A thread started by Andrew Sanders about his second live performance (hope it went well) prompted this ramble.
I've been doing stuff in front of an audience for about 50 years now (no sniggering at the back please). Started at primary school with country and scottish dancing displays and moved onto school plays and operas at secondary school. I was also one of the rare ones that used to volunteer for doing readings in assembly.
After school it was all pretty much saxophone based - starting with a prog rock band then concert bands, classical quartets, dance band, big band, ceilidh band, more rock, blues - all sorts of stuff. Audiences ranging from 1 (the barman in an otherwise empty pub) to a perhaps a couple of thousand.
I don't recall ever suffering from stage fright. It may be that my memory's not what it used to be (it isn't) but I think I'm fairly sure about this. It may be that I don't put myself in situations where I think I might struggle and be totally exposed - as opposed to hiding away in the sax section. For instance, I've never done a full classical recital - just the odd piece. I'm not really good enough and have absolutely no intention of ever doing so, but if someone managed to persuade me (for a charity?) I guess I'd have a bash at it. I don't suppose I'd get worked up about it.
Anyway, all of this waffle about me serves as an introduction to ask, "What do you dread about performing? What situations give you the collywobbles? What do you do to cope?"
Also, I suppose, "What drives you to do it in the first place?". Is it a tendency to want to show off (probably me) or do you feel you have to communicate something? I don't think I've ever felt that.
Just wondering.
Yeah, I'm bored tonight.
I've been doing stuff in front of an audience for about 50 years now (no sniggering at the back please). Started at primary school with country and scottish dancing displays and moved onto school plays and operas at secondary school. I was also one of the rare ones that used to volunteer for doing readings in assembly.
After school it was all pretty much saxophone based - starting with a prog rock band then concert bands, classical quartets, dance band, big band, ceilidh band, more rock, blues - all sorts of stuff. Audiences ranging from 1 (the barman in an otherwise empty pub) to a perhaps a couple of thousand.
I don't recall ever suffering from stage fright. It may be that my memory's not what it used to be (it isn't) but I think I'm fairly sure about this. It may be that I don't put myself in situations where I think I might struggle and be totally exposed - as opposed to hiding away in the sax section. For instance, I've never done a full classical recital - just the odd piece. I'm not really good enough and have absolutely no intention of ever doing so, but if someone managed to persuade me (for a charity?) I guess I'd have a bash at it. I don't suppose I'd get worked up about it.
Anyway, all of this waffle about me serves as an introduction to ask, "What do you dread about performing? What situations give you the collywobbles? What do you do to cope?"
Also, I suppose, "What drives you to do it in the first place?". Is it a tendency to want to show off (probably me) or do you feel you have to communicate something? I don't think I've ever felt that.
Just wondering.
Yeah, I'm bored tonight.
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