JPF Home Page Forums General Messages Mentor Questions Forum Getting over the fear?

If they feel your passion, they will at least like you.

Drop all "worry" talk. Start to talk to yourself and others about how you will be doing things. Just doing that will start to have you react to those self-hearing commands for the better.

When you cut the lawn, would you worry that the mower might run out of gas? Fill it, then forgetaboutit!

Worry over your personal songs not being accepted is not like that example of course. But, The end result will be the same one you just do the "preparation work" needed to perform those songs.

Practice playing out by doing what I did before first going solo on guitar in front JPF founder, and about 50 other peers in music, many with LOTS of solo performing experience. And that is to play in your house in front of someone as if you are in a coffee house, to practice performing, (eyes, playing style, singing, etc. My wife sat on the coach and said, "Ok, now play that song for me". As I started, I noticed that although I was comfortable playing and singing in front of her, that I was aware of her representing many people. It was easy then to imagine our livingroom filled with other eyes looking at me, waiting to hear and see a person play. So, after I got done the song, she said a few things to help me look and sound better. She said to play to her as if I was telling her that story of the song. I wasn't connected to my audience, in other words.

After a few more tries at it, she said I was now playing TO and FOR her. (Yeah)! And that now to move my eyes around the room picturing those people that would mater be in that coffee house. So I did that...Worked great! I got more and more focused on making her and the imagined people comfortable. I did that by having ME be comfortable, on purpose! She saw I was being more at ease, which made her feel more at ease about watching me and listening to me. (Progress through "Preparation")!

Once I got to that coffee house for my show ending bit of one song, It all seemed like I did it 20 time before,,,,for in that practice way at home,,,,I DID!...Just flight simulation can work, or truck driving simulation can train drivers, so too can at home simulation. If y9ou are a visual person as I am, then it will be easy to do that, to picture and FEEL others in that room where there is only one sitting on your coach. BUT, you need that ONE person to add realism to being in front of people while playing solo.

I had been in bands years earlier and played all kinds of places. BUT, the solo thing on my second instrument, (piano is what I played before), was certainly out of my comfort zone.

Preparation made it as if I as doing that most of my life.

I didn't suck! You don't have to be the next great artist, with the next great songs. You just need to be prepared with your songs and style, and especially with the way you will "present yourself". Find one person who cares about you to sit in front of you, song after song, night after night, until you know what you are doing and feel good about it. Make playing the guitar look easy. Make singing look easy. And above all, make it all LOOK FUN! (Even for the serious songs). Fun, in the terms that you are not wasting you or their time. Be INTO it to the fullest, without regard for this or that. You want to get rid of worry,,,,PREPARE and just DO IT!

Do NOT mention again that you will worry about anything. Think how you can accomplish things by preparing for them. Keep that positive mindset on that solid line. Do NOT look back on how you used to be. Think new and positive, and you will start to act and say things in those new confident ways.

Put the songs up for listens. Who cares about any reviews? Learn from them if you can, and keep improving, like we all have done and still do.

Its MUSIC! To be shared and appreciated! Act like it is!!!!



Johnny D

PS. Wear ear protection once you maybe get a band together. AND,,,learn to be confident "before" any band! That way, you will bring a much better and more confident you to the band. Your future bandmates deserve the best they can get in a front man, so give it to them! PREPARE, PERFORM, and bring your PASSION, (practicing or playing out). Always!!!!