Any tips on not being nervous...

Marksist · Post by **Marksist** » 2004-11-25 04:18am

Well I have an audition coming up next week for an ensemble I'm really excited about being a part of (if I make it). The problem is, like most auditions I have, I get really nervous. And I think being a little nervous can be a good thing, as it helps me be more focused as I play. But, that's a hard middle ground to come by, because if I'm too nervous I play like shit and make mental errors, but, if I'm too over-confident in myself, I tend to let some things slide.

Also, this audition is with a previous instructor whom I consider to be the best teacher I've ever had, and who I admire and respect very much. The fact that he has heard me previously helps my situation as he has always seemed to act favorably towards me, but, he hasn't heard me play individually in almost 2 years, and it is very important to make another good first impression, so there is this added pressure of me wanting to really impress someone I admire. Also I'm not only shooting to make the ensemble, but, to be at the top of my section, so some more added pressure.

Was wondering if you guys have any tips for being less nervous, and not necessarily for auditions, but, maybe in job interview situations, or other times where you are being judged and you want to make a good impression. Any tips on fighting my wussiness would be much appreciated.

And of course, I don't just blame my state of mind on if I make or don't make an audition, but, it plays a key part. Some things I've tried to stop my nervousness and didn't work:

-I've always heard the "stage fright cure" method of imagining your audience as giant chickens, in their underwear, or something that you would find humorous, this just doesn't work for me, I just couldn't do it.
-I've tried what a couple friends have suggested, and done the "just know that you are awesome." Or "go in there and just think that you are a bad ass." So basically just thinking positive, when I truly think that it is not, doesn't work for me.

The only thing I think that has ever worked to just put me in the "perfect" state of mind for an audition is hearing my competition practice, and me realizing that "hey, I'm not so bad compared to these guys." But, that won't work for this audition, as there will be very high calibre competition, as this is a more prestigious group.

Thanks in advance for any help.

Frank Hipper · Post by **Frank Hipper** » 2004-11-25 06:31am

Take deep, regular breaths.
It actually works. You'll still have a nervous edge, of course; you'd have to knock yourself out with valium to be completely relaxed.

You'll do fine.

Post by **Ghost Rider** » 2004-11-25 07:12am

Well your friends are right about the whole "Think you're awesome!" does work, but that takes time.

Seriously.

For an easy but damn effective...simply take some deep breaths like Hipper suggests. Calming your breathing can prevent you hyperventialting if it comes to it, but it also does prevent the anxiety from building. Your stomach does get the butterfly feeling but your body doesn't feel much beyond that.

So go out and do your best!

jegs2 · Post by **jegs2** » 2004-11-25 11:23am

If you're worrying (which is part of what makes us nervous), here are some helpful tips.

Slartibartfast · Post by **Slartibartfast** » 2004-11-25 11:45am

Drink some orange flower water.

salm · Post by **salm** » 2004-11-25 01:41pm

i notice that if i smoke a couple of joints the evening before presentations work really well. first i´m able to fall asleep very quickly in the evening. i usually don´t have problems with falling asleep but when i have presentations on the next day my brain keeps working out all kind of hypothetical situations i might encounter during the presentation.
second, if i still have this "rest-stondeness" on the next day i´m not nervous, very relaxed and therefore better able to focus on the presentation.

might not work for everybody though.

Lord Pounder · Post by **Lord Pounder** » 2004-11-25 02:38pm

Knock down half a pound of Vicoden(sp?) you'll be real relaxed untill about March 2005.

egyptfrk · Post by **egyptfrk** » 2004-11-25 07:04pm

Taking lots of deep breaths definately helps

Try just totally losing yourself in the music, don't worry about/focus on the competition or your surroundings, just the music

I'm sure you'll do great! Good luck!

Marksist · Post by **Marksist** » 2004-11-25 10:00pm

Thanks for all the tips guys. I'll definetely try relaxing and breathing deep breaths like a lot of you suggested.

That's a pretty nice site Jegs, still going through it, some good info to stop worrying about it (which I am now, and for the last few weeks).

Slartibartfast wrote:Drink some orange flower water.

lol, am I missing a reference here?

salm wrote:i notice that if i smoke a couple of joints the evening before presentations work really well.

