https://guitarnoise.forum/news/so-i-played-at-my-first-open-mic/ Guitar Noise Discussion Board en-US Thu, 04 Jun 2026 20:49:41 +0000 wpForo 60 https://guitarnoise.forum/news/so-i-played-at-my-first-open-mic/paged/2/#post-205969 Sat, 28 Oct 2006 06:37:58 +0000 The one thing that still gets me nervous, though, is set-up. After all of the equipment is working, I am able to settle down. But until then it's, "I hope the PA works tonight..."]]> News xg5a https://guitarnoise.forum/news/so-i-played-at-my-first-open-mic/paged/2/#post-205969 https://guitarnoise.forum/news/so-i-played-at-my-first-open-mic/paged/2/#post-205814 Fri, 27 Oct 2006 11:45:52 +0000
Now all I've got to do is follow my own advice and get up there myself :) (3 weeks time, provisionally :shock: )]]> News Misanthrope https://guitarnoise.forum/news/so-i-played-at-my-first-open-mic/paged/2/#post-205814 https://guitarnoise.forum/news/so-i-played-at-my-first-open-mic/paged/2/#post-205786 Fri, 27 Oct 2006 04:20:45 +0000
Open mics are nothing to be afraid of. Everyone is there to have fun. I have been to many open mics and even ran one for two years. Everyone is always happy to see a new face, variety is the spice of life. Nobody is there to judge you.

Here is a good site to check for open mics in your area. I was just on this site myself tonight. I have been itching to get back to one for some time, my problem is finding one in my area on a Friday or Saturday, the only good nights for me. But check it out by Zip Code.

http://openmikes.org/

Just take your guitar and small amp down. You will have a blast. :wink:]]> News Wes Inman https://guitarnoise.forum/news/so-i-played-at-my-first-open-mic/paged/2/#post-205786 https://guitarnoise.forum/news/so-i-played-at-my-first-open-mic/paged/2/#post-204983 Sun, 22 Oct 2006 18:21:50 +0000 News Stephen Bronski https://guitarnoise.forum/news/so-i-played-at-my-first-open-mic/paged/2/#post-204983 https://guitarnoise.forum/news/so-i-played-at-my-first-open-mic/paged/2/#post-192312 Sun, 06 Aug 2006 08:24:31 +0000 News Cstar https://guitarnoise.forum/news/so-i-played-at-my-first-open-mic/paged/2/#post-192312 https://guitarnoise.forum/news/so-i-played-at-my-first-open-mic/#post-184350 Tue, 20 Jun 2006 01:17:38 +0000
I personally have never had a problem with stage fright, but this does not mean gigs do not affect me. I am often tense before a gig, sometimes my stomach acts up, and I find that I pace a lot. To me, the most anxious time is setting up. With all the various gear I worry that something might breakdown. But once everything is up and running I feel much better.

Everytime you go up it gets easier. Years ago I would get a little tense. This is not good for your playing. You actually make more mistakes.

I simply tell myself that I am there to have fun, and dang it, I'm gonna have fun. The crowd is just normal people there to have a good time themselves. They are not there to judge you. Really, the crowd wants you to do well. So there is nothing to be afraid of. Nobody is going to pull out a gun and shoot at you if you play a wrong note, else I would have been dead long ago.

If you do make a mistake just keep playing like nothing happened. Remind yourself to look relaxed onstage. Smile and look like you are having fun.

Just keep going to that open mic. In a few weeks you will feel right at home there. You can meet other musicians and who knows? start a band. I have been in several bands where I met the other players at an open mic.

So, just go out there and have fun. :D]]> News Wes Inman https://guitarnoise.forum/news/so-i-played-at-my-first-open-mic/#post-184350 https://guitarnoise.forum/news/so-i-played-at-my-first-open-mic/#post-184317 Mon, 19 Jun 2006 21:32:12 +0000
I am going back again this Thursday :D]]> News havocdragon https://guitarnoise.forum/news/so-i-played-at-my-first-open-mic/#post-184317 https://guitarnoise.forum/news/so-i-played-at-my-first-open-mic/#post-183965 Sun, 18 Jun 2006 02:45:13 +0000
Trivia.......... That's made some flashback to Biology 3200!]]> News Off He Goes https://guitarnoise.forum/news/so-i-played-at-my-first-open-mic/#post-183965 https://guitarnoise.forum/news/so-i-played-at-my-first-open-mic/#post-183963 Sun, 18 Jun 2006 02:34:18 +0000
Trivia..........]]> News Elecktrablue https://guitarnoise.forum/news/so-i-played-at-my-first-open-mic/#post-183963 https://guitarnoise.forum/news/so-i-played-at-my-first-open-mic/#post-183950 Sun, 18 Jun 2006 00:55:17 +0000
They said nerves can't inspire you to play better.

Well actually, they can and they can't. Being overly nervous of course means you're a jibbering wreck and your decision making and movements are irratic. However, if you control the adrnaline (epinephrine for the US?) surge you get, there is an optimum amount of nerves where you act more quickly and so on, but not too irratically.

Most professional athletes etc, try to hone their ability to feel the nerves, but to control them.

I reccomend you try some visualisation. imagine you've played the gig and it was great. Imagine they cheered and liked you. Don't go too far into the future otherwise it becomes too wildly fanciful and can be improper. I know someone who asked the crowd to pretend they were having the best time of their life and scream. It helped him to visualise in her mind that they did like her.

But yes, recognition of familiar situations always helps with banishing perceived potential fears and problems from your mind, so just keep playing shows.]]> News Clazon https://guitarnoise.forum/news/so-i-played-at-my-first-open-mic/#post-183950