One thing really helped me coming along playing in front of people. And it may not apply in your situation, but I’ll tell you anyway.
Guitarists tend to have the reputation of “steamrolling” other musicians. Ya know, “everything is about the guitar.” Well I’ve always really tried as a musician to simply be a part of the band I’m playing in to add balance. But inevitably, I would always get really nervous, and stay completely focused only on me, my playing, my tone, my errors, me, me, me. Until one of the guys in my band took me aside and told me that I was being completely selfish and egotistical. He said just because I wasn’t talking about how great I was (in fact just the opposite) didn’t mean I wasn’t being egotistical…and when you focus SO much on yourself it takes away from the audience’s experience. It becomes all about you and not about what you are offering your audience.
I was floored. I’d always gone out of my way to NOT fit the stereotypical guitar player. Now I’m not disagreeing with Steve at all. You need to be CONFIDENT and play with a solid ego. But in the sense that you make every note count. But I it was a huge relief after he told me this because it let me pretty much take a huge burden off my own shoulders. I realized it was much more important to just play. That’s it. Offer up what you have to the audience and let them take it or leave it. Make it about the music and not about you.
Sorry to get so psychobabble on you but this has been my approach and my nerves have really not been an issue since.
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