| Re: concert anxiety
I love that part about smiling, and it does work! We started doing this as a group during a tour in Chile -- scanning the audience, establishing eye contact and smiling at random people in the audience (ok, maybe not so random, because all said and done I did smile at a high percentage of good looking women).
Why it works I don't know, but do have a few speculations:
First of all, concentrating on the audience rather than me, me, me and my playing does take away anxiety, so I can play better.
Secondly, and more importantly, it helps to establish what is known as synergy, a fancy word that describes what happens when the whole experience is beyond the sum of the parts.
If we, as players, can establish rapport, or a relationship with the audience, they will establish rapport with us, and together we can enjoy the music. By enjoying the music together, the music gets better, the relationship improves leading to more of the same, and a great experience.
If we can do this and get paid for it, then:
WOW!
__________________ "A tool good enough to be so used and not too good" C.S. Lewis That Hideous Strength www.letsbuildhope.org |