#5
I finally started playing a few shows out, an open mic here, a house show there. I had spent enough years just watching other people play in bands and sing their songs and finally knew I just had to try it or I would never get over my hesitation. It was scary at first. I would get very nervous and I felt like I still didn't really know how to play the guitar. My fingers would grip the neck so tightly my whole hand would ache for hours afterwards. But it got better with each time. I had a lot of close friends who were also just starting to play music and we would set up shows for ourselves, make beautiful posters, maybe some cookies. Sometimes it would be just us, playing music for each other and eating the cookies we had made, but it was still satisfying, and good experience. There we were, practicing our future craft in a safe supportive environment of our own design. Perfect.
Lesson number five: When you start playing shows, try to make them as fun as possible. Play for your friends, have a house show. If your goal is to get comfortable with performing, all experience is good experience. Find the other people in your town whose music you like and invite them to play shows with you.
