A couple friends and I are kind of in a band but they want to perform at our school's talent show at the end of the year. This is a ways away but I get butterflies when I think about it. We have never gigged and just jammed with each other a lot. So would it be good to try and do it and conquer my fears of playing in front of my peers? And would it be best to play a song that I know really well? Thanks

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2010 American Special HSS Olympic White
2010 Mustang I Amplifier

If you don't try your wings you'll never learn to fly. So practice a couple of cool songs every day untill the end of the year, and give it every thing you've got.
----Danny,

Dude, bring your guitar to school and play at lunch with a portable amp. Trust me, you'll get over that fear really quick.

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1984 Squier Contemporary Stratocaster
1986 Peavey Envoy 110
1967 Kingston Acoustic

Double "true dats" to both of the above posters.

The more you play out, the more you will get comfortable doing it.
Playing in a public place, whether the lunchroom, or outside on a bench so passers-by can hear (and even stop to listen and watch you), is a good way to gently get comfy playing in front of others.

Yes to all of the above.

Try and play at some local parties before the talent show and by the
time the show rolls around, it'll be a piece of cake.

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Being able to play and enjoy music is a gift that's often taken for granted.

Don't leave home without it!

lil story here... When i was about 15 and growing up in dorset (england) I somehow either decided, or was talked into, performing in front of my entire school, all the teachers, all the students, everyone. Now id played in the orchestra on my cello before, but this was a bit different. This was in full assembly in the school sports hall. There was about 1500 people there and for a long time afterwards it was still my largest performance ever. We were so so so bad. But you know what, i wouldnt change a thing if i could

Played `lady madonna` with the school piano teacher sitting in on piano, then straight into `bullet with butterfly wings` which was something of a hit at the time from the smashing pumpkins. I played bass and did lead vocals, had a drummer behind me and my best mate on guitar hiding behind his hair next to me. I should add that even now after all my experiences, i wouldnt put myself forward as a lead vocalist, why i thought standing in front of 1500 open mouthed faces and screaming `despite all my rage i am still just a rat in a cage`would be a good idea i still dont know. but i did it. Felt i totally screwed up, but actually dont regret it!

For a start, nothing could ever rival that feeling of `what the hell have i got myself into here!!`, nothing could ever rival that audience reaction of total shock, so my nerves were never as bad after that. And secondly, there was a girl in the year below me who ended up idolizing me for the remainder of my school years , there were younger musicians who i met years later in pubs who still came up to me and said that was what made them get into rock music.

So i say GO FOR IT, even if it goes worse than you can possibly imagine... it might not end up being as bad as you think

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`I prefer not to listen to music that I can't rip off or improve on` - Ian Dury

They have a similar thing at my school. Everyone at my school is divided into houses, and between them we have competitions. One of these competitions is house music. Last summer, I thought, "i'll give this a go, see how it goes, I'm sure it will be fun". Ended up playing backing for an average Micheal Buble song, and then lead on Hotel California. It was great fun, and everyone said it was brilliant. I really enjoyed it, and I feel I boosted my reputation as a guitarist. I plan on doing it next year too.

I didn't do it with my band, because we are not all in the same house. So I ended up doing it with some people in the year above, who I had never met before. It was quite interesting, because we had never met before, but we worked together well in a short space of time.

Now, of course I felt nervous-I was performing in front of everyone in school, and all the teachers. Almost 1000 people, so not as big as ollyclam's audience, but still very big, for a first performance to an audience bigger than 30 people. But I was not that nervous, actually reasonably confident, because my band and I have been doing band practice in school for a few years now. We have had lots of people popping in, lots of people watching. One time, one of the scariest teachers in school came in and, without even saying anything, started playing a rock style piano solo over the top! It was brilliant! Doing this builds up your confidence.

Never feel afraid to play in front of people! They cannot laugh at you, because it's not them doing it. You're showing the bravery, courage, skill and boldness to try and entertain them, to give them a good time. You deserve thanks for that, not laughs. So do not worry. And anyway, the guitar is an easy instrument to impress with-just play something that looks cool, a cool lick or something, in your part, and people will be impressed. Go on the internet and learn some more, if you want.

So anyway, after doing this performance, I was very pleased with myself. I am a much more confident performer, and I impressed people-unless they were just being polite A better musician. It's always a good thing.

The most important thing? Enjoy it! Performing is fun, and each time you do it, you get better.

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"reach for the sky and aim for the moon, for if you miss you will end up among the stars"

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http://www.youtube.com/user/Almungo/videos?flow=grid&view=0

Thank you everybody for your encouragement and stories. My high school is about 1500 people and that scares me but I am thinking that I am going to give a shot. Tele and olly, I enjoyed hearing your stories and once again I thank all of you!

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2010 American Special HSS Olympic White
2010 Mustang I Amplifier

Practice a lot with your mates and as you get better, invite a few friends over to watch your practice. Takes a while to get over the butterflies but you just gotta go out and do it.

Play guitar in front of a mirror at home to see how you look doing different things and in different positions. But don't forget that no matter how nervous you are, people will only be able to notice a fraction of it.

Be sure to move around a little so you're not just a statue up there, and if anyone messes up in the band, just keep playing and no one will notice. It's when you stop and start over or everyone stares at the person who messed up that you get into trouble.

Just have fun, belt it out and you'll be golden.

go for it. in 6th grade i entered- and won- a talent show at school. right after that i formed a band with the runners-up. 2 years later we won a city wide talent show.

i have been on the side of not winning too- not a lot of fun, but it just makes you hungrier.