When starting out the primary objective for most musicians is to simply hear themselves. The drums, by nature of their bulk, tend to become the vocal point with the guitar, bass and keyboard amplifiers set up around it in either a circle or semi-circle pattern. The musicians stand in the middle with each one facing his or her amp. This is a bad habit to get into. You are teaching yourself to listen to your band with your instrument much louder than anyone else rather than to hear the band as a whole. It is the nature of a gig that an audience will be present and you will be playing for them, not you. All of your amplifiers will be lined up in a row along with the drums and will be facing the audience. You will be facing away from your amp and if you’re not use to it you may find it very disconcerting. So get use to it. You should also try to get your amp and P.A. speakers elevated. Put them on a milk crate or a folding chair because if you leave them on the ground the bottom end of your sound will go straight down into the stage and your sound will be muddy. You also will sound better if your music is pointed at the audiences’ ears rather than their knees.
Rule Number One for performing live (in front of an audience since even rehearsals are “live”): ALWAYS FACE YOUR AUDIENCE. Turning your back on the audience, be it to hear yourself better or because you’re scared to death, tells the crowd you’re not ready to be on a stage. Audiences are like animals, they smell fear and they’ll turn on you. Be fearless or at least act like you are. Remember, once you’re on stage, it ain’t art, it’s Show Biz so act like you’re in charge. You’re putting on a show and the music is just a part of it. Do you want to act the part of the cocky rock star that all the girls scream over or do you want to act the part of the frightened geek who doesn’t know what he’s doing? It’s up to you and if you’re expecting people to pay money to see you, or even just show up, give them what you want them to see. How do you get over stage fright? Practice. Practice, practice and practice some more until you can play your set in your sleep, and you will, too.
Right on! Nothing worse than paying to see a player's back. Musicians must face the firing quad. Wear sunglasses if that helps!
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