Do stuff already.
I’m very anxious about doing my first stand up open mic.
My first solo acoustic show was terrible. I was sweating profusely, I broke a string, forgot lyrics, started songs over…at one point I asked the guy who was on after me, Matt Pless, how much time I had left. “You booked it man!” He yelled it encouragingly, but I really just wanted to be told I could stop early. (The Heathers from Ireland headlined that show, and they were incredibly nice and played an awesome set.)
Before playing my second show, I read as much advice online as possible. I looked up articles about conquering nerves when playing shows. I also looked up articles about conquering nerves to do stand up for the first time. The advice worked for music just as well. My second show was scary and I felt nauseous beforehand and then dehydrated during. I focused on a friend in the audience, Billy Menke, and I didn’t forget any lyrics and I filled the pauses with successfully humorous banter and stage gags.
I barely remember the 3rd and 4th shows, owing to my apparent lack of nerves. I had fun and I played my songs well. I mean, fucked up a cover of I Wanna Be a Homosexual by Screeching Weasel, but soon after that show Ben Weasel hit a girl at SXSW… so fuck it, their song deserved it.
I hope my first 4 open mics go like this. I hope I’m just having too much fun to feel the crushing anxiety.