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How do you get over stage fright?
I have performed publicly approx. 14 times and each and everytime I either have palms that sweat, my heart feels like its in my throat or I forget the music and words!, Last night I had a wonderful opportunity to play for some fellow just plain folks ( they are a wonderful bunch of folks!) and I experienced all three, what a triple play! It seems to get worse with each venue and I don't know how to get over this hump. If anyone has a suggestion, please reply. I am at wits end and need to move forward. Post note: If anyone ever has the opportunity to meet your fellow just plain folks members and you don't take the opportunity, you are missing out. They are supportive and encouraging and gracious people!

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Stage fright is a funny thing. A little is healthy, a lot is crippling.

tips:

- Know the songs inside out . Once you're up on stage the words have to come naturally. If you have to think about them, you'll forget them.
- Take deep breaths. Don't rush.
- Remember - it's music, not heart surgery. It's not a life and death situation.
- Don't think too much (before or during the show)
- Don't drink too much caffein before you get up on stage.
- Most importantly, never give up. Keep getting up there and it'll get easier.

Greg
http://www.puddlethief.com

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Greg Hobbs,
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Melissa...

Greg's suggestions are spot on. It's unusual to have that degree of stage fright after 14 performances, but the only sure cure for it (in my experience) is confidence.

Like Greg said, knowing the songs inside & out will help you overcome a lot of the anxiety about forgetting words. But also knowing that you're good at what you do will help you immeasureably, especially in a showcase setting where you feel you'll be compared to the first ten performers.

And that's another thing-- don't compare yourself to anybody else. Everyone has a different style, and just because a guy has mastered his own guitar work doen't mean that his songs are any good. John prine is a great writer, but I wouldn't want him in my band. Everyone has strengths & weaknesses, so know what your strengths are & believe in them. Enough confidence will get you through any show.

Good luck...



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Melissa, The more you do it the better it will be. Focus, is important. You've got to appear to be having fun. The audience will connect to this. There's all kinds of methods, like make believe everyone in the audience is naked, etc. don't be afraid to establish eye contact. You're there to entertain these folks and you know what entertains you, so play the role, do the gig and have some fun. Best Regards, TJ Sullivan


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Greg, Shandy and TJ,
Thanks so much for the replies.Its good to know everyone has had an experience with it a time or two. I suppose I will just start placing notches in my guitar case and chalk it up to experience. I promise I won't give up.. [Linked Image]

Melissa

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Mellisa,i have played in a classic rock band for 17 years in front of 500 or more people and sometimes less but since i have started doing my own writers nights /open mics with my own material I too choke up /forget words ect!!! I do believe that we both will get better and stronger as we go .I have noticed if i relax wich is hard to do and have CONFIDENECE in your songs i and you too can perform with the best because we are ALL on equal grounds anyone who writes original music and has the guts to get up there and do it is already ONE OF THE BEST along with the rest of the Clan!! So keep plyen and HAVE FUN!!! Along the way .S.D. N.Y.

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You may never get over stage fright, but you can reduce it as people have said by really knowing your material. Most importantly, believe in yourself. The audience won't believe in you if you don't. If you don't feel confident, pretend until you believe it yourself.

When I was studying music (college) a friend of mine had to give a French Horn recital. He was a drummer, but he had to study an instrument with pitches so he chose horn. Anyway, he got a little nervous and "lost his lip" and made the most horrible spluttering sounds on the horn. He knew he had already blown it, so instead of freaking out, he pretended that he was playing like a vituoso but all the while his French Horn was just making rude noises. It was hilarious. He got a standing ovation and when he was done he strutted out with great style. I loved every minute of the horrible playing and so did the rest of the audience.

JeanB

[This message has been edited by JeanB (edited 09-15-2002).]


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You folks are making me feel really good about myself...I actually made it through one song last night and froze on the second after singing the first verse! At any rate, ( this is for JeanB) I did make a comment on the line of, "well folks seems I have butterflies in my throat, I can't finish my performance right now, but I do hope you like what you heard". I thanked my audience and slithered of the deck..*LOL* anyway this forum has been a way to releive the butterflies I have felt in my stomach all day... You folks have been great and thanks to you all.

