Nerves Nerves NERVES

**Galefore** · 06-19-2009, 05:00 PM

So I just went to a camp to enjoy my usual week of yearly campness. At this camp, with the inclusion of a few spiritual experiences I won't bore you with since not everyone here cares about that, I had a great time. So much of a good time that I'm going back to the same campground for another camp in two weeks, and I'm extremely excited.

But also nervous.

Why? Because at this camp, there's a talent competition. I'm going to enter and do a drum solo, and my nerves are killing me. I'm afraid to do it. I'm afraid I'm going to clench up and follow that up by messing up. And I don't want to screw up what could otherwise be a good opportunity for me. I've practiced it, I've memorized it, I know exactly what I want to play, but half of the battle is mental. So I need to get in the zone over the course of the next week. I'm just venting that here to get it out in the open air and let that help me in whatever way it can.

Also, as a side vent, I think I hate drum line kids. There was this arrogant ginger kid who sat around at the camp, pecking loudly on his practice pad, and having the nerve to criticize everyone else who was a drummer without ever actually hearing them sit down and play. I understand that in the drum line, you're usually extremely competitive, but come on. It's really sad to see someone who's actually pretty good at what he does walking around, putting every little person he meets down instead of offering actual constructive advice just because he's 'had lessons from anyone you can name'. People like that give me a headache. And I'm seriously hoping there's nobody like that kid at Camp 2.

ChuckleHuck · 06-19-2009, 05:23 PM

Ah, don't sweat it. If you do screw up, you screw up. Even though, you still seem overly prepared and aware of yourself and flaws. I'm sure you'll be fine.

Also, competitive people suck. Solve your anger by Falcon Punching them if you have to.

**Galefore** · 06-19-2009, 05:27 PM

^I'm actually not as prepared as I let off, I don't have a solid full solo I want to do in specific. I know how I want to start, and I know how I want to finish. I'll probably just improvise the middle if I don't write an interesting part over the next few days.

ChuckleHuck · 06-19-2009, 05:33 PM

Sounds cool. At least you've got a plan.

Vgfian · 06-19-2009, 05:36 PM

You shouldn't sweat it, you should do fine.

I've never actually heard you play, but "m" called you a god on the drums, so that has to count for something.

I can't reeally give you much advice on the second part without saying the words,"drop", and "kick" in the same sentence.

**Galefore** · 06-19-2009, 06:29 PM

Eh. I should have sat down and played some of the stuff I know for him on that little pad of his to shut him up, but even though it's partially my fault that he looked down on me because I was too chicken to prove myself, it's still not cool to judge someone who hasn't ever played for you. I don't let it bother me, though. Hindsight is 20/20, and I could have blasted out some rudiments for him, but I didn't, and he would have still been an ass. It's all good in the end.

Vapor · 06-20-2009, 07:16 PM

...pardon, my naivete, but how can you kick someone's ass with a practice pad?

Anyway, just play, man. Just throw yourself into the music wholeheartedly and The Rest Will Flow. Anyway, that works for me while I'm performing. Good Luck.

ChuckleHuck · 06-27-2009, 02:25 PM

Ironically, I was just at a 'camp' and someone played a drum solo and a song in a talent show...

Metal Man · 06-27-2009, 03:00 PM

I once had issues with nerves, but now for some crazed reason I actually derive confidence from standing in front of an audience.

Now the issue is I never stop talking and eat into other presenter's time. >.>

**Galefore** · 07-03-2009, 03:57 PM

I'm back. I nailed it (save for one major mistake in the second solo). All is well.

