Performing in Public for the First Time

 Hi everyone,

I'm going to talk about my experience of performing in public for the first time at our local Jam Night, which was held every other Wednesday evening.

I remember the first time that I performed in public, and for additional support I asked if anyone from work would like to come along as I had never performed in public on my flute before. But I wanted to give it a go to see if I could do it. 

I only chose to do one piece, and that was the Bethany variation of 'Nearer My God to Thee', as it was the piece that I was the most familiar with and also the piece that I felt comfortable in performing as I used the same sheet music that my former violin teacher did for me years ago. I just had to perform it ever so slightly different as I hadn't the stamina at the time to 'slur' longish phrases.

I can still remember getting up front of everyone, and I was nervous for a good 30 seconds to a minute. But, not only that because I was one of the few woodwind players the whole room fell silent. Which, I actually wasn't expecting as my fellow Jam Night buddies would agree that they on the daft and noisy side. But, they all made that I was looked after, and that the microphones were okay for me. Forgot to add that I nearly jumped a mile, as I had forgotten that they was a prothetic severed head of the Duke of Derby. It actually forms part of our local towns history, with what happened to the Duke of Derby.

  I then performed the only piece that I had prepared due to it being my first time performing in front of a small audience which included friends from work, music teachers and also fellow Jam Night buddies. I actually messed up the piece due to being nervous, and my fingers just didn't want to do what they were supposed to do. But I go through the performance, and I was really happy that I did it; as it's a brilliant for building up confidence, especially if you're on the quiet side like myself.

I couldn't believe that I had actually plucked up the courage to perform in front of a small audience at short notice. It's not an easy thing to do, but once you get up and perform you want to do it all over again.

I think I was doubling that night, as the Jam Night photographer. When I first started going to our local Jam Nights my role was actually to be the photographer, but slowly over the few years that I went to the Jam Night sessions it actually changed from photographer to performer.

If you have a local Jam Night session or something similar go and see if they will let you perform a short set or just a piece so then you can get a feel for what it's like to perform. I would only recommend it if you feel ready to perform, and please don't force yourself into performing in public if you're not ready. Also, try and prepare for the performance the best you can.

If you are ready to give a performance then have fun with it, as it's meant to be an enjoyable experience. Make sure you also have some sort support with you such as inviting friends and family to the performance, as that will make it a little easier to know that you have support sitting in the room with you.