Regards,
Melissa

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Hi Melissa.
Stage fright has made me stop playing the guitar and performing for years, too many!
Once I even closed all the lights in my home, they came looking for me and I did not reply to the door...and it was just a hometown gig!
I find that if you arrive an hour before the gig is due....take your time rehearsing, feeling at ease in the place....it is easier and you take off after the first song.
Not always this can be the case.
Recently I performed LIVE on TV 8 o'clock news. Well well well. I got no clue what I said during the interview. I know I mucked up a couple of chords in the song while playing the guitar...but I kept going without blushing I hope.
For me the main difficulty is playing the guitar and singing at the same time...!
I think practice makes perfect. You got to try that song out till you can play the guitar without looking at the chords!
But what really unblocked me for the first time in my life was going to Amsterdam and playing at the A2A with long time world renown professional singer songwriters!
That was the testing groudn....I said to myself here I either I swim or I sink! Know what I mean. Now, during this awesome experience, my hands literally froze five minutes before my turn. After hearing how good the other performers were, I panicked. I was about to get up and leave the show. I was trembling, my saliva would not go either up or down. 3 minutes to go...my hand was still frozen, meaning when you get no blood circulation at all! I said to myself as they called out my name:"what the f... am I gonna do now" all eyes were on me.
I went up was very very shy, barely introduced myself. I totally mucked up the first song (oh my God!"...If I do not wake up this is gonna be a disaster I said to myself) I had 6 more songs to go! Oh my God ....I started to relax the second song and there was warm clapping as my voice was steadier and my hands were steadier on the picking. The third song went okay, the fourth okay. I mucked up the fifth....oh My God! and the sixth went okay.
I got up I felt like I was red as Chianti wine! People were clapping. I did not feel so good about myself...but some said I went fine!
Sometimes you expect perfection from yourself, think everyone can see your nerves and the reality is you manage to hide them and go on and no one really notices!
Anyhow....after this "chuck you in the water and if you swim you swim and if not you drown" experience...I went back home to Italy and it was like I had unblocked by magic...meaning I had a few more appearances, live radio shows, interviews, TV interview, label auditions....I was relaxed no more nervous...I thought nothing can go worse than Amsterdam! I also thought to myself, hereI got to prepare myself much much more than this.
I started playing songs like 20 times a day till I knew them better than I knew myself.
I got another auditon coming up this Thursday.
I am not sure whether I have overcome stage fright and how the audition will go....but I know I have not given up yet and that I will do my utmost to relax and think "hey, worse comes to worse ...I gave it my best shot!"

Ingrid

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What to do? Go on stage!!!!!!
"The show must go on"

People I have worked with on stage that are idols still got nervous, so why shouldn't you? [Linked Image] Don't worry about being nervous. Worry if you don't have anything to be nervous about!

You'll do great, maybe even because of that feeling.

John


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Hi,
I think alot of what has been said is dead on. Early on when I started performing in bands when I was 16, I used to get very nervous, but after a couple of songs, I relaxed and just went with it. Now mostly because of experience I don't get nervous at all. So, I guess my best advice would be to just perform as much as possible whenever possible. Go to open mike nights, and if you know anyone in a band, ask them if it would be OK to come up and do a song or two at their next gig. Heck, do karaoke!!! And as I've become older and continued to perform I have realized one very basic truth;they're only people, many of whom wish they could get up on a stage in front of a room full of people and hear the applause. Another thing that you have to come to grips with at some time or another is not everyone is going to like what you do musically anyway, so just do your best, be yourself and sing your tail off. As Jean said, it'll shine through. Best O' Luck to ya!!!
davey O.
davey O. music (ASCAP)
http://daveyomusic.freehosting.net
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www.cdbaby.com/daveyo2

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I started singing in public way back in school, and I had stage fright...when I'd get up on stage, my right leg would shake..seriously, I would stand behind a podium so everyone couldn't see it..LOL now, during the first song I usually have stagefright for about 2 minutes, but I look at everyone's hair, they think I'm looking at them, but I'm not, until the butterflies leave, by then, I'm into my music and can look em right in the eye..you got to find what works for you, but the main thing is to do it, get up there and sing like you have never sung before, everytime.

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As said above - being prepared and doing it as much as possible make it easier. Another thing is to remember that it is not a battle or a competition - there are no adversaries or enemies. The folks in the audience are just out to enjoy themselves, and they want you to do well.

If you're playing original material and make a mistake - don't worry about it. Unless you have a whole bunch of die hard groupies who know your material, YOU are the only one who even has a clue that you didn't get the words or the changes correct. And if you do have a bunch of die hard groupies in the audience, they already love you enough that it doesn't matter.

Get up and have fun!


Marty my home

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i get stage frieght before every show I play. i thought after 2 years it would go away. i came to terms with it and decided it is more of a positive disability. if i am to relaxed i am not giving 110 percent. that to me is what you have to give to capture the audiences attention and be remembered. thats all i got.

