So I am playing Stray Cat Strut at my first gig in front of a crowd October 11th...

Any tips from any guitarists out there who know what this is like? Is there any special trick to psyche myself into not being nervous? I am also playing Chet Atkins guitar arrangement of Don McLean's Vincent and Jeff's Boogie.

Chew Gum, it worked for John Lennon.

Just rehearse those Songs as long till you can play them sleeping, then you'll know, that you can play them, and nothing can make you a problem.

Either they will throw tomatoos at you or you'll get a beer!!
Haha!
Just go there and do your stuff. That's what you end up doing in the future anyway.
You gotta start sometime.

Go Cat!

Bravo!! Bravo!! Patrick

I'll be working hard to get that good someday

Daniel

ArtVandelay wrote:

Any tips from any guitarists out there who know what this is like? Is there any special trick to psyche myself into not being nervous? I am also playing Chet Atkins guitar arrangement of Don McLean's Vincent and Jeff's Boogie.

get in a fight with the drummer just before the show because he wont cut his stupid
hippie hair or stop listening to Angels and Airwaves. works all the time.

also....

find one person in the audience smiling and focus just on them, when you make
your first screw up of the evening just laugh with them and then say to yourself
"I'll teach you a tone lesson you'll never forget" and imagine all of their heads bursting
into flames the minute you grab hold of the bigsby!!

Everyone else so far has given good advice. I don't have anything major to add except just try to relax and have fun and let things come naturally. After the first song, you'll settle in and things will seem easier. Good luck with the show.

By the way, about the audience, if anyone gets out of line, you can either take TV or Patrick's advice, or you can use my approach. I simply say those 3 magic words...

"SUMMON THE KRAKEN!"

Capt. Jones

A rockabilly guitar player, and architect too? You are a true Renaisance man, Art Vandelay!

I remember you from the other forum - I've been wondering how the Orange County Fair went. Don't remember hearing from you. I thought maybe you slipped into a rapturous coma at the concert or something!

Hey, congrats on the gig - you'll be great!

Thanks for the advice guys it went great! I didn't get to play Jeff's Boogie because everything started late. But I still got to play Stray Cat Strut and Vincent (which got me the most applause.) Now all I want to do is play guitar on stage! No to find a band... I might upload it on youtube.

awesome man. i think the best advice i ever heard is dont put your whole self out there on the first song. play something your comfortable with at first to let the jitters out.