Stage fright is one of the worst feelings you can have as a drummer. Preparing for a gig for months and getting on stage just to feel anxious in front of a crowd is the last thing that anyone wants to experience.
If you’re someone who suffers from stage fright, we feel for you. It’s something you just need to push through as a musician, as you’re going to be on stage a lot.
We have seven valuable tips to give you that will help you overcome your stage fright. Read through each of them carefully, and then do your best to apply them when playing.
Not being prepared enough is one of the biggest reasons for drummers feeling anxious on stage. You may be fearful that you’ll mess up a few parts, and everyone in the crowd will hear.
We have some good news for you, most non-drummers have absolutely no idea what the drummer is meant to be playing, so your mistakes will often go unheard. That’s a reassuring fact that every drummer needs to know.
However, the more you know your parts, the more secure you’ll feel when playing on a live stage. If you make a mistake, knowing the parts will allow you to easily just fall back into place, and that should make you feel far less anxious.
Feeling in control is the opposite of feeling anxious, and that comes from dedicated practice.
If you’re freaking out on stage, the chances are high that your heart rate has bumped up. The faster it is, the worse you’re going to feel.
A good way of getting a grip is by taking deep breaths. Try to breathe through your nose and then out of your mouth. The more you do that, the more calm you should eventually feel.
It can be difficult to do this while you’re playing the drums, so you should practice doing it when you’re alone in your practice room.
You should also be counting in your head while playing, as unsteady breathing almost always leads to unsteady timing on the drums.
This is a lot easier said than done, but simply enjoying the environment you’re in is a mind shift that every person with stage fright needs to have.
If you decide that you’re actually having fun playing drums on a stage, you may not feel as overwhelmed.
You need to get to a point where you crave playing music in front of other people, as that’s the true sign of a performing musician.
Most of us don’t start in that place, though. This ties up with knowing your parts and practicing as much as you can beforehand. If you’re not worrying about missing beats and various song parts, you’ll have a lot more fun on stage.
Here’s another tip that is easier said than done, but it often helps to just switch your brain off and let the music happen.
When drummers play in the moment, they’re not worrying about who is watching or criticizing them. They’re just worrying about how they can play the drums to best serve the music.
When you get into that space, your stage fright will be a very small thing that can easily be overshadowed, and that’s a good thing.
The more you play drums in front of crowds, the easier it will become to do it comfortably. Playing a live show is a skill that needs to be worked on.
Some of the most skilled drummers get major stage fright, and it’s because they don’t often play in front of crowds.
On the other hand, some very inexperienced drummers have no issues with playing to crowds, as they play in pubs and clubs multiple times a week.
One of the best ways to overcome a feeling is by getting into the place that makes you feel that way as much as possible. You need to numb yourself to it.
This isn’t a tip that everyone should take lightly, though. We acknowledge that some drummers have deeper anxiety that will only get worse through doing this. In that case, you should get help from a professional that can offer coping strategies.
This may be something that you didn’t know, but coffees and energy drinks are stimulants that can spike your anxiety and make it far worse. If you’re someone who drinks coffee before a gig, that may be the very reason why your heart is beating so fast in front of the crowd.
You should try to steer clear of caffeine before playing. It may just help.
Our final tip is to use your own drum kit when playing with a band. You’ll be most comfortable on your own kit, and that will help you feel secure on stage.
A lot of drummers get worse stage fright when they’re playing on a drum kit setup that is uncomfortable for them.
Yes, plenty of professional drummers get stage fright. It can often come out of nowhere, but the reason that they have made it to a professional level is that they’ve gotten good at coping with it.
Repetition is king. The more you do something, the better you’ll get at doing it, and that perfectly applies to playing drums in front of a crowd.
You should also work on getting better as a drummer in your practice room. That will make you more confident overall.
Stage fright is a very real thing, but it’s something that mostly goes away after a while. Remember to practice your parts as much as you can so that you’re not worrying about what to do next in the moment.
When you’re there to have a good time playing music with your friends, stage fright will never feel as bad.
Drum Teacher
Brett Clur has a Drum Performance Diploma from Trinity College London has been playing drums for over 20 years. He is passionate about advanced concepts and uses his years of experience to teach his students about them. While he is a full-time drum teacher, he is also working on growing a YouTube channel where shares his insights. You can see him playing there, or on Instagram where he posts daily videos.
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