Music performance anxiety: tips and strategies

Music performance anxiety is perfectly normal, we all get nervous before a big show. But how you handle that nervousness greatly impacts your performance and can mean the difference between a great gig and a terrible one. Here are some tips you can use if you’re feeling anxious about an upcoming performance.

1. Practice playing in front of people before the performance

If you have never performed live, your first show can lead to music performance anxiety. You can reduce your anxiety greatly by conditioning yourself to play music in front of others. Try playing through your full setlist, or at least a large portion of it, in front of friends or family members. This will usually help you get used to the idea of performing for a crowd, and you’ll usually receive some great encouragement as well.

2. Get to know the venue

If you are comfortable with the stage you will be playing on, you are much less likely to experience music performance anxiety, get nervous, and make mistakes during the actual performance. Try to arrive early for soundcheck, or if possible even visit the venue a few days in advance to get a feel for the acoustics, stage setup, and equipment.

3. Record yourself 

Filming your practice sessions and uploading them online can have a similar amount of pressure as performing live. If you can get used to the idea of being recorded, you should be easily able to adapt to live performances where all eyes are on you (and you will probably end up being filmed as well). 

4. Warm up before the show

Warmups should be a crucial part of your backstage routine. Completing a proper warm up will make you much less susceptible to mistakes and help reduce music performance anxiety. Be sure that your warm-up routine is rigorous enough to get you fully ready for the stage. You should always come up with your routine since this will give you optimal results based on what you are going to be performing. Try taking some popular warm up exercises and modifying them to suit your needs. You can check out some of our exercises for more inspiration.

5. Have fun

Remember that playing music is supposed to be an enjoyable experience, for both the audience and the performer. Overcoming performance anxiety lets you channel more energy into your playing, leading to positive feedback from the audience in return. Good luck!