How to deal with performance nervousness?

Question:My band is playing their first show tonight and I've never played in front of a bunch of people before. How can I relax and not worry about fukcing up? Don't say drink because that will definitely make me play like crap.

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: My band is playing their first show tonight and I've never played in front of a bunch of people before. How can I relax and not worry about fukcing up? Don't say drink because that will definitely make me play like crap.

I would drink about 3 beers to have loosen up.
Have a good time.

Once you do it a few more times you will not worry so much.

Always when I played in high school, I would tell the people I was playing for, there better be a 12 pack on top of my amp .... otherwise I was not playing, when we ran out of beer, I left.
One time, this guy had homemade beer his dad made, was KICKASS and I came back to the party and rocked out on some rush until the beer ran out again, then I left :D

I have simple rules, live buy them, 12 pack on the amp :D

smooke some doobies lol!! it works man....trust me.
Doobie doobie doo!! lol

Initiate some dialogue with the audience beforehand so it won't seem so awkward...crack some jokes. Make the first song the "warm up" on your set list - that should be the one that's easiest for you all to play. break a leg! I mean that in a good way ;-P

...and come on - just one measly beer won't raise your BAC level too much, give that a try - or like the other dude said - pop a xanax

So how'd it go?

Know that you're good enough to be playing in front of a group, so don't sweat it!

Xanax is your friend too :P

If there is a window that you can look out of briefly before you start imagine seeing yourself waiting anxiously for you. Keep that in mind if your stomache really tightens up during the performance. If you must look at your audience draw a horse shoe or any other shape above the audience by connecting the dots, (their heads to draw the shape of your choice). Force yourself to smile for 60 seconds in the mirror even if its a phoney smile. Imagine there is only one person in the audience, you. I hope this helps. Don't play "top it" with anybody else. Let them win for now.

imagine everyone in the crowd is standing there in their underwear. and then, try not to laugh

Think this.

Do I really care what any of these people think?

don't worry, take a deep breath in hold for 5 seconds breathe out. you're going to be fine! break a leg!

easy, its like lecturing about art, you know your material better than anyone else, so what if you stutter or miss a note or whatever, who cares. most people want to see and hear something good, so just be yourself, if you do mess up, move on, dont act like its a big deal just move on, most of the time its a bigger deal to the performer than to the audience.