So this morning, as I was doomscrolling, I came across two articles on Ultimate Guitar where two quite accomplished guitar players talk about stagefright and preparation for performing live. They're TOTAL OPPOSITES and I thought that wonderfully illustrated how there really is no "one size fits all" answer here - we each find our own comfort zone.
First, we have Joe Satriani. You know him, or at least you should. Joe says, "I think, sometimes, if you prepare too much, when things go wrong, as they always do, it's too jarring. It's sort of an interesting protective mechanism not to be too well planned. So that when things go wrong, you go, 'Okay, I'll just play with that,' you know?"
www.ultimate-guitar.com
On the other side, we have Mark Holcomb, from Periphery. Certainly much less well known worldwide than Satch, but any young guitar player would be WISE to know him and his work. On the same subject, Mark says, "The thing with being on stage, and having the courage to prepare for it - I always look at it as preparing for a presentation, right? If you're well-read and well prepared, and you have everything mapped out in your head, because you spent hours and hours and hours - not cramming – but learning over time, and making it so everything is second nature, as opposed to something which you have to actively call back and forth from in your head, things is going to be way more effortless."
www.ultimate-guitar.com
Both have a lot of great stuff to say, so I recommend reading both articles with your performing guitar player hat on.
I think Syn falls more in the middle here, and so do I. I can't speak for Syn, but for myself, I am a firm believer in TONS of hours of rehearsal to make things second nature, but I also think that should include allowing space for improvisation and trying a lot of things out in rehearsal to get a feel for what KIND of thing may work and where it might work. I am the furthest thing from a "play it exactly the same every time" kind of musician, and I got there on purpose. It was a conscious choice, just like Satch and Mark made their conscious choices. I think Syn is like that too, only he does it more betterer than me - If you watch any live A7X, Syn NEVER seems to play the solos note for note - he gets the meat of it and then plays in the sandbox with it.
So, for those of you with experience gigging, what's your philosophy and practice?
For those who aspire to gig, what do you think your comfort zone would be here?
THERE ARE NO WRONG ANSWERS!
First, we have Joe Satriani. You know him, or at least you should. Joe says, "I think, sometimes, if you prepare too much, when things go wrong, as they always do, it's too jarring. It's sort of an interesting protective mechanism not to be too well planned. So that when things go wrong, you go, 'Okay, I'll just play with that,' you know?"
Joe Satriani Reveals His Biggest Weakness as Guitar Player, Shares Important Advice for Musicians Recording at Home
'I put together G3 where I stand next to two other guys who are going to shred me to death and do it every night.'
www.ultimate-guitar.com
On the other side, we have Mark Holcomb, from Periphery. Certainly much less well known worldwide than Satch, but any young guitar player would be WISE to know him and his work. On the same subject, Mark says, "The thing with being on stage, and having the courage to prepare for it - I always look at it as preparing for a presentation, right? If you're well-read and well prepared, and you have everything mapped out in your head, because you spent hours and hours and hours - not cramming – but learning over time, and making it so everything is second nature, as opposed to something which you have to actively call back and forth from in your head, things is going to be way more effortless."
Periphery's Mark Holcomb on Overcoming Stage Fright and Not Letting Screw-ups Get Inside Your Head
'I've beaten myself up way too hard over the years for messing up on stage, and that can be your own worst enemy.'
www.ultimate-guitar.com
Both have a lot of great stuff to say, so I recommend reading both articles with your performing guitar player hat on.
I think Syn falls more in the middle here, and so do I. I can't speak for Syn, but for myself, I am a firm believer in TONS of hours of rehearsal to make things second nature, but I also think that should include allowing space for improvisation and trying a lot of things out in rehearsal to get a feel for what KIND of thing may work and where it might work. I am the furthest thing from a "play it exactly the same every time" kind of musician, and I got there on purpose. It was a conscious choice, just like Satch and Mark made their conscious choices. I think Syn is like that too, only he does it more betterer than me - If you watch any live A7X, Syn NEVER seems to play the solos note for note - he gets the meat of it and then plays in the sandbox with it.
So, for those of you with experience gigging, what's your philosophy and practice?
For those who aspire to gig, what do you think your comfort zone would be here?
THERE ARE NO WRONG ANSWERS!
