Three new quick tips to calm nerves before a big gig

This past weekend was a big gig for a lot of singers:  it was a reunion gig of Guitar Villians Live Band Karaoke, with 31 singers vying for $800 in cash prizes.  Each singer got to sing only one song.  Can you imagine the pressure?  Understandably, a lot of them were nervous.  Some came to me for advice to chill out and calm down.

There are a lot of quick-fix techniques in this mini e-book, which you might already have.  But I've learned another couple of tricks recently.

First trick:  exhale at least twice as slowly as you inhale, for a few breaths.

Just try it.  It has an immediate calming feeling.  Thanks to bassist Doug Johns for mentioning this tip at a bass clinic recently.

Second trick:  place your hands on your head.  OK, this one needs a bit more explanation. Last week, I was so amped up (and nervous) for some things going on this weekend, that my mind was in constant motion.  When I would stop and try to be calm, or even try to sleep, it felt almost like lightning bolts constantly shooting out of my head.  A friend of mine suggested trying to gently place both hands on the top of my head to tame the energy.  I was surprised to feel that it actually worked.  This is one of those that I think might work if you are sensitive to energy, or just give it some faith, but won't work if the idea sounds like new-age bogus to you.

Third trick:  get a massage.  Maybe next time you have a big gig you know you're going to be nervous about, schedule a massage with someone you know and trust earlier in the day.  What better excuse to treat yourself to a massage?

(c) 2011 Adrienne Osborn

Adrienne Osborn is a vocalist and performance coach based in Colorado.   For more free articles and tips, visit https://PerformanceHigh.net.