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Answered by Just Plain Folks Mentor Susan Gibson
Michelle...
My background started when I was playing solo gigs in coffeeshops and I was responsible for every single noise that was made...but when I started playing with my band, The Groobees, I felt that stagefright come back...I mean I was no longer slouching behind a guitar, providing background music for people's conversation....folks had actually paid money to see us, so that made me real nervous....What did they expect? What if they didn't like us? What if they walked out?? The two things that I absolutely depend on to get over my stagefright when I have it now are:
1. I expect to have fun..that is what people are paying for....sure people expect a lot from their entertainers, but that's ok...because you can deliver...they don't expect to see you up on stage doing the latest dance moves from Janet Jackson (does she have any recent dance moves?)...they paid to see you and your band DO what you and your band do best... Have fun..that is what most people pay for!
2. Moving from a solo thing to a band thing taught me one thing....those other people that are up on stage with you?....you know, your band? Be friends..be friends on stage...PLAY together...that's why it's called playing music, not working music.....interact with each other....smile at each other...smile at your audience.....I know that even if every other person in the bar hates what we're doing, there's at least 4 other guys on the stage that are thrilled by what I do....We hear more compliments like "Wow...you guys look like you are having so much fun together!!" than we hear..."That was the BEST band I've ever heard!!" When you are having a good time....making a conscious effort at having a good time...all those things that make you nervous (what if I can't dance? what if my guitar strings break? What if my stage monitor blows up and catches the front row on fire?) are not such insurmountable obstacles.
Good luck to you, Michelle, and I hope that your gigs get funner and funner....because that is part of your paycheck as a playing musician!