First Open Mike Night - advice?

See if you can contact DailyGeek on these forums, he's a stand-up comedian and might have a few tips for you.

I know you aren't doing stand-up, but he might be able to help with confidence etc :)
 
I've been gigging since 1970 since I was 12 and basically gone out twice a week for the last 41 years.
Funnily enough I only get nervous when I go to a place for the first time but everywhere else I'm totally in control.
The best advice I can give you is that a 'normal' audience contains people who don't have much clue about what they are hearing but know what they like - all I have to say is 'Karaoke'.
Obviously there will be people like you in the audience and if you can talk to them, respect them and get advice from them.
Remember, as soon as you do your first live song you become experienced and you'll be hit by the bug.
Look at me, 41 years later and I can't wait to get on stage at the weekends so learn from your first live song and move forward.
You've also got to look at your first performance like X-Factor, in other words you've got one song to impress the audience so is Pearl Jam the very best song you can choose because I have Pearl Jam albums but I haven't got a clue what that one is?
If you enjoy it, they'll enjoy it.
 
Remember that the audience aren't your enemy, the reason they are there is because they want you to do well. You will be nervous (probably), but that's a good thing so use it and enjoy it. Look at your audience, if you do feel nervous; just say so as they are your allies, don't apologise if you feel like you've messed up.

If there's one thing I have learnt over years of performing, it's that your interpretation of what constitutes a mistake will be miles off what the audience sees as being one. if you feel like you have messed up, don't stop playing or swear, or anything like that. Keep on going and it will pay off. I can vouch that this works on pretty much every kind of audience you can imagine, because like I said, they want you to do well.

But the most important part of any performance, or any experience where you're producing music, is to make sure you enjoy it and have a great time. That's what performing is about, enjoying yourself and doing your absolute best to make sure those in the audience do, as well. :)
 
Naffa said:
don't apologise if you feel like you've messed up.
Click to expand...

And don't apologise before you start.
We have a couple of bands in Stoke who apologise before they play a song which means that they don't really want to play that song in the first place.

Naffa said:
If there's one thing I have learnt over years of performing, it's that your interpretation of what constitutes a mistake will be miles off what the audience sees as being one.
Click to expand...

Absolutely 100%.
The times I (and Naffa) have heard a massive mistake on stage, looked out at the audience for feedback and got no smirk back amazes me sometimes.
 
Don't do anything before it (other than practice at home) just go there, sing and play. Nothing more to it than that.
 
Thank you all for your comments & advice, clearly there's some experience being voiced here & that's exactly why I asked on OCUK.

Cheers, hopefully I will get the bug & love it & be reporting back with pics/vids/Hovis & tales.

Cheers guys
 
Keep it simple, no long gaps with you just playing (unless you're really good at guitar), don't mess with song too much - most of all just enjoy it!
 
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