The Feeling of Performing Live & How to Start

What is it like to perform live in front of hundreds or even thousands of people? It can feel exciting, freeing, liberating, energizing, and even explosive. It can serve as a creative and mental outlet. It can also boost your confidence in the work that you do and the things you create! That all comes with repetition. However, if it’s your first time, it might be a little intimidating and overwhelming. Like everything else in life, practice will make it a whole lot easier. 

My name is Justin Ferstler, and I have had the privilege of being a part of several different bands in my life. I also work on my own music that I plan on performing in a live setting at some point in the future. I’ve gained lots of life performing experience ever since my sophomore year of high school, where I played in my first rock band (I would count fourth-grade choir too, but we’re more focused on planning your own performance and setlist, haha).

The second performance my first band and I ever did!

I am a transfer student from another college where I was in another band. I’ve been in a couple of other bands formed through friends at Tiffin University. I also had the opportunity to go on a week-long tour with the TU funk-fusion band, “Word on The Street." I was a stand-in for one of the vocalists and had a lot of fun touring the Indiana & Chicago areas! 

My first performance ever was during my sophomore year of high school. My friends and I started our band a month or two before what would be our first performance. That is crazy to look back on. We only did a couple of songs during a halftime show of a high school home basketball game, but it was one of the most terrifying experiences of my life. Once we started playing and the audience started to go crazy, I gained some confidence and was able to play my guitar more effortlessly.

Ever since then, any performance I’ve been a part of has become more and more satisfying. I have gotten more and more comfortable with performing onstage the more I have done it. I have also found that it has helped me gain confidence in simply speaking to others. I've become more extroverted, which has helped make public speaking and presentations a little easier, too.

Now, you may be wondering: "How do I even go about starting to practice something like this?”

It might seem odd at first, but to warm up to the idea of performing in front of an audience (no, looking in the mirror does not count), try to perform in front of your friends and family. These are the people that you know and trust to support you and give you constructive feedback to prepare you for the real deal. Another thing is to just say “yes.” If there comes a time for you to show off what you have been working on and developing, then do it! I find that “open mic nights” are laid-back environments and are a great way to kickstart your performing journey.

Joel Breidenbach and I (JD & Jay) opening up for Regina Sayles in the Marion Center at TU.

Hopefully, you all have taken something out of my performing experiences stories and the advice I've shared. I can promise that the more you practice and feel comfortable, the more confident you will feel in all types of scenarios. Happy practicing!