Heh, appreciate the advice, but, need to be more alert to play such a technical piece that I'm doing for my audition, and I don't use marijuana anymore. Same with your advice Pounder, can't be whacked outta my mind on Vicaden.

Slartibartfast · Post by **Slartibartfast** » 2004-11-26 10:31am

Marksist wrote:
Slartibartfast wrote:Drink some orange flower water.
lol, am I missing a reference here?

No, seriously, orange flower water (I don't knowhow you guys call it but they sell it here in drug stores) is really relaxing and has no side effects. You can drink a fuckton and you won't feel drowsy or anything, but usually a gulp is enough.

It's non alcoholic too. Just a byproduct of the distillation of orange flower oil.

Links I found:

http://www.thespicehouse.com/product/product_203.php
http://www.liquorama.net/index.asp?Page ... odID=17090

Take a gulp from the bottle, or mix it with sparkly water or something, it's quite soothing.

Saurencaerthai · Post by **Saurencaerthai** » 2004-11-26 12:36pm

The first thing, which has been mentioned, is to control your breathing. When your breathing is shallow and quick, your brain will continue with the whole illusion that you are in trouble and need to run. However, if you breath deeply and slowly, it will trick it into thinking that everything is normal.

Second thing, be confident. In fact, be overly confident. In fact, be boarderline arrogant (but not outwardly!) Going in with an attitude of "I know my shit better than any of those other guys and I can play it better than those other guys. The job is mine" really can keep your steam up.

Third, there's the obvious advice of making sure you're there early with plenty of time to warm up. If you have ample time to get your chops warm and your mind centered, you generally will do alot better than showing up ten minutes before.

Good luck man, and let us know how it goes!

RedImperator · Post by **RedImperator** » 2004-11-26 05:09pm

Take deep breaths until your lungs are full, and hold for as long as you can. Release slowly, then take another breath. Repeat until relaxed.

.........actually, this works better with marijuana. But who knows, it might work with regular air, too.

Saurencaerthai · Post by **Saurencaerthai** » 2004-11-26 06:16pm

RedImperator wrote:Take deep breaths until your lungs are full, and hold for as long as you can. Release slowly, then take another breath. Repeat until relaxed.

.........actually, this works better with marijuana. But who knows, it might work with regular air, too.

Note: unless you've performed under the influence and are familiar with how you act, do NOT do this before an audition. I've seen people who can play wonderful stuff under the influence, and I've seen people who forgot how to solo.

salm · Post by **salm** » 2004-11-27 12:46pm

how do you actually remember the whole breathing thing? every time i have a presentation i want to do certain stuff during it. for example breath slowly, talk slowly and stuff like that. then i start presenting and simply completely forget about all the stuff i wanted to do.

it´s not that much of a problem because i´m a decent presenter but improving is allways good.

Post by **Zaia** » 2004-11-27 12:58pm

Record yourself, so you can hear yourself play the way others will hear you. Not so much in terms of tone production (since you probably won't get really good sound quality on the recording), but articulation, style, dynamics, etc. That should ease your mind a bit while also giving you some nitpicky things to work out to take your performance to the next level.

The most helpful thing I know of to enable someone to relax during an audition is to go to as many of them as possible. If you're trying to impress one particular person, you'll always have some butterflies, but if you can get yourself out to a number of auditions, you'll find you aren't that nervous about the audition itself because you've done it X-dozen times. This is more a general piece of advice because you probably won't have the opportunity to go to any actual auditions before you have this one, but the more auditioning you do, the better you get at it.

Chances are that there won't be any opportunities for you to audition before this big audition, so in that case, drag friends, family, classmates, strangers, co-workers, professors, etc.--into your practice room or apartment or whatever so you'll have an audience (I don't know what instrument you play, but I also dragged people into the marimba/tympani rooms at school so I'd have an audience). Don't feel stupid about it, just do it. It helps a LOT to play in front of people in a performance setting (don't stop if you make a mistake, no goofing off while you play, etc.), so beg them for a few minutes of their time so you can iron out the kinks in the piece and squish out the nervousness in your stomach.