Performance enhancement? [Bob project]

[Bob]

Does anyone have any suggestions for putting yourself in a good mood for a performance?  esp. when you're tired or not in a good mood or misc. life events come up -- What do you do to put yourself into a positive mindset for a performance?   :-/

[alkanite]

This is not really a serious reply but I feel I have to share.  The morning of my Performers ARCT (Canada), I had a splitting headache.  Took four extra strength tylenol.   .  Never played better in my life.

Note:  This is not medically sound advice.

[Bob]

I know caffiene works to give you a boost.

I've tried purposely creating the feeling of a piece in myself.  I just remember things that are the same feeling as the piece.  Practice -- gearing up for a performance or practicing that emotion -- helps.  

Does anyone have anything else like this?

[faulty_damper]

Chocolate.  Chocolate!  CHOCOLATE!

[bitus]

Too much chocolate can make you too hyper. Same with caffeine pills and coffee. Don't use any of those unless you are addicted to them.
  1. Try performing the piece in your mind.
  2. Enjoy your playing, and make music.
  3. Play accordingly to your mood, but don't fall into extremes. Mozart can be played with a happy dramatism, or with a sad dramatism. Both ways it will sound very good.
  4. If you mistake, don't think about those mistakes, but use that as a motivation to give everything you have to play better from that point on.
  5. Consider your audience, and please them.
  6. Don't try to motivate yourself  ... but rather use that mental energy to calm yourself down, and concentrate on the piece.

Hope this helps.
The Bitus.

[Clare]

Yeah - I remember one time when I was a kid and I had an exam and my Grandma filled me to the brim with coffee lollies. In the exam, my hands shook like mad and I played trills that weren't even written in the pieces. It was bad.
Before I play for an exam or something I usually feel sick with worry but something like a good old cup of tea can make you feel nice and warm inside and is good for when you don't feel like eating.
Also, I like to distract myself whilst getting ready to play by choosing what I'm going to wear and make sure my hair is all nice and neat.  I don't know whether that's the best way, though.

[Shagdac]

I tend to go along w/ Bitus. I know I tend to get jittery before performing, and if I'm tired it's because I was nervous and did not sleep well the night before. Usually what I have found to be the best for me.

1. Make sure I get a good nights sleep the night before, don't plan on staying up late. Take a hot relaxing bath, listen to some soothing music, watch a movie, go to bed EARLY. I can't say how much a good nights sleep helps!

2. Get everything done for that day ahead of time. Make sure your transportation, scores, outfit, absolutely everything is ready to go, so you don't have to worry about that day off.

3.  If something comes up at last minute that is critical and you still have to perform, accept the fact that something has happened that you will have to deal with later, but at the moment you have something you must do. Meditate on the project at hand.

4. Dont' OVER practice immediately before. I made that mistake several times, where I practiced a piece so much the night before my fingers were swollen, and tight and practically numb by performace time!

5. Exercise....I can't say enough about how much this helps on a daily basis....even 3 or 4 times a week for 30-40minutes at a time. Regular exercise helps one deal with stress on a daily basis much more easily. Even if it just taking a brisk walk in the evenings. I have found a quick run the night before and morning of (a performance) to be highly helpful...clears the mind.

6. Enjoy yourself. Think about why you are playing in the first place. Because you love it (hopefully). When you are doing something you truly enjoy it's easy for others to spot.

Hope this helps.

Shag

[jr11]

Recreational substances are worthy of discussion here. Whether one agrees with their use or not, drugs are probably more common among artists than any other adult professional group.

Alcohol is legal, though I am not sure why... it is not a gentle drug. It impairs coordination worse than most anything, but one or two drinks may ease the nerves. A bit too much though, and you might as well play wearing mittens.

A few tokes of marijuana may enhance your artistic impression, but like booze, a bit too much would be detrimental. Your mind could wander from the task at hand, and memory lapses during performance are not a good thing.

As above, a cup of coffee or two is probably fine, but any more might give one the jitters.

A cigarette before ANY task seems to help smokers to relax... but god help them if they couldn't have their smoke first!

Doctor-prescribed mood altering drugs are still mood-altering drugs. Even those prescribed for other ailments can have distracting side effects.

I have played with a number of pop musicians using other substances like cocaine, psychedelics and opiates. Let's just say I have yet to see a circumstance where it has helped them in their performance, and I can't see any room in the ridgid world of classical music for this type of thing.

Probably best to just be well rested and well practiced.

[monk]

1. Sleep enough.

2. Don't be too active over the day; this way you aren't already tired when you play in the evening.

3. I go swimming for 1/2 hour some hours before the gig. Makes my body and mind flexible.

4. Because I never have stagefright - on the contrary, my relaxedness sometimes borders on lameness - , I drink one cup of coffee before showtime. Makes my energy go up just the right amount.

5. Don't play to prove yourself - play to have fun! Make that your mantra before performance.

Best Wishes,
Monk