Dry mouth/performance anxiety

[cktuba]

Dry mouth? Lately performance anxiety has made this an issue. Obviously, have a water bottle with you. That's a mistake I won't make again. Any other tips?

[Grumpikins]

Relax.

It is what it is. You prepare yourself as best you can and dont worry about the "what if's." That just creates extra stress that you dont need and potentially causes problems.

I know its difficult, especially if it's a professional gig and your pocketbook depends on your performance. Trust your skills and preparation.

I used to know a lady who stressed so much that she wouldn't eat several hours before a show because she would make herself sick. And she was a very capable player.

[bloke]

maybe...??

Make a point of asking people (in particular, some who you might be concerned regarding what they think of your playing) to listen to you play from time-to-time, as an attempt to eventually dismiss the anxiety itself.

As an example (even though we've shared recitals), I might ask my son-in-law if he would be willing to play something, and then attempt to focus on playing well - rather than what my son-in-law might possibly be judging how well I'm playing.

Hey...
I do NOT know if this is a good suggestion (thus: "maybe??"), and just throwing it out there for everyone, and not just cktuba.

We all become concerned regarding whether we're going to carry out important tasks well or not.
I play a little mental game of looking forward to exposed moments - in music - and imagining how very well I'm going to carry them out (vs. being concerned that I won't). Obviously, preparation (to the point of never playing passages poorly - rather than finally playing them well once or twice) is a logical way to dismiss anxiety as well.

Any of us who've gone on short tours with chamber ensembles know good-and-well that the most concern/anxiety was at our home venue (prior to the tour) and - as the tour progressed - our anxiety diminished (probably to approximately "none").

[tadawson]

I think that we are often our own worst enemies . . . I got back to playing this past summer after about 30 years, and I know where I was then, and I am not there now, and it bugs me. Our directors keep telling me how good I sound, but all I hear are the clams, and almost want to argue . . . It is what it is, and as long as we try to do our best (and workmto impro e), we should feel good about our playing.

[Lch3]

Trident sugar free gum has solved my dry mouth issues. I like the bubble gum flavor. Chew a piece on the way to rehearsal or a gig. Keep one in my pocket in case I need one during the gig for a quick chew - only needed it once. Also, dentist approved.

[tofu]

I would say just think of being in the moment. Just hearing the beauty of the music in front of you. Not thinking of any particular challenging passages or solos. Let the music come to you. It’s like athletics - when you relax - you play freely. No restrictions on the muscles. Same with music - no restrictions on your breathing in the throat or lungs. The little things that maybe we notice that don’t go as well as hoped for in a piece are missed by the audience. They just don’t notice or even know enough to know what should or should not have been.

What actually I find for myself - is not getting pissed off at another section screwing up. For years we were blessed with an excellent horn section. A former principal with the DC Marine Band and a couple of major university horn teachers. Then in one fell swope the Marine Band player moved to be closer to grandchildren, one of the others moved to Arkansas in retirement and the other sadly passed away from diabetes complications - he was a whale of a 4th horn. That left us for a couple years with a terrible horn section (save 1 player) that seemed to have zero sense of time much less playing in tune. It drove me absolutely nuts as it was impossible to get them to keep to the tempo. Any type of syncopated playing was an adventure with them and when they were off it made everybody else sound as it the whole group was off - so I found myself really getting uptight when I knew a piece had difficult horn parts. That was a tough year - (they thankfully are gone and replaced again with some talented players) but that year taught me to really try to relax and just let it go…I had more than once during a piece felt myself thinking of knee capping them afterwards.

One other thing - rather than water bottle on stage it’s less notable to have a small squirt bottle like trombone players have. Then you can just quickly spray your throat/mouth in one simple quick motion. Much less notable to the audience.

[andycat]

Chew your tongue, or (my favourite) lick your finger and rub behind your ear. Both produce saliva.

[gocsick]

Avoid coffee. Learned that the hard way. Playing for runners at the start of a marathon early in the morning,... I could barely get a buzz at all after a few cups of black coffee.