Jul 16 (edited) • Quick Tips ⏩
Lessons From a First Open Mic Night
encouraged me to post this after my quick chat with him - so let me first acknowledge the recording isn't that great, but it's one of two songs that I pulled off a few weeks ago... while completely failing at a third.
And I mean FAIL. Total choke to the point of blanking on words I knew and not even being able to finish the song.
Fortunately, it was a crowd of around 30 totally forgiving people. While I've dabled with guitar since I was a teenager, I only started singing earlier this year (which has actually resulted in more and better guitar playing).
As Melvin shared regarding my public meltdown (not in the recording provided), "that's how you learn." And I'll just say I have mad respect for him and all who choose to perform in front of others!
Ok to the lessons:
- Might sound stupid, but stay hydrated and not with alcohol! Seriously drink more water than you normally might because it not only greases your vocals but helps you stay focused.
2. When you screw up, don't stop playing. Just keep going because it's NEVER as bad as you think it is but it NEVER sounds good when the music abruptly stops. I know, cuz that's what I did!
My buddy who was there gave me some good advice. Basically, have an exit plan. Not an exit from the building, mind you, but one from the song.
Example: You know you're blowing it...so you decide to just repeat the chords a bit. Maybe you introduce some humming or head to the chorus earlier than you should to collect yourself.
3. Adrenaline can be regulated to an extent with deep breaths... and I noticed at one point that I was failing to breath. Just sitting there exhaled and then thinking, "jeez, I should take a breath."
The brain is a funny thing. When I realized I was forgetting the words, I had a million thoughts enter at once: "You are imploding now. You are embarrassing yourself and your family. Look at your wife there recording you fail. You practiced so much, how could you do this?"... and on and on!
Anyway, things began to turn for the best once I started breathing deeply (as in, I chose to continue with another song I actually could play).
4. While I was advised not to talk much and just play, I did find a sense of relief after I admitted to the audience it was my first open mic night. Connecting with others can help take focus on what's racing in your mind. So don't be afraid to quickly establish some connection with those in front of you (beyond, "thanks for coming").
5. You breathe, think, and sing better when standing up. Folks who sit with great posture might argue a bit with me on this -- but that's one thing I've been practicing since that night, and I expect to play standing up next time.
That's all I got for now, and hope maybe something there is helpful. At 55, playing in front of people has been a bucket list item I've had for years. I knocked it out this year, and found that (according to others), my voice is actually worth continuing to develop.
One thing I've learned since paying attention to Melvin is that if you find the songs you really love to play, you'll keep working at playing them. And little victories might look like playing the first few verses/chords really well before trying to move on to the next.
3:45
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Lessons From a First Open Mic Night
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