David's Tip of the Day: Frames of Mind - Part 3 (Performance)

The critical mind (the one that helps you to identify weak areas in your playing to be fixed) that's so beneficial in the practice room, is a hindrance on the bandstand. Unfortunately, it brings emotional baggage... it should be observational, not emotional... but it often translates to emotional. When performing, this internal critical voice needs to be hushed and the voice of confidence should be its replacement.

If you're nervous before a show, that's normal... we all feel that. If it's anxiety before a show, you're not prepared well enough and you should have practiced more thoroughly before the show. Whichever it is, say to yourself that you're the best player around and you're going play the best you've ever played. Whether this is true or not, psych your self out to believe it, because you'll play much better with this confidence and tension released from your body.