Relieving stress before a performance? An old actor's trick

[opus10no2]

This is an old actor's trick, but I wondered if it was at all commonplace among pianists or other musical performers.

Of course the 'trick' I speak of is a relief of sexual tension, involving the thorough disciplining of a lower primate.

This is a serious question, I've heard it really does relieve nerves; aswell as being a good warmup for octaves.

[leucippus]

I've been totally convinced of the rejuvenating properties of this 'trick' for years.

Not only does it relieve stress and anxiety, but it also clears the mind, and has a refreshing revitalizing aspect to it as well.

I'm not a performer so I've never used this 'trick' for the purpose you speak of.  I'm also not sure just how close this 'trick' would need to be employed with respect to the actual performance.  If it's a self-inflicted discipline of the lower primate I suppose the 'trick' could be performed minutes before walking on stage.   However, if the performer has a close friend who is very good at disciplining the lower primate, it might actually be sufficient to have performed this trick either the night before the performance, or earlier in the day if the performance is at night.

So yes, I agree that the relief of sexual tension in general is an important aspect to good mental and emotional health irregardless of when or how the 'trick' is accomplished.

[opus10no2]

But naturally , the one worry is that the performer will produce a 'flaccid' performance, lacking in testosterone; and thus - passion!

I guess this may have been Michelangeli's secret? who knows.

[_____]

Perhaps Gould could've benefited from Michelangeli's secret.

[jpianoflorida]

ok..why is your name just a line?   _________        are you trying to be "prince" ...the artist formerly known as?

[_____]

Hahahaha, not quite. I was trying to think of a decent name for like 10 minutes, to no avail, so I'm leaving it all to your imagination.

[pies]

A nice self-jerking does the job.

[pianistimo]

conductors would never do this.

[pianowolfi]

I would'nt do this before a performance. It would make me tired

[gruffalo]

i think this would be counter-productive. i believe, if anything, the tension in that area should be stored up so to give a real firey performance. I think one should be on edge and nerves. its more about how to prevent the nerves from affecting the performance, rather than getting rid of them. nerves should be used to the performer's advantage.

Gruff

[thalbergmad]

I would'nt do this before a performance. It would make me tired

It would anyway at your age old chap

Thal

[invictious]

I would'nt do this before a performance. It would make me tired

It's only like 5 minutes max, and what areyou doing? Gripping it tighter than a random girl's tits? It's good warmup though

[leahcim]

It's only like 5 minutes max

There's the meal to cook, flowers to buy, the witty conversation, then even if the moment's right, you're not just going to get up and leave?

[invictious]

Otherwise, get someone to do the 'thing' for you ;d

[ted]

As with the erotic piece thread, I am completely at a loss to imagine any connection between sex and music, pragmatic or imagined, physical or mental. For me the two functions have always appeared to be independent. People used to say it was a good idea to engage in sexual activity before sport for much the same reasons but it never seemed to make any difference to me.

[invictious]

It does to me, reaching orgasm or ejaculating causes you to release a hormone, that makes you feel tired, but it's actually making you more relaxed.

So masturbate before sleep!

Get a girl to do it for you if you are cool

[leucippus]

It does to me, reaching orgasm or ejaculating causes you to release a hormone, that makes you feel tired

It definitely doesn't have that affect on me.

I'm already tired, but have sexual tension, then relieving that sexual tension will definitely make it easier to fall asleep.

But if I'm not tired, having an orgasm to relieve sexual tension will not make me tired.   On the contrary, I often find it has just the opposite affect and makes me feel revitalized.

I think the reason most men want to roll over and go to sleep after having an orgasm is simply because they usually have sex at night and they're naturally tired anyway.  Moreover, if they put out a lot of work and effort building up to the act of having an orgasm (which may have included additional effort to induce an orgasm in their partner), they may want to roll over and go to sleep after that just because it was a lot of work.

But seriously, having an orgasm in and of itself, doesn't automatically make me tired.  It can actually serve to make me feel more alert and clear-minded than I was before I relieved that sexual tension.

All people are not the same though, I'm sure.

[lostinidlewonder]

The threads on this website are getting stranger by the day!

[leucippus]

The whole world's getting stranger by the day I think.

[ingagroznaya]

As with the erotic piece thread, I am completely at a loss to imagine any connection between sex and music, pragmatic or imagined, physical or mental. For me the two functions have always appeared to be independent.

Connection is in overall performance.
I would rephrase the question " do you feel an extreme sexual tension just before the performance?". If you do, the answer is clear. If you do not, there is no point in whacking it off.

I personally feel extrime build up right before any major performance, audition or an exam. So it's the other way around. Music has no direct connection with sex. Performance pressure causing stress. Stress makes me super horny. I have been late to some auditions, because...

[nortti]

I've experimented with this and come to the conclusion that it makes me too relaxed. Also, I'll become so shy I'm afraid to communicate anything. :] My note accuracy improves but the performance will lack everything else..