without Greg. I put in loads of preparation and rehearsal time, made my own backing track so I wouldn't feel quite so exposed, and my teacher, Heather, and her colleague, Laura-Jane, kindly offered to provide backing vocals. 

    There were over 200 (friendly) people in the audience, but fortunately I couldn't see them because of the stage lighting 😆. Anyway, I was very pleased with how it went. Could it be better - yes; were the guitar chords and strumming about as simple as they come - yes; did I go slightly out of sync with the drum beat at one point - yes. However, I think this is genuinely the first time I have performed live without making any errors with lyrics or chords. I enjoyed every minute of it!

    If anyone out there would enjoy performing live, to any kind of audience, but puts it off because of nerves or lack of confidence - I say just go for it. Somebody recently said "nobody ever died of embarrassment". Everyone has to start somewhere and is bound to improve with practice.

    Ian

     

    • Like 7

    Good TEDx Talk

    in Guitar Open Talk

    Posted

    Hi everyone. My singing teacher recently did this TEDx talk and I think it applies equally well to guitar playing as it does to singing.

    Why is it that people who are 'not very good at it' can play golf, football, tennis etc for fun and nobody gives it a second thought, yet music is often considered only for those that are 'good at it'? Have you ever thought "I really shouldn't sing, I'm no good at it" or even "I should give up guitar, I'm not very good at it"?

    The message in the talk is: If it gives you joy, then just do it!

    Ian

     

    • Like 3
    • Thanks 4

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