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Justin Lamoureux
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Wow, Never did I realize I would get sooo many responses..but evidently the motto is right on, We are all in this together!.The next gig I have I will remember all that has been said and just go out there and do it.Actually I am thinking of adding some comedy act to my gig so that if I do flub, I will be able to relax a bit with laughter,who knows maybe if I don't cut it musically, comedy will be the next best thing!

Thanks to all of you, you guys are great!

Best Regards,
Melissa

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Hi Melissa,

I agree with everything. My 2 cents worth though would be just to learn to laugh at yourself. I actually love all the funny stories I have about the stupid and embarrassing things that I have done on stage! It is always fun to share things like this with other people. I think the one thing I can do now, is laugh at myself while I am on stage. If I think it is funny, everyone else does to. It just makes the audience that much more comfortable. Just last week I did something really stupid at a gig. I was playing at a small cafe and it was getting late (about 10:30 or so) and I had already played for a couple of hours. I must have been really tired because after I finished a song and everyone was clapping, I started clapping too. Then all of a sudden, I was like "what am I clapping for? I guess I am applauding myself because I got through the song!" Everyone just laughed too.

Remember, We are all in this together! And we are all making fools of ourselves once in a while!

Marla



[This message has been edited by Marla (edited 09-16-2002).]


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This is a great idea!
But does everyone have a great sense of humor...especially some bigwig audiences?

Ingrid

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HI Melissa!

Think maybe you're too critical of yourself. Know If I played over an hour I'd be fluffin' Lines Galore.

So, I haven't, so far..heh!

And, when The Inevitable Happens, I've penned a Follow-Up Song, "I FORGOT THE WORDS (TO THIS SONG)" so The Audience and I can get it Over With and Get On With The Show... {Sample's at www.CDBABY.Com/TampaStan/2}

Mick Jagger once said "People Pay to watch me Play The Fool"... In essence, folks like to watch him Be Human Onstage.
AND have a Rockin' Good Time, (Mistakes & All...)! Fun is Contageous...Have Some!

Another Ol' Country Legend I chatted with about Audiences says he Allus likes to walk around & meet the Crowd BEFORE a Performance...THEN it's like singin' for Old Friends when he gets into his act.

Don't be afraid to do WHATEVER makes you feel Comfy-er on Stage. I watched Sinatra, later years, sing off a Music Stand with ALL his Lyrics ready-&-waiting. He never fluffed a Line/Nobody CARED how he pulled it off.

"WHATEVER WORKS"...Just Remember The AUDIENCE is "Rootin' FOR Ya!" (Waal, 99% of the Time--) ;-)>

Big Hugs,
Stan

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Stage fright? What's that? I've been playing over twenty years - the first few times I played "live" I had a few jitters. But after that I was so excited about sharing my music with other people that I couldn't WAIT to get on stage.

It's all about attitude. If you walk on stage hoping and praying that the audience will like you, you might not come off so well. But if you walk on stage full of confidence with the single goal of WOWING everyone in the audience, people will love you.

BB


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Melissa,

I haven't had stage fright in years (I'm mostly only scared when I'm not on stage), but I've had my share of it and I know better than to think it could never happen again.

Sir Laurence Olivier, one of the greatest of all stage actors, after having been the toast of the British stage, as well as a bona-fide, critically acclaimed Hollywood star, found himself suddenly frozen with stage fright one evening. He was performing Shakespeare, a part he knew well. It wasn't at a particularly large or important performance, but stage fright struck none the less. It took him years to get over it.

Here's a trick I've used in the past.

Among the physical symptoms of stage fright are elevated heart rate and shortness of breath. When I'd feel this backstage, I'd do jumping jacks and run in place while saying aloud things like, "All right, I'm going to do great, I can't wait to get out there." When my warm up overtook my symptoms, I'd go out. As I started performing, my heart rate would then slow down and I'd feel calmer.

Go get 'em!

Mike

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Mike Dunbar Music


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I getting on stage is one of those things that you just have to keep doing over and over again to get any good at it. You need to be able to learn how to relax and have a good time up there.

What I would not do is something such as have a drink or line of cocaine. That will mess you up, but it will also be a problem when those things are not around for you to use and you need to go on stage.

What I would do is practice a lot, know your material, meditate, and visualize yourself having a successful (and relaxing) performance.


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Melissa,

Although it's not the best answer, I find that one drink takes the edge off my nerves!

A better answer: I used to get stomach aches just THINKING about gigs! One day before showtime I came across the thought: "I get to sing tonight! I love singing! Wheee!" From that point on I try to tap into that feeling.

Also - it's ok to close your eyes!

I agree about the ability to laugh at yourself too. Now if my voice doesn't QUITE get that high note, or if a bandmate gets a little lost, I'll make a joke about it.

