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2 Part Question or Just 2 Questions
Hi Mona and Lisa;
I have a couple of questions about performing.
1) Have you ever had stage-fright? I imagine it happened early in your career or right before an important performance. But, you two always sound and look so good during performances that it is not apparent. Still there are times when I have had it and people said it wasn’t noticeable….maybe they were just being kind. But, have you had it and what did you do to get over it?
2) During a performance were you ever “in the zone”? That is, during a performance were you able to do things that were above and beyond what you could do during practice (either on the guitar or vocally) and had no idea where it came from? As opposed to stage fright, it has happened to me before and I have no idea why.
Hope you two and the MLT team have a good day and a great holiday season.
Mike
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5 Replies
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Hi Mike,
Good questions…
1) Well, it really depends on the situation. Whenever it’s a particularly important or big show, an unusual crowd, a new setlist or a more out-of-the-ordinary gig, yes, there are nearly always some nerves involved. People normally say that they couldn’t tell but of course you will know yourself.
The hot face, the heavy fingers and that 😉 Normally that feeling quickly goes away after a few minutes of being on stage but there have been times when things didn’t go smoothly, like a messed up stage sound or some other technical difficulties that make it harder to get into the zone leaving you feel on edge for bigger parts of the show. Not a fan of those kind of nerves as I then get upset with myself for feeling anxious which normally only makes me feel even more anxious.
So yes, stage fright happens, but rarely lasts longer than a few minutes into the set 🙂2) Yes, and it’s probably one of the most addictive things about being a musician. But it’s nearly always a group effort that seems to elevate everyone in the room. If the band plays well, if the audience is loving it, if you are giving your best and it all falls into place. It’s a type of energy you can’t reproduce in a rehearsal room, at least not in its entirety but it’s a great experience to then take that off stage and hopefully into the recording studio later. You learn a lot from pushing and transcending your boundaries on stage.
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Wow; those are great questions Mike,  and equally great answers, Lisa! Sometimes, we as fans forget that the stars on stage are also human and subject to the same frailties, fears, and anxieties as the rest of us.
I heard an illustration once that I love. Here is the gist of it (not word-for-word): Experienced public speakers (or performers) still get “butterflies.” The main difference is that their butterflies are flying in formation!” 😉
One thing I have always loved about you and Mona, is that you are both so down-to-earth, grounded, and certainly human. The “ORANGE” of the “Clockwork Orange” as it were. Right? <3
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Great Qs there Mike R…and loved Lisa’s answers :D…We are all human and just do the best we can, even to improvise or make do with what is given and just think POSITIVELY 😛
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Yes! Great questions and replies! Thank you Lisa for sharing your feelings and personal insights as a performer. The difference for me between being a fan of the Beatles (which I was back in the day) and being a fan of MLT is that -not only do I love the music each group did/does, but (in the case of MLT) they have the courage to let me get to know them as individuals. Mona and Lisa are such warm, interesting, fun and incredibly talented people that getting to share their experiences makes me more than just a “fan”, it really makes me feel like part of their family -and what a wonderful family they all are!
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Hi Lisa;
Thanks for the answers. I had one of those from number 1 just last weekend…..we started out playing two completely different songs….right in front of people. I was on guitar and another person was on the violin (fiddle). I didn’t notice it right away because both songs were in the same key. To follow up that masterpiece on the next song the violinist and I were playing the same song but in different keys. I dropped out quickly since the violin was the lead instrument in the song. It was just one of those times. It wasn’t exactly stage fright, but it led to a level of frustration……it got to the point where all I could do was shrug my shoulders and promise myself to do better next time. Real stage fright happens with the red face and very cold hands and fingers that seem hard to move around. And, it usually goes away some time during the first or second song.
And I have had those times in the past when picking and strumming and interacting with the keyboard guy where we both were playing above anything we ever did in practice. Times like that are fun…..it also only happens a few times, but keeps us coming back to play more. Mike.
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