I am having issues playing for other people and I also have a nasty case of camera and microphone fright, I have played roles in plays my whole 16 years and am not a shy person, I am calm and comfortable in front of a camera in any other situation but when I try to record anything I play I start to fumble and make dumb mistakes even on songs I own the knowledge and muscle memory on, need help. Thanks
Presentation Trouble
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Hi @Hillbilly_picker Jesse take comfort in the knowledge your not alone in this endeavour.
I learned to overcome those bouts of anxiety by having the camera on all the time. Subconscious fear is what holding you back. So when you see that red light the brain say’s hey wait a minute I don’t want anyone to see my mistakes and the body reacts accordingly, you begin to hold your breathing and your oxygen levels fall and your brain reacts to the lack of oxygen, your fingers lock up, you fumble with the strings it becomes a vicious cycle. Pause for a moment and take a few deep breaths, learn to relax. don’t focus on the red light focus on playing the music. Once you learn to control your emotions hit the record button. Once you have tried this a few times you will soon gain confidence in your own ability…
Remember you control the videos you choose to publish. No one need ever see your mistakes because you can easily delete the videos you don’t like.
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I have the same problems, really. Those videos I posted on the Cabin Fever Contest thread took me several hours each to get a half decent take. I though I was messing up because of the camera, but then I turned the camera off and realized that I still sounded just as bad as I did while filming; I just only noticed it while filming. 
I don’t know if that’s more of an encouragement or a discouragement, but I find I almost always play better in front of a larger audience with other musicians playing with me rather than solo and playing for myself.
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Wow the Doctor hit the nail on the head those were my exact symptoms I first noticed my issue when my dad said I was gasping while playing! I will have to try having the camera record everything, thanks for the help both of you.
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If you have a web cam, you don’t need to have it on record all the time, as long as you can see yourself that helps to reduce the anxiety over time, a few weeks maybe. Try recording yourself a dozen times a day. Then delete the videos you don’t like.
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Welcome to the club Jessie you are not alone I assure you. 
I will tell you a way of looking at those mistakes that helps me. Before I start, I’ll tell myself that everyone makes mistakes, no one’s perfect, and all I’m doing is having FUN. This seems to relax me and I make FEWER mistakes. I love every moment I spend with my instruments (yes even the sour notes 
) because I’m learning. Every time you pick up an instrument you are learning in front of an audience, on camera, or alone. Playing an instrument(s) is fun, so wherever I am, whomever I’m in front of I’m loving what I do. Just have fun. Now this is not a foolproof way for me not to make errors. Like Archie said you are in control of what videos you share. Very few motion picture scenes are shot the first time around. Hope this helps.
Lone Wolf 
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Good Advice, thank you, what instruments do you play?
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Banjo and guitar
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neat, how long have you been playing
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I’ve played guitar (rhythm mostly some flat picking) for probably 4or5 yrs and I’v had a banjo for 3 yrs but just got serious with it about 6 mo ago. What do you play.
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Banjo, I have tried guitar and just didn’t click with it, have thought about learning dobro, but if I learn a new instrument it will probably be mandolin
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Cool how long have you been playing banjo.
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Going on 5 months
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Awesome glad to have you aboard.
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Thanks. Relatively speaking how long does it take you to learn a song from scratch?
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Depends on how much time I have to practice it. Also depends on the complexity of the song. Roughly 3-5 days. Are you working through the beginner banjo layout
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I finished all of the technical work in it I have like three songs in it I haven’t finished yet. I’m working on the intermediate list now
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Excellent 
be sure to use the rhythm tracks for each song. That’s the real test to see if you know the song well also helps with a lot of other things too. I found that my general over all playing sounds better without the rhythm tracks the more I play with the rhythm tracks if that makes sense. I usually don’t move on to a new lesson untill I can play the previous lesson relatively smooth at the slowest speed.
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Yeah those tracks are great
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@Michael_Mark and @Hillbilly_picker,
I am afflicted too… because I still don’t have confidence in my playing overall.
It takes a good run (maybe 1 out of 25) to feel like I did a performance marginally well - let alone to where I would say good.
The only thing we can do is practice and turn that camera on very often - just as @Archie proposes.
One thought I had about playing in front of people.
DON’T put on a show… but do go out in your yard or on your porch… alone is totally fine… and just play.
Next, go to a park… Get lost in your playing and don’t play for anyone… but don’t shy from it either. Let people come and go.
I think this is a gentle, low-pressure way to get more comfortable where nobody is there to see you perform with expectation. I think it is the pressure we put upon ourselves and the feeling of others expecting a performance which leads to a negative feeling of judgement.
Rather, play for you. Make your mistakes for you to improve… and allow yourself to makes those mistakes in front of others too.
You will improve while also breaking down unreasonable expectations you are placing on yourself.
I hope this helps you… I hope it helps us all…
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