Quote:
Originally Posted by Koko2
To paraphrase Joni Mitchell, a painter only has to paint their masterpiece once, but a musician is required to paint their Picasso again and again on the stage each night. Maybe if you play in front of an audience often enough, it becomes comfortable.
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Well put (or rather: well put, Joni).
This is how I got over my anxiety about playing in front of others:
First, i played in front of my animals a lot (at home, obviously). Then, i played in my backyard in front of the birds. Then the front yard in front of the birds and random passer-byers.
Once that last one became acceptable, I began asking small cafes if I could play out front of their establishments, or inside. Then, i randomly played in parks (not busking, officer, just getting over my fear of performing before an audience).
Now, i still get the jitters before performing, but it's not nearly as debilitating as before.