My acting coach had a wonderful answer to folks who would ask her if she was scared to perform: "Anyone who says they aren't afraid to perform is either psychotic or a liar." That saying is a great reminder to us that it really is okay to be a little shaky when you go up to that rep to hand them a tape, or onstage in front of a crowd before you perform. Here are a few ways to get past that fear, and put it into your performance.
YOU CAN'T PRACTICE TOO MUCH
One sure-fire way to feel sure of yourself when you go to meet some scary situation is to practice, practice and practice some more. If you are just going to try out for a band, have a nice selection of all sorts of material ready for them in areas that they like. If you are going to hand a tape to someone, practice your icebreaker speech enough so it doesn't sound rehearsed, as well as your handshake, and do it enough so your hands don't shake when you do it. Work on scales, improvisation in many keys, modes and styles. Have pals come over and jam with them on just anything. Vamp along with the radio and learn as many popular cover tunes as you can, especially some classic rock or pop tunes-many bands want candidates to work with them on something everyone knows, and you never know what they think everyone knows. If you are a lyricist, you are often expected to come up with something in the spot while listening to a tune being rehearsed, as ridiculous as this may sound, so practice having an arsenal of ideas, keep a notebook of lyrics handy already written up, and jam making up lines to songs just for fun as often as possible. If it is your group, practice your set until you can do it in your sleep, and start your set off with your easiest number to play so you can come out steaming without worrying about making mistakes.
WHEN IN DOUBT, WRITE IT OUT
Many bands not only write down a set list on a piece of paper on the floor, they add chord changes if they don't have them memorized. I've been to many professional concerts where multi-millionaires were using the notes on the floor or instrument trick, and some even use tele-prompters, so don't think you are alone in screwing up on occasion. There have been some major blunders in live performances over the years, and I'm sure your favorite musicians have made more than their share-do some reading of interviews your favorites have given over the years, and I'm sure they mention several goofs-you are in good company. In school band, you usually perform with sheet music on the stand in front of you-I've seen several performances where musicians have done this even in situations where most have the material memorized, so if you really just aren't sure, see if you can just bring the sheet music to play off of-you may impress folks that you are able to read music, since so many musicians nowadays don't.
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