When do you play your best: Relaxed or Under Stress?

[dadabass2001]

I play best in a state of relaxed stress  (it helps to keep me on my toes)
 
i.e. my best is when I'm a little hungry or tired, in a smokey atmosphere, with maybe a Kaluha and coffee before I go on stage.
 
I never play well on a full stomach, so I don't eat right before the show.
Mike

[pauldo]

I agree with hendrixclarke about playing being a drug, it can really wipe out stress,,,, however I believe I play my best when I am relaxed and breathing!
 
Jeff! I just quit my band for what sounds like similar reasons,,,, in a nut shell the band had:
No Direction
No Communication
No Motivation
 - the sad part is when we were playing music it was heaven,,, when the music stop is when things got ugly.
 
:-|
 
Right now the wife is learning Guitar for Dummies, she is getting good. I figure I will play upright while she does the acoustic thing and we will be multi genre-bending-folky-jammers. Best of all I won't be frustrated playing with a bunch of self-centered morons.

[mike1762]

Back when I was still playing live, I was always relaxed going into a show.  But I would work myself into a frenzy DURING the show.  I would take me hours to wind-down after we were done.  Hmmm....the cocaine might have had something to do with that.

[bsee]

I don't know about relaxed vs. stress, but I've always been a big game player.  I'm pretty mediocre when we're jamming in the basement or otherwise working on stuff, but pull off some pretty wild stuff at gigs.

[paulman]

I beleive Buddy Guy or some such bluesman said I never eat before I play.  You can't play the blues on a full stomch, you gotta be HUNGRY!

[benson_murrensun]

For me, there are different types of stress and different types of relaxation. In my case, I always play my best on stage with an audience. This could be because I make sure to be prepared, which brings about confidence and tames stress. It could also be because there is an audience and I get stressed knowing I owe them my best. So it works both ways at the same time. I usually have a couple of drinks to ward off the stage fright, too... The stage fright goes away after a couple of songs, in any case.
A good gig is exhilarating and exhausting at the same time. Gigs at which I can play long sets and take long breaks are my favorite. Gigs which are 5 sets, 45 minutes per set and 15 minutes for breaks fly by but aren't as much fun and leave me more wound up afterward.

[keavin]

after a real good joint & a couple of cold beers!

[darkstar01]

i heard a story about john zorn being really serious about eating a full five course meal before a gig when on the road.  even at the expense of being up to an hour late for the gig.

[flaxattack]

last time i gigged out i tried a shot of tequila(padrone) and red bull since i had a cold.
worked out well- a high a mighty buzz.. i kept pushing the speed of the tunes a wee bit during :jams:. but of course the lead was self indulging-aka i am not listening to whats going on around me. lol

[danny_bryant]

I agree with Keavin but the pressure part of it is what appeals to me. You go to some of the bigger clubs in town were the top bands play and you know what you have to do.

[ivartshiva]

I'll weigh in with this, if I may please:  I always get nervous as hell before even the most insignificant gig, and I've been a practicing meditator for 30 years.   My entire body cleans itself out.  Sometimes my nerves translate to pushing the beat, horrors!   And even though when there's a good crowd reaction, they're getting into it, dancing, etc., I get even more nervous until I feel like I'm flying.  I have to be sure I know the material cold and ride the wave of energy as best I can and sometimes I'll rip out some amazing (to me anyway) improv and then two bars later blow a squalid clam and have to apply a masterful sonic slipslide band-aid and hope no-one noticed.  Playing music is hard work, I fly while they dance but my real enjoyment comes from listening to the gig tape afterwards (plug for Zoom H4 recorder here).  I wish I could have more fun at the time but I'm kind of busy.  Note that I'm a new (2 years) bass player but a fairly experienced (35 years) guitar player.
 
As for band dynamics and egos, I've been having a hell week as our founder/drummer decided to pull the plug on our increasingly-successful oh-so-irie reggae/dub band due to being held back musically.  Every cliche musician-ego game is being played out as each of the band members tries to re-establish musical equilibrium.  Music-making seems to be so important to us all, the uncertainty strikes to the core.  But new projects blossom everywhere and when one door is closed, many more are open.
 
peace,
 
Michael

[rami]

I can't play stressed out.  While it's true that the stress gets worked out of my system through playing, until it's gone, my playing is all over the place - a total mess.  I usually run through a piece a couple of times before playing it in front of anyone.
I'd save the beer until after I play.  Anything before that will affect my ability to concentrate.  Since I got into playing classical, I have to be 100% focused.  The whole thing is one giant and very technical solo! I have to be thinking ahead of the piece as I play. Even then, it's rare that I feel completely satisfied with my playing.
 
Being stressed out just throws me off.

[rockbassist]

I am rarely stressed about anything so I am never stressed when I play.

[hendixclarke]

Just the other day, I was driving our Honda minivan straight and across an intersection, and a car tried to cross the intersection, and turns left in front of me BAM! I hit the lady's right side quarter panel.  
 
Cops came, (I was in the right of way, she was at fault (TG nobody was hurt)) I had my digital camera in the glove compartment, yada, yada, yada, I took photos.  
 
Bottom line, the lady was fully insured, her car was totaled and her car was towed away. I was able to drive home, no problem.
 
Got home, talked to the wife, and kids and they were PeeO'ed because we make plans to go to Disneyland around this month, but with both airbags deployed, I DON'T THINK SO... Now, They are stressed, now it hits me.  
 
After calling my insurance company to make official as to the results of our car, and upon hanging up the phone in creating a claim, I sat down and started thinking about how fast things happen. I was stress-out, but after playing, I was able to regain myself.
 
I will still keep the Disneyland trip, but we will be using in my wife's car and the kids hate traveling long distance in that car, that will stress them again, and since there is no room for my guitar, I will be stressed too.

[hendixclarke]

Oh yeah, GAS PRICES ARE CRAZY!