Maybe if I demonstrate that I will actually respond to your Skribit requests, you will make more of them! I think making anonymous requests an option would help too, but that's another story...
OK, stagefright. It's a little known fact, but I used to get TERRIFIED right before going onstage. And not just right before. I would have this sense of dread all day, from the moment we arrived at the venue until we played. It usually went away when the show started, but if I was having a bad night, it would just cripple me.
So what happened? We were doing a show with Jars of Clay in about 1995. Because it was near Atlanta, they wanted to play first, even though they were the bigger draw at the time. So during their set, I stood out and watched the show. I was having fun. I looked around and saw that everyone else was having fun. And it felt like God was saying "Mark, why don't you just do THAT when we go onstage?". Then instead of dreading the performance, I was looking forward to a time when I got to have fun doing what I loved to do.
So do I get stagefright now? No, not in the traditional sense. If anything, there are nights when I wish I had it, just a little bit. It helps to focus, and I want every time I go onstage to MATTER. I don't want to act like it doesn't...
Do I get nervous before going onstage nowadays? You bet. But it's not in the traditional "stagefright" kind of way. I can let myself get worried about technical things. What if my gear's not working? I just have to trust the team I have around me, that my guitar tech and the rest of the crew are going to be looking out for us. I still get nervous before we play a new song - I don't want to mess it up and let everybody down. So when we're doing the first night of a new tour and there are a bunch of new songs and a lot of technical things to think about, I'm a ball of nerves!
One more thing: TV. I don't get nervous when I'm playing on TV, but I do get nervous in the time leading up to it. So, with two TV performances in the next week, I ain't gonna lie to you: I'm nervous! The key is to not think negative thoughts, and to channel the nervous energy into the performance...
ADDENDUM: I don't think I clarified this well enough, but I think there's a big difference between "game day jitters" and true stagefright. Being a little nervous before something is OK, even healthy. It makes you take it seriously and it makes you prepare. True stagefright comes from a different place. That's the enemy - the voice that's telling you you're not good enough.
As you were...
Being a drummer since 5th grade there aren't many instances where "stage fright" comes into play. Sometimes it's a person that does it. Play in front of 500 people? No problem. Play in front of [someone you look up to]? Oh, boy. Example: The #1 drummer on our worship team is incredible. When I sit in and he shows up it can't help but mess with my head a little. But when I decided at my old church to pick up the guitar and sing, that was a totally different thing. Playing guitar (yikes!) in church (yikes!), and playing contemporary songs (including some 3D) in a generally traditional church (yowza!)...first verses were frequently song with "nervous vibrato." Worst is when I'm really nervous I seem to have trouble finding the opening pitch...Even playing drums in my current church there's a certain nervousness I can't escape because this isn't just "playing songs" but lifting our praises up to the Lord. I'll get over that with time...
Posted by: Dan Gross | August 06, 2008 at 11:50 AM
Mark,
I just wanted to say I think its great that you have embraced the power of social networking. You interact with your fans and followers on twitter, answer questions on your blog and get people involved. Apparently, studying history at an engineering school really did rub some geek off on you. It's unfortunate that other artist that have these accounts setup only have one way communications I think they are missing the boat and turning twitter into another myspace and making it very impersonal. I really enjoy laughing at your daily events at twitter (sorry) you crack me up.
- Christopher
Posted by: Christopher [at] lightvox | July 24, 2008 at 05:39 AM
I think for me a stagefright issue is always - am I in my element or not?
Posted by: DeWayne | July 23, 2008 at 11:45 AM
In response to Sharon,
Yes your right. I do voice recitals, and I get a little nervous, just never really thought much about that part of it!
Posted by: Sheldon Heatherington | July 23, 2008 at 08:21 AM
Sheldon ... stagefright is very real!!!!! And I can totally relate to how crippling it can be. I lead worship and I've learned to just "step aside" inside myself. I just imagine that it's not me but the Holy Spirit singing through me. Maybe it's just a mindgame maybe it's for real .... I just know that it works and it reminds me of my focus. It's not about me but about leading people to the Father
Posted by: Sharon | July 23, 2008 at 06:35 AM
MARK!!! Skribit? Twitter? Tumblr? I can't keep up! Stop the madness!
Posted by: Melissa | July 22, 2008 at 10:42 PM
Stage fright.
Is it really fright, or are we just so excited that we get all nerved up? always wondered about that.
Posted by: Sheldon Heatherington | July 22, 2008 at 03:14 PM
At what time did you start the "after the concert salute with the right hand while holding your guitar extended in your left forever post-show" thing?
Posted by: Brad | July 22, 2008 at 12:54 PM