[This message has been edited by mastrose (edited 09-25-2002).]


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hey everyone,
just wanted to say thanks this thread really helped me CALM DOWN. and feel at ease knowing everyone else has those feelings too.

also on a side note....i opened up for alabama with a band i've been playing with. and a little thing i came up with is to convince yourself that the show isn't that important.(it takes work) but i down played everything and it helped me relax alot. just before we went on the lead singer's wife asked me if i was excited and i said "aannhh" (as in so-so) and she was very surprised by that. but i found it was a very important key to me, along with the things everyone else here mentioned. the show went awesomely.

keep pickin'
jt

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[Worst comes to worst... try and picture 'em all NAKED. Or sitting on the loo suffering a bad case of constipation.

THANKS I WILL TRY THIS NEXT TIME I AM ON STAGE....!
The only thing which worries me is that next time I will be on stage will be a major showcase with Press and TV personalities and if I muck that up they're gonna say
"who the heck is this chick!"
I will try and picture them naked or on the loo....pretending I don't care or it is not important won't help me at all!
Jogging in place won't help me either coz I will get shortness of breath and miss the high notes....drinking one drink before hand gets me drunk and I slur words.
I think the only thing I can do is practice practice practice (though I only got one month to go) and think if it all goes bad....I can go back to my daytime job!
Maybe that thought will get me to perform well!
Ingrid

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Melissa,

When I first got into this business, I wasn't sure if the crowds would accept me or not, and I was a nervous wreck. I'd sometimes get on stage, stop playing my guitar in the middle of a song, tank a note so bad I'd just give up, or one time, I even went home. Just took off my guitar, apologized and left.

One night, before my seventh Open Mic show, I sat in a dark corner fretting over whether to go on stage or to wet my pants and go home... when a plucky record producer from Alpharetta, Georgia strolled over to my table, after having seen me the night before at another show, and she told me...

"Most of these people have no idea whether you know what you're doing or not. Just get up there and act like a star and you will be." What do you know? It works! Haha

All the same, I've come to learn a FEW things that help me out. (I know there are a LOT of replies to this, but I had to get my two cents in. I think EVERYONE fights stage fright sooner or later.)

Most entertainers come to the realization,at some point, that they have always been entertainers. You might have been the class clown because you just HAD to get a laugh,or you may have been the class bully because you required attention, or you may even have gotten into trouble for just daydreaming, or humming when you SHOULD be working.

The point is, that most of us have always been into entertainment on some level. The main differences between then,and now, however, is that back then...we didn't get paid for it, we didn't always entertain without some form of punishment,and we were free from worry, because we could just be ourselves.

Are you free to be yourself on stage? Does your natural ability for entertainment shine through?

I know mine hasn't always come through as I wanted it to, and I am learning, that it's because...

I'm a grown up now. I have experience under my belt, and I know for a fact, that if I tank a note, or don't entertain the crowd, not only will the manager of the place I'm at probably cut my pay or stiff me altogether, but there's a good chance the people I let down won't come back to see me. That's a LOT of pressure.

As a child, we're just basically being our natural self, and having a blast watching the other person's expressions. In some way, as an entertainer, we have to learn to get away from our fear. We can no longer get on stage and think of anything more than doing the best we can and having fun at the same time.

I live close to Atlanta. There are more colleges up there than you can shake a stick at... not that anyone is going to go around shaking a stick at the halls of knowledge...
but you get my meaning.

In Atlanta, I studied the local talent before I ever played up there. I went into a club and watched someone play just about every night for a couple of weeks. Most of the time, there was someone up there, who looked like they had a migraine, absolutely NO energy level, and they were whining about how miserable their life was. My thing was... if you're still in college, kid... you most likely can't have THAT much to whine about!

Those types of acts were good for Atlanta, but it wasn't me. I had to find my own sound, something I'm comfortable with, and I had to be my practical joker self. Surely there was a market out there for it somewhere.

What do ya know? There ARE markets for it, I just have to travel a little to get to them, and to be honest with you... they paid much better than the gigs I DID get in Atlanta.

I mean, think about it. If you get a producer, a manager, or a label, or all three... They're going to make you hone your craft,your sound, your image. Look at yourself the way they would. As a professional, and be yourself, and you'll be surprised how well you'll shine!

Once you do that, stage fright is pretty much a thing of the past. You'll KNOW you're good, and so will everyone else.

Sincerest best wishes, and best of luck to you!