HOORAAAAY

06-19-2009, 05:00 PM	#1
Galefore EXPLOSION GOD OF MUSIC Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Some studio somewhere Gender: Posts: 8,275 Thanks: 1,361 Thanked 826 Times in 535 Posts Blog Entries: 5	Nerves Nerves NERVES So I just went to a camp to enjoy my usual week of yearly campness. At this camp, with the inclusion of a few spiritual experiences I won't bore you with since not everyone here cares about that, I had a great time. So much of a good time that I'm going back to the same campground for another camp in two weeks, and I'm extremely excited. But also nervous. Why? Because at this camp, there's a talent competition. I'm going to enter and do a drum solo, and my nerves are killing me. I'm afraid to do it. I'm afraid I'm going to clench up and follow that up by messing up. And I don't want to screw up what could otherwise be a good opportunity for me. I've practiced it, I've memorized it, I know exactly what I want to play, but half of the battle is mental. So I need to get in the zone over the course of the next week. I'm just venting that here to get it out in the open air and let that help me in whatever way it can. Also, as a side vent, I think I hate drum line kids. There was this arrogant ginger kid who sat around at the camp, pecking loudly on his practice pad, and having the nerve to criticize everyone else who was a drummer without ever actually hearing them sit down and play. I understand that in the drum line, you're usually extremely competitive, but come on. It's really sad to see someone who's actually pretty good at what he does walking around, putting every little person he meets down instead of offering actual constructive advice just because he's 'had lessons from anyone you can name'. People like that give me a headache. And I'm seriously hoping there's nobody like that kid at Camp 2.

06-19-2009, 05:23 PM	#2
ChuckleHuck Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: In the walls. Gender: Posts: 1,983 Thanks: 117 Thanked 64 Times in 46 Posts	Ah, don't sweat it. If you do screw up, you screw up. Even though, you still seem overly prepared and aware of yourself and flaws. I'm sure you'll be fine. Also, competitive people suck. Solve your anger by Falcon Punching them if you have to.

06-19-2009, 05:27 PM	#3
Galefore EXPLOSION GOD OF MUSIC Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Some studio somewhere Gender: Posts: 8,275 Thanks: 1,361 Thanked 826 Times in 535 Posts Blog Entries: 5	^I'm actually not as prepared as I let off, I don't have a solid full solo I want to do in specific. I know how I want to start, and I know how I want to finish. I'll probably just improvise the middle if I don't write an interesting part over the next few days.

06-19-2009, 05:33 PM	#4
ChuckleHuck Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: In the walls. Gender: Posts: 1,983 Thanks: 117 Thanked 64 Times in 46 Posts	Sounds cool. At least you've got a plan.

06-19-2009, 05:36 PM	#5
Vgfian Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Listening to Seeking 7 Seven and giving out free hugs. :) Gender: Posts: 6,862 Thanks: 2,433 Thanked 398 Times in 311 Posts	You shouldn't sweat it, you should do fine. I've never actually heard you play, but "m" called you a god on the drums, so that has to count for something. I can't reeally give you much advice on the second part without saying the words,"drop", and "kick" in the same sentence.

06-19-2009, 06:29 PM	#6
Galefore EXPLOSION GOD OF MUSIC Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Some studio somewhere Gender: Posts: 8,275 Thanks: 1,361 Thanked 826 Times in 535 Posts Blog Entries: 5	Eh. I should have sat down and played some of the stuff I know for him on that little pad of his to shut him up, but even though it's partially my fault that he looked down on me because I was too chicken to prove myself, it's still not cool to judge someone who hasn't ever played for you. I don't let it bother me, though. Hindsight is 20/20, and I could have blasted out some rudiments for him, but I didn't, and he would have still been an ass. It's all good in the end.

06-20-2009, 07:16 PM	#7
Vapor Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: WHERE IT'S AT Gender: Posts: 5,211 Thanks: 314 Thanked 413 Times in 249 Posts	...pardon, my naivete, but how can you kick someone's ass with a practice pad? Anyway, just play, man. Just throw yourself into the music wholeheartedly and The Rest Will Flow. Anyway, that works for me while I'm performing. Good Luck.

06-27-2009, 02:25 PM	#8
ChuckleHuck Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: In the walls. Gender: Posts: 1,983 Thanks: 117 Thanked 64 Times in 46 Posts	Ironically, I was just at a 'camp' and someone played a drum solo and a song in a talent show...

06-27-2009, 03:00 PM	#9
Metal Man Fairy-Slaying Maniac Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: 1592 Miles Away From Here Gender: Posts: 18,062 Thanks: 148 Thanked 683 Times in 482 Posts	I once had issues with nerves, but now for some crazed reason I actually derive confidence from standing in front of an audience. Now the issue is I never stop talking and eat into other presenter's time. >.>

07-03-2009, 03:57 PM	#10
Galefore EXPLOSION GOD OF MUSIC Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Some studio somewhere Gender: Posts: 8,275 Thanks: 1,361 Thanked 826 Times in 535 Posts Blog Entries: 5	I'm back. I nailed it (save for one major mistake in the second solo). All is well. HOORAAAAY