Had a fabulous holiday weekend! Mainly because I got to play for most of it. That got me thinking though about pre-performance rituals. I know athletes usually have some sort of pre-game ritual, but I bet musicians do too.
Mine tend to vary with the type of performance I'm going to do, and usually involve the pre-show food. If it is an out-of-town big band/dance band gig, I will have a Red Bull (sugar-free), string cheese, and usually a V-8 vegetable juice. If it is a wind ensemble, or band concert type of performance, I'll have a cup of hot coffee and will brush my teeth.
Before a rock band type of gig, I will sometimes have a pre-show adult beverage and on the way to the gig will listen to a high-energy live recording of a Dave Matthews Band show (or, occasionally, whatever current artist I'm really digging at the time). Whatever will psych me up and put me into a good mood, ready to play the hell out of my saxophone.
And, when everyone is ready to go and the show is about to start, I'll tell myself, in a firm, but supportive way: Don't screw up!
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