Many athletes are superstitious. Whenever they get on a streak, they try and do the same thing before each game. For example, they may wear the same shirt and the same socks, or they may eat the same food before each game.
Are musicians similarly superstitious? I.e. if you gig regularly, do you have a pre-gig ritual that you must follow before every show? Do you have to listen to the same song before every show? Do you have to have a group hug before every show?
I haven’t gigged in a long time, so I don’t have any pre-gig rituals. However, if you gig regularly, let us know if you have any pre-gig rituals!
I used to listen to “Are You Experienced?” before most gigs, but these days anything rockin’ tends to get me in the right state of mind.
The only other superstition that I have – albeit not strictly *pre* gig – is that if I notice that my Dunlop pick isn’t tortoise side up, I can’t play until I’ve flipped him over!
My first visit to you blog- and I have to say it’s a really great one. The posts are fantastically thought provoking!
My pre-gig ritual usually involves:
reminding myself not to drink a whole lot of water
and double checking my strings and my spares!
Oh, and getting lost backstage…..
@Nick – Thanks for stopping by! Are You Experienced is a good choice. I also use Dunlop tortoise picks, so I can relate!
@Terence – Thanks for visiting! I hope you stick around. Good call on not drinking too much water! It’d suck to have to stop the show about halfway through so that you can make a quick run to the restroom!
Chug a beer! 🙂
But, seriously now, take a sip of my beer…
IG
I don’t do as many gigs recently as I have in the past, but obviously our band is not the most superstitial out there. We didn’t have any ritual really, although I can totally relate to what Nick has said – my pick has to be turned tortoise side up, haha!
Dunlop tortoise pick players will prevail! 🙂
World Racketeering Squad has a pre-gig focus that we do, something I learned in theater that I’m pretty superstitious about. Gigs just seem to go better when we do it.
Normally it happens all the time to me whenever I have gig down the line. Socks are not my favorite but I do wear a scarf as the matter of fact because it has proven pretty lucky for me and also I look on it.
Since I get the sweaty fingers from hell before a gig I tend to be playing with my rosin ball beforehand, trying to keep them dry. Doesn’t work, but it keeps me occupied. 🙂
I dont have a specific ritual but most of the time I require myself at least a minute of sitting there with my eyes closed and deep breathing to try to calm my nerves.
@Keith – Sometimes simply being occupied is the best thing to do! Keeps you from getting nervous.
@Guitar Gala – That’s also a great way to fight the jitters.
Go for a pee.
@Gary – That’s usually a good idea!
One thing that I always do before a show is take about 15-30 minutes to just meditate and clear my mind. I have these paraliminal brain wave sound clips that I got from Brainsync.com that really work wonders in making you calm and relaxed.
Pretty much just envision myself putting on an awesome show and pulling off some killer melodies and grooves.
After that I usually listen to “Machine Gun” from Jimi’s Live at the Filmore East to get me even more “in the zone” Ohhhh yeaahhhh