I guess I should tell you... On the 12th I had a school choir concert in which I had my first performance with my guitar (I used my Aria, as I wanted an acoustic feel to it) outside of a church function. It was a choir concert in which all the choir students whip out their skills in a thing like a talent show, but nobody wins or gets a prize. It's just an unpaid and highly stressful show (with 40 different performers, for the most part, in 3 hours).

I performed "Flake" by Jack Johnson. I accidently took out half a chorus, but it was pretty much a two part chorus anyway. Nobody noticed. I felt as if I messed up at least a few times (I can only remember two right now... but I know I barely fixed one by BARELY remembering the words), but everyone I asked said that I did great and didn't notice anything. Oh well, I guess I'm fine with a good show.

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"Speak the truth, and speak it ever,
cost it what it will
for he who hides the wrong he did
did the wrong thing still."
-Miss Uel

First time out is always stressful But im sure you did fine. And it only gets easyer now.

Here is a word of advice that will help when you are nervous and mes up a song: The audience (unless they intimately know the song) won't know when you mess up unless you give yourself away. Just keep playing and you'll be fine.

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I tried to think of something clever to put here but- OH! Something shiny!!!

Even if you do mess up the song, chalk it up to making it your version (improv). Play on. Remember, never let them see you sweat.

RK

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RK

2007 Fender Highway 1
2012 American Deluxe
2015 MIM Dave Murray HHH
2010 Fender Blacktop
1987 Fender Avalon Acoustic
2012 Marshall DSL 15 watt head

While I was at my best in Kung Fu we used to perform for audience in school and etc. The best advice I got was that if I screwed up a form (Kata in Karate term) just keep on going, just act like nothing happened, most of people wathcing didn't know what I was doing anyway . And I see that those who posted replies before me are giving you the same advice, I just wanted to let you know that it actually work.

If that sample isn't enough here is another: There is a video on the internet of SigurRós performing in Paris, France. The singer Jónsi forgets the text to one of the song. So he starts to improvise in Icelandic. The new text translates to:

I forgot the lyrics
but it doesn't matter
nobody understands me anyway.

To say the least, the french audience wasn't aware that the singer wasn't singing the right lyrics.

But, congrat on the first gig and may there be many more in the future.

mac , bro , i'm proud of you , congrats on numero uno , its good when you nail the rough ones and it sounds like you you did that.

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you can save the world with your guitar one love song at a time it's just better, more fun, easier with a fender solid body electric guitar or electric bass guitar.

Oh, I guess I wasn't too clear, sorry... I have been on stage before, but it's been either just me singing or just me playing guitar. But that was the first time in front of people outside of my church with both vocals and my guitar.

But yeah, I held it up and tried to put on the appearence of knowing exactly what I was doing. I was smiling both before and afterwards (and during), not letting fear or embaressment get to me. It wasn't much of the song I missed anyway (the structure went verse 1, chorus, verse 2, chorus, chorus, outro, and I only missed half of that last chorus), and I pulled out strong.

I guess all I'm saying is that I'm happy about that performance. Just so you know, I'm not exactly the cockiest kid in the world, and I'm glad I have some more experience onstage. Thank you for your support, replies, and advice, though, and for the well wishes (and for the story about the language barrier being a good thing, hahaha).

P.S.- I'm sooo bad at improvising. My mind wanders off, stops, and jumps all the time. Maybe I'll get better over time with that.

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"Speak the truth, and speak it ever,
cost it what it will
for he who hides the wrong he did
did the wrong thing still."
-Miss Uel

yeah i know how u feel. i did the same the other day performing in front of some people, got all red faced and sweaty and everything, i messed up a few times (well more than a few) but now i feel more comfortable singin and playin in front of everyone

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I got this guitar and I learned how to make it talk...

Just keep at it.

Sometimes you miss a step when you're walking or bite a lip while chewing, and that's something we've done more hours than playing guitar.