Performing is no joke; whether it’s for an MMA match or a guitar solo concert, it’s still nerve wracking. Unless you are an artist who has been in the live music industry for many years, you’ll definitely need to do a lot of preparations to ensure the success of your performance. Even professional artists do not skip the essential preparations for their respective events.

The truth is that it is not enough to just practice a night or two before the day of the event; this will only put more pressure on you as your body will try to adjust faster than it should. Hence, it is best to do the preparations at least weeks beforehand. In much bigger events, guitar players may even spend months perfecting their performances.

In this article, we will be tackling about the different preparations that most musicians go for prior to performing in an important live event. These preparatory rules are not absolute nor are they compulsory; at the end of the day, use only those which work best for you.

Preparations

Practice the songs

With the final list of songs you’ll play, take some time to play each and every one of it; not just half of the song but the entire song. In this way, you’ll be able to have a feel of what it’s like to perform the whole piece. This will aid in keeping you consistent even up to the day of your performance.

Simulate your performance

Do not just boringly practice your guitar performance in a way that is different than how the actual situation will be. The most effective way of practicing is by simulating the performance you expect to do. For instance, if your performance will entail a lot of movements from one place to another, you might as well practice this so that you will get the hang of it.

Take note of your common mistakes

During your practices, you will be able to determine the common mistakes you encounter for each guitar piece you play. Literally, take note of these and focus on improving. You might want to shed extra effort in these parts during your practices

Choose your equipment properly

Make sure you are comfortable when it comes to handling the guitar and other necessary equipment you will be using for your practice and your actual performance. Choosing amplifiers may confuse you since modeling amps compared to each other might entail a head-aching decision. The key is to stick with whatever you are comfortable with.

Finalize and test equipment

Usually, a good musician or guitarist is determined by his consistency. Consistency is the key to successful performances. If, during your practices, you’re able to play well without any serious mistakes, strive to maintain this consistency even as you get up on stage. Basically, the best way to be consistent is to ensure that your practices and the actual performance are more or less considerate of the same factors. Thus, the equipment you use during practices should and must be the same equipment you’ll use in the actual event. That said, you must finalize and consistently test your equipment.

Do your personal rituals.

Although not really applicable to everyone, many musicians, guitarists, and other performers do some form of ritual that will correctly set their system for an upcoming stressful event such as a live performance. Even on the day of the event, some may need to do some unique things just so they can mentally prepare themselves for what’s about to come.