mozman68 wrote:

Hey...I'm not Fran, but my two cents:

You just have to go for it...it'll get easier over time. I mean, you're either nervous or your not...outside of plenty of alcohol beforehand, I don't think there's anyway around it.

GotChrist wrote:

i know i need to handle it as best i can but i don't know how. so i want to ask a real, famous singer. e.g. Fran

mozman68 wrote:

Hey...I'm famous..(in my own mind)...now get on stage and rock da house.

kevinnn wrote:

a few beers before hand will definitley help

kevinnn wrote:

a few beers before hand will definitley help

kevinnn wrote:

a few beers before hand will definitley help

weirdmominaustin wrote:

Let's not all suggest that booze is the only way to be confident on stage!

Lucile wrote:

I'm not Fran and I'm not a singer but my job leads me to speak in front of people and even "put on a show" sometimes.

I'm a teacher and if I want to get the pupils' / students' attention, I have to be entertaining and not teach a boring lesson like too many teachers do because it's easier. I've had to do lectures in front of two hundred stutents (ridiculous compared to the crowds Travis are playing, I know - but it's still impressive and the big difference is that most artists play in front of people who actually bought a ticket. When I teach class, most students don't *want* to be there in the first place so the pressure is definitely there and I have to be even more entertaining).

I've only been a teacher for a couple of years and each time I enter a lecture hall I still have the jitters and get a rush of adrenaline. It doesn't last but it's there and I think all you need to do is muster all your courage and do your job the best you can and enjoy it. I used to be chronically shy and speaking in front of people was just unthinkable. I had to overcome the stress and auto-suggestion was part of the process. (Other boardies advised you to have a drink before you get on stage - I obviously can't do that!)

It's normal and healthy to feel nervous and I think you will always get nervous. One thing I've learnt doing my job, is that it's a good thing to be nervous (so long as you can control it and turn it into something positive) - it means that you still care.

I know you can't really compare both jobs but there are some similarities even if they appear to be far-fetched. I hope my experience helped a bit anyway.

mozman68 wrote:

...oh...and I forgot...make sure you "take care of business" before you go on stage the first time. If "that" ever came out you'd never go within 100 feet of a stage again.

Another thing I do when I'm speaking to a very large group is focus on one or two people who seem to be connecting with me or what I'm saying...makes it easier (and did I mention beer?).