| Getting ready for any type of guitar | | | | to twelve songs and memorize them.2. Make |
| performance can be a little scary at first, | | | | sure you select songs with different tempos |
| but if you are well prepared, you will find | | | | and rhythms for your performance in order to |
| the experience much easier to handle. Whether | | | | create and sustain interest from your |
| you're | | | | audience.3. Pick songs with varying degrees |
| | | | of difficulty, but don't overestimate |
| playing with a band, or by yourself; are a | | | | yourself. Be realistic about your own |
| seasoned performer, or a rookie; there are | | | | ability. You want to pick songs that you |
| several things you can do to make the most of | | | | enjoy and are able to play well on your |
| your performance. First and foremost, realize | | | | guitar when no one is watching. If you find |
| that you are not the first one on the block | | | | that you are constantly making mistakes in a |
| to ever feel jittery about playing your | | | | particular song, give yourself more time to |
| guitar in public. It's a common experience | | | | get it down before actually performing it in |
| among musicians, and being a little nervous | | | | public.4. Practice playing with distractions. |
| can even work in your favor.There is always a | | | | You will be amazed at how beneficial this can |
| mysterious struggle that goes on inside me | | | | be. I remember playing at an outdoor concert |
| when I'm about to give a performance. I | | | | once where the band that was to follow mine |
| think it's something akin to the Dr. Jekyl | | | | was warming up right behind us! Tamborines |
| and Mr. Hyde phenomenon. Two voices bantering | | | | and all. One of the bandmembers actually |
| for my attention, the good guy and the bad | | | | started asking me questions about my guitar |
| guy. Mr. Hyde tells me that I must be out of | | | | performance and wanted to know how I learned |
| my mind. What makes me think I'm good enough | | | | to play like that! It was very weird, but all |
| to get up on a stage and play my guitar | | | | I could do was ignore her. After that |
| before an audience? Who do I think I am | | | | experience and a few others like it, I began |
| anyway? On the other hand, Dr. Jekyl tells | | | | practicing my repertoire with the T.V. and |
| me that I've worked hard practicing my guitar | | | | radio turned up pretty loud to mimic such |
| and know the material well. It will be fun to | | | | distractions.5. Start your performance off |
| share what I've got with others so they can | | | | with something that you find easy to play on |
| enjoy hearing it too. Be brave, live life to | | | | the guitar and graduate to the more difficult |
| the fullest and go for it!Because I am | | | | pieces later. This will help you to warm up |
| basically a shy person, it would be much | | | | your fingers and get comfortable with being |
| easier for me not to play my guitar in | | | | on stage. I usually like to start with a |
| public. But there is a certain drive, almost | | | | strong, upbeat song in order to gain the |
| a need I have, to express myself through | | | | attention of the audience and rid my stomach |
| music; especially with regard to playing my | | | | of butterflys.6. Get a good night's sleep the |
| own material. Yes, there is a certain risk | | | | night before your performance if at all |
| involved; it's called being vulnerable. | | | | possible. That will help keep you fresh and |
| Anything could happen... A string could break | | | | alert and also reduce your level of |
| (been there), you might forget the words or | | | | anxiety.7. Avoid drinking too much alcohol or |
| chords to the song (been there), you might | | | | caffeine.8. Have all your clothes, equipment, |
| make a mistake and have to start over (been | | | | contact information and directions ready the |
| there too). But no matter what happens, the | | | | night before.9. Always have extra strings, |
| world will go on and you will discover that | | | | pics and guitar batteries, etc. in your gig |
| people are very supportive and encouraging | | | | bag.10. Relax, take a deep breath and try to |
| overall. I'm always amazed when I get | | | | enjoy yourself. After all, it's just another |
| positive feedback over a performance that I | | | | part of the learning process and tomorrow's a |
| thought was absolutely awful. It provides me | | | | brand new day!FREE Reprint Rights - You may |
| with more incentive to continue on.So how can | | | | publish this article in your e-zine or on |
| you make the most of your guitar performance? | | | | your web site as |
| Below I've put together several suggestions | | | | |
| for you to consider. They are in no | | | | long as you include the following |
| particular order of importance. Some may be | | | | information:Kathy Unruh is a singer |
| relevant to you at certain times and | | | | songwriter and webmaster of ABC Learn Guitar. |
| irrelevant at others. Just take what you | | | | She has been writing songs and providing |
| need and ignore the rest.1. Develop a | | | | guitar lessons to students of all ages for |
| repertoire (song list) of approximately ten | | | | over 20 years. |