Sometimes you need to focus just a little more.
The concentrate I am talking about is not the cardboard tube that orange juice comes in (I couldn’t resist), it’s the ability to focus when performing. Getting ready for a performance takes a lot of effort, selecting songs, practicing and making the song your own are just part of it. The rest is building up an immunity to distraction to provide a spectacular performance.
So, what types of distractions occur during a performance? It depends on the venue, but there can be quite a variety. If it’s dinner hour at a restaurant, patrons can be found entering and exiting the dining area. If you are performing at that time, it’s natural to notice the people moving in and out and it requires a much higher level of concentration to perform the song at hand. It can be even more difficult maintaining performance perfection if you have multiple things going on like playing guitar, singing and a suitcase drum kit.
Another distraction that’s pretty common is found more in a bar scene and that is ambient noise, which is simply the chatter amongst the patrons. When people gather together with friends, there’s an understandable need to talk and catch up on things. In a large group setting, the chatter becomes a low rumble, somewhat similar to white noise.
What’s the best way to deal with these distractions? In terms of people moving around or in and out of the venue, it’s really a matter of trying to ignore the distraction and focus on the performing. Sometimes, it’s easier said than done. If the distraction is more of an ambient noise, I find that using in ear monitors make it much easier to concentrate on the performance. I use Westone Audio AM Pro X20 2-driver in ear monitors that allow a small amount of ambient noise to pass through. These help me focus on the performance, yet keep me aware of my surroundings.
Distractions are a normal part of performing as a gigging musician and It’s not a bad thing, it just requires discipline. Have an awesome day.