Help! 1st time on stage...

[Beedster]

Nerves are about audiences and this audience is going to be 120% behind you. It’ll be an amazing experience 👍

[sprocketflup]

On 31/08/2025 at 16:29, Blondy said:

Hello Bass Chatters, 

 

Could anyone offer advice on how to stop nerves when going on stage for the 1st time please? 

I have only ever played in front of 3 humans and a cat... 😂 

Only playing one track at my brother's memorial gig (Nick Smith - doctor_bass) 💚 

But don't want anxiety to ruin my tribute to my beloved bro. 

 

Answers appreciated by 6th September. Gig is the 7th, at noon. 

 

Cheers Blondy 🎸 

As others have said, the nerves arent going to go away so its best to accept them and view them as a friend. 
 

I find Polo mints an absolute saviour, as it not only helps with the dry mouth but also gives you something else to do/concentrate on. 

[sprocketflup]

1 minute ago, sprocketflup said:

As others have said, the nerves arent going to go away so its best to accept them and view them as a friend. 
 

I find Polo mints an absolute saviour, as it not only helps with the dry mouth but also gives you something else to do/concentrate on. 

And above all, enjoy the experience, its great

[Downunderwonder]

1 hour ago, sprocketflup said:

As others have said, the nerves arent going to go away so its best to accept them and view them as a friend. 
 

I find Polo mints an absolute saviour, as it not only helps with the dry mouth but also gives you something else to do/concentrate on. 

Getting the taste out of your mouth? There is no such thing as one polo mint. They hunt in bags.

[Sean]

On 31/08/2025 at 20:31, HeadlessBassist said:

If you're feeling nervous, block the audience out of your mind. Play for you, and play for Nick.

 

I'd like to give Richard a 5* TripAdvisor review here.  He gave me very similar advice, and it worked. I went into a new band earlier this year and got the jitters for the first time in years. I was overly self-conscious, scared of making mistakes, all that stuff.  Following this very simple advice I managed to get into a mindset where it was just me playing along with the songs in the same way I do when practising.

 

Good luck, cherish the experience and remember that there's so many people channeling good energy your way. 

[Rodders]

Try your best to enjoy it, music is supposed to be fun, especially with added pressure of doing it for your brother.

Thinking back to my first gig, refusing to look up from the neck or out into the audience (when I finally did all I could see was feet) did I enjoy it? No, don't be like me 🙂

Good luck, if you do decide to do it again it does get easier!

[MrDaveTheBass]

Good luck! I'll make sure that I'm beaming out lots of positive vibes, as I'm sure half if BassChat will be too. I'm sure you'll absolutely smash it.

[TheLowDown]

When I was younger and had to do a class talk or something, Dad used to tell me to imagine everyone in the audience dressed as a clown. The reasoning being that it makes the audience a lot less scary. It didn't work for me 😄. Or you could look at just above the back of the audience, which gives the impression that you're interacting with the audience.

 

Something else that you may find useful is the fact that excitement and nervousness are exactly the same emotion, the only difference is the label we attach to them.

 

Best of luck anyway 👍

Edited 18 hours ago by TheLowDown

[tauzero]

3 hours ago, TheLowDown said:

When I was younger and had to do a class talk or something, Dad used to tell me to imagine everyone in the audience dressed as a clown. The reasoning being that it makes the audience a lot less scary. It didn't work for me 😄

 

Another version of this is to imagine everyone in the audience naked. Be very cautious with this method, it may lead to severe trauma.

[Norris]

What has worked for me for 40 years is to simply not think about it. Make sure you have learnt the songs and practiced at home. Then eventually the time will come - then just do it.

 

Just make sure you have a pee beforehand.

[Lozz196]

13 hours ago, Norris said:

What has worked for me for 40 years is to simply not think about it. Make sure you have learnt the songs and practiced at home. Then eventually the time will come - then just do it.

 

Just make sure you have a pee beforehand.

Good call, a pre-match pee is essential

[gjones]

If you really lose the plot, just turn your volume down and dance about. Nobody will notice they can't hear you.

 

I've done it a few times 😄

 

[Bassman1974]

First gig nerves will soon give way to the first gig buzz. I'm after recapturing that magic now. Go for it, you'll be grand !