[quote name='westoneblah' post='380277' date='Jan 14 2009, 02:22 PM']The other mind-game trick is to remember what it's like to be in the audience. From the stage they're a huge mass - but in reality its just a whole lot of individuals. None of them knows what the other is thinking, and may not even know them at all - so it isn't really a mass - it's just like playing to lots and lots of isolated people who happen to be in the same place. If you get what I mean?
The final thing is not to worry about 'letting anyone down'. It's too late to change things, and there will ALWAYS be mistakes - so laugh about it. The audience will laugh with you, but they don't like angry frowns. Practice is over, this is about Performance - and that means just letting it happen - and enjoying it![/quote]
good points them. I've been in a band where we've had to stop a song because the guitarist arsed up, and instead of continuing, he just stopped. So, I just made a few comments down the mic about guitarists, the audience laughed and we started again. Plus it gave us a bit of fodder for the audience through the gig. I think it's if you cock up, and then all stand there like rabbits in headlights it looks awful from an audience point of view. An audience will actually be more endeared to you, and I am when I'm in the audience, if you appear more human on stage I think.
As for nerves, I go between riding them like an extreme sport, or feeling sick. Either way I just know it's going to happen so accept it because I know that the second I get off the stage the buzz will give me that high that nothing else can give you, so it's a reward to look forward to.
I'd also say, the bigger the gig, the easier it seems to get. Did a festival to a few thousand people last year and it was easier then the pub gig we did a week later!