------------------
Your friend in music,
Sonata Jones


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The more gigs you do, the more this will dissipate. In the interim, try to remember that neither the world, nor your career will end because you make a few mistakes...
try to have fun and as you do, so will the audience... good luck...

jack

Quote
<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Melissa:
How do you get over stage fright?
I have performed publicly approx. 14 times and each and everytime I either have palms that sweat, my heart feels like its in my throat or I forget the music and words!,
</font>

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My turn to pipe in.
One big cause of stage fright is because we want to be the best we can be. That's a good thing-striving for perfection is always admirable, but it has its consequences. But what typically happens by doing this, is we begin to feel inadequate, and for me, that caused stage fright in my earlier days.

But while we're all in this together, each one of us is still uniquely different. I know I can't play guitar as good as so-and-so, and I can't sing as good as so-and-so, and my songwriting is not as good as so-and-so. But each one of us has a unique personality, something to say, and a desire to say it through music. Once we humble ourselves, and discover what it is we have to offer, the stage fright goes away. Stage fright to me is that little voice inside saying, "Your not good enough". So how do we humble ourselves?
Don't try to be as good as the so-and-so's in the previous paragraph. Be yourself. Your playing IS unique. Your singing IS unique. Your songwriting IS unique. There will always be those that can play/sing/write/whatever better than you, but no one can be YOU better than you. Accept yourself for who you are at the moment - and ENJOY the moment.
Hope this helps and doesn't seem like wonton ramblings.

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Hi again folks...
Just wanted to post a reply to let you all know I have read everything that has been said..and I appreciate each and everyone for taking the time to address my question...I recently brought this up at a workshop I attended early last week. One of the chapter coordinaters thought that somewhere in the future, our chapter of JPF could have a workshop to work on stage presence etc...and I did volunteer to be the first one..*LOL*, so maybe within a few I will be able to shed it finally..if not hey what the heck I will just go out there , have fun and pretend everyone in the audience is having a really bad hair day... [Linked Image]

Take Care and Musical Regards,
Melissa

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Melissa,

Here's a couple suggestions, one practical, one psychological...

1) There's 3 "pressure points" to be nervous about...remembering the words/remembering the music/and how your voice comes across. Though most may feel it would appear "amateurish", I would use a music stand and have my lyric sheets (with chord changes denoted) in front of me. This will delete 2/3'rds of the pressure right off the bat. I would rather appear a bit amateurish than to risk forgetting the words/music. Your voice should have less "butterflys" also as a result because there's so much less to worry about.

2) I don't know if you think of yourself primarily as a songwriter or a performer, but in either case I would get it in my mind that I was there to present my songs and not MYSELF. You probably have confidence in at least your songs, (or you wouldn't be up there at all) so tell yourself "I don't HAVE to be a great performer, I'm just presenting the songs". What may happen is that you will actually end up singing and playing BETTER because you're more relaxed when you keep in mind that it's the songs, and not so much YOU, that people are evaluating.
I don't play onstage much, but when I do I'll even TELL the audience right off that "I'm not a singer, I'm a songwriter." If you don't feel that the crowd is EXPECTING a great performance, this will alleviate more pressure and you'll do better. (Then they'll come over to you afterwards and say "You're wrong, you ARE a performer!")

Chris

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Hi Melissa - some great advice here already.

I did an article on Stagefright that has been included in the current issue of the Indie Bible. You can read an online version of it at the Indie Journal site at this link
http://www.indiejournal.com/indiejournal/columns/stagefright.htm

I have received quite a bit of positive feedback on the article and hope some of it helps.

[Linked Image]

------------------
Anne



[This message has been edited by anneminnery (edited 10-15-2002).]

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I was a speech major in college and never once did i get up in front of a group before or since without adrenaline rushes and extreme nervousness. It's normal and even a bit helpful, which luckily was one of the first things they told us.

Anyway, if all else fails, try putting a close friend or family member right up front, smack in front of you, and use them as your base. Don't perform solely to them, but ground yourself with them, look at them when you feel overwhelmed.

Hope this helps.

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We had an artist last night in Austin who was VERY nervous to perform.... she wasn't going to do it and finally relented near the end of the night.. just before she played she was still reluctant, but once she started she was excellent. She just channeled into her performance and got huge applause. I was shocked to hear that the last time she had performed live was at one of our shows in Los Angeles.

Has anyone found a good book on this topic?

Brian


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Hey Brian...
Happy Holidays to you and thanks for your reply....Think back to Bonnie Warrens picnic and you might remember who I am...*LOL*
I finally just decided to remember that when I go out in public...look over everyones head and try not to make eye contact so that I don't lose focus. And to remember I am human, I will make mistakes. I have a huge support network when I am with my band..so I won't play without them. I did that at Bonnies and I think that is what made me come undone.

Take Care and Happy New Year!


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