https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/playing-in-front-of-strangers/ Guitar Noise Discussion Board en-US Thu, 04 Jun 2026 23:18:45 +0000 wpForo 60 https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/playing-in-front-of-strangers/#post-294961 Tue, 03 Jun 2008 21:56:26 +0000
But yes, a good player will be playing well in front of anyone. So, I would try to play good in front of any audience.]]> Guitar Players Discussion Rahul https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/playing-in-front-of-strangers/#post-294961 https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/playing-in-front-of-strangers/#post-294919 Tue, 03 Jun 2008 16:28:42 +0000 Someone in the audience is obviously paying attention

I know that there is a musician in the house

When the dance floor is full

When my duo partner is digging it

On some special nights that I can't describe except to say that the muse visited me

Playing music is sharing something with the audience. If you get too self-absorbed, you aren't going to communicate well.

My best advice is to play in front of the audience that gives you the butterflies as much as you can. Sooner or later you will become relaxed doing it. And you will find you make your best music while relaxed.

Insights and incites by Notes]]> Guitar Players Discussion notes_norton https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/playing-in-front-of-strangers/#post-294919 https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/playing-in-front-of-strangers/#post-294888 Tue, 03 Jun 2008 08:17:06 +0000
That said I love playing shows where 60-70% of the crowd are people I know. Everybody knows me as a musician and anything else is incidental. So showing them my stuff is kind of a validating experience for me. If all of your friends knew you as something, but had never witnessed said something, then they don't really know you.

But if the people are strangers its better still. They are unbiased and the way they react is a true representation of how well/poorly you performed or how good/bad your songs are. I live for that because i make sure that people go off at my shows no matter what. even if i have to risk life, limb and guitar in the process.

So summary:
In small groups, friends/family petrify me
As part of a large crowd, I love them there
Anonymous strangers, you belong to me. I couldn't have described myself better than you did yourself. It was much more of a thrill to play for 20 enthusiastic people in, I don't know, KC than 800 in town when I knew more than 30% of the people there. I always felt so much more comfortable and experimental when I didn't know anyone who was watching/listening. Maybe there's a shrink on the boards who can figure this out. I also have strange dreams about my teeth.

I also get this thing in guitar stores where I can't think of anything to play but I know hundreds of songs :D

Peace,
Jick]]> Guitar Players Discussion Jick Jackson https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/playing-in-front-of-strangers/#post-294888 https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/playing-in-front-of-strangers/#post-294823 Mon, 02 Jun 2008 23:36:12 +0000 Guitar Players Discussion Elecktrablue https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/playing-in-front-of-strangers/#post-294823 https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/playing-in-front-of-strangers/#post-294822 Mon, 02 Jun 2008 23:29:10 +0000 Guitar Players Discussion Dave T https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/playing-in-front-of-strangers/#post-294822 https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/playing-in-front-of-strangers/#post-294491 Fri, 30 May 2008 16:26:24 +0000
I have always naturally turned off the "left brain" and simply got into the music.

For those who have trouble, you might work on focusing on the music and not allowing your "inner voice" to distract you. I don't know if that will work or not, but it might be worth a try.

Insights and incites by Notes]]> Guitar Players Discussion notes_norton https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/playing-in-front-of-strangers/#post-294491 https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/playing-in-front-of-strangers/#post-294481 Fri, 30 May 2008 15:09:10 +0000 According to me you have to be play in front of your friends. You can trust on them. Really when I was on learning I preferred to play guitar in front of my friends. They helped me a lot. Hope now you will play guitar in front of your friends too.]]> Guitar Players Discussion Bailey https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/playing-in-front-of-strangers/#post-294481 https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/playing-in-front-of-strangers/#post-294462 Fri, 30 May 2008 06:31:52 +0000
That said I love playing shows where 60-70% of the crowd are people I know. Everybody knows me as a musician and anything else is incidental. So showing them my stuff is kind of a validating experience for me. If all of your friends knew you as something, but had never witnessed said something, then they don't really know you.

But if the people are strangers its better still. They are unbiased and the way they react is a true representation of how well/poorly you performed or how good/bad your songs are. I live for that because i make sure that people go off at my shows no matter what. even if i have to risk life, limb and guitar in the process.

So summary:
In small groups, friends/family petrify me
As part of a large crowd, I love them there
Anonymous strangers, you belong to me.]]> Guitar Players Discussion spides https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/playing-in-front-of-strangers/#post-294462 https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/playing-in-front-of-strangers/#post-294427 Fri, 30 May 2008 04:08:44 +0000 feeling confident with the songs, I find , has the playing taking care of itself.
friends and strangers enjoy watching you have fun. they are entertained.
and since most don't play, you become magical.

if I get distracted I err. no one notices. it's magic.]]> Guitar Players Discussion dogbite https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/playing-in-front-of-strangers/#post-294427 https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/playing-in-front-of-strangers/#post-294400 Fri, 30 May 2008 01:01:01 +0000
I am kinda the opposite, I like playing in front of people I know because I can show a side of me they haven't seen before. I have invited co-workers to gigs before. At work I am pretty quiet and business-like. I am so quiet at work that people often ask me if I'm angry. I'm not angry, I've just found it's best to do your work and keep your mouth shut, especially in today's workplace.

But at a gig I cut loose. I move around a lot and am not afraid to get pretty crazy on guitar. I think this really shocks people who have never seen this side of me, so I enjoy that. :D]]> Guitar Players Discussion Wes Inman https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/playing-in-front-of-strangers/#post-294400