Many musicians suffer from stage fright. It’s common and it’s not dangerously affecting their performance. Exept that it is, because once you walk out on stage, into the recording studio or the audition room it’s a whole different ballgame than it was when you were at home or in your practice room.
While knowing your stuff helps, it’s not enough to deliver a top notch remarkable performance, recording session or audition. (Same if you have to give a speech or if you present your music to label executives, bookers and managers by the way.)
I’d argue that 99% of all musicians focus on the material they have to perform and don’t spend any time and thought at all on the aspect of the performance itself. Exept, of course, that they grow extremely nervous the closer they get to the gig. Auditions are the number one self esteem killer, followed by recording sessions followed by live performances. I’ve seen people throw up before auditions, shiver uncontrollably during recording sessions and literally pee their pants before important gigs.
The reason for this in all the cases I’ve seen was one and the same. Musicians didn’t prepare themselves for the performance. They focused entirely on the material they have to perform and spent no time practicing the situation of the performance.
At live gigs, about 75-80% of the audience’s perception of the concert is visual. Even auditions the visual appearance of the performer plus their non verbal communication is more important than one would imagine. In recording sessions, of course, the material matters most, because it is repeatable instantly and one can hear all the little details of the performance. But even in the studio you get a better chance on performing at your best if you rehears the situation beforehand.
I’d say that for any performance situation you have to prepare both your musical skills plus your performance skills.
This means practicing things like entering/exiting the stage (esp. for auditions), what happens between songs, how do I address the audience verbally, visually and non verbally, how do I communicate with my audience from the stage, how do I move, where on stage do I deliver which song, and much more…
The key is, though, you really have to rehearse these things like you rehearse your music.
If you have an audition, ask your partner/friends/family/peers to function as the jury and play through the scenario with them. For recording sessions, set up a little imaginary music studio and rehearse the situation. For live gigs, set up the rehearsal space like a stage and practice the show (in addition to the songs) with the band.
Video Tape Yourself
The focus here has to be on the things you do when you don’t nescessarily play. The things that happen in between. What will it be like to enter a room with a jury sitting there observing every move you make? What’s it like to have a producer, engineer and some other hang arounds in a recording studio watching you as you prepare for the recording and set up your gear? What is it like when you play a show for a live audience?
Video tape your behaviour in performance situations as often as possible. Analyse the videos and try to top your best performances.
It’s not only about the music. Any live performance is to a huge part about the presentation of the performance. Video will show you the real you. Something you can work with and improve.
Practice that and watch stage fright crawl up in a corner and vanish. Start delivering remarkable performances (the world wants you to!) and win that audition.
