Jazz guitarist Jake Hertzog (aka Guitar Player Magazine's Hey Jazz Guy) on what it takes to play live. 

You Gotta Play to Play

 By Jake Hertzog for ArtistWorks

Everyone's musical journey is comprised of a variety of experiences, from online guitar lessons and jam sessions to rehearsals and countless solitary hours practicing.  One experience is completely different however, and that is the experience of performing live.

I have found in my journey playing guitar thus far that I learn more on the bandstand than through any other experience.  It doesn't matter one bit whether you perform for 60,000 screaming fans U2 style or for your family in the living room - the adrenaline rush of performing for other human beings is a beautiful experience and one that cannot be duplicated.

Through performing, we learn how to perform.  This is why great performers, be they musicians, athletes, dancers, lecturers and even CEOs have all had the experience of "performing" hundreds if not thousands of times.  Consider how many times a star basketball player has shot a free throw during a close game - is it any wonder they are so smooth under pressure?  When a band plays hundreds of shows, they can achieve an extremely high level of connectedness in their collective performance.  This is why I have always believed that although fundamentals such as music theory, great technique and repertoire are essential components of a musical education, performing live is a key element in continuing to improve one's abilities.

When I began studying jazz guitar, I used to frequent the local jazz jam session in my small town and sit in with the house band for a few songs each week.  I was lucky in that they were extraordinarily kind to novices at that session, and the sagacious older guitarist who ran the session threw me up on stage (even if I didn't know the song!) and would say "you gotta play to play!”  That was his creed and what he meant was, you'll never get better at improvising and performing if you don't put yourself in a situation where you have to improvise and perform. 

This has become my mantra and I believe it is universally true.  How does one get better at golf?  By playing 1000 holes. How does one improve at ballroom dancing?  By dancing 1000 waltzes.  How does one improve at playing live?  By playing live.  You gotta play to play!

Performing live forces your brain and body to output your own version of everything you have input through study, practice and rehearsals.  The more often you are forced to make that mental synthesis, the better at it you become.  From this experience, great performers are forged.  One good idea is to videotape all performances and then watch and critique them for ways they could be better.  For all of us, performing is part of the joy of playing music, sharing it with friends, family, and fans.  It is also, when combined with study and practice, the most surefire way to exponential improvement.  So next time you have a gig, be it the stadium down the street or the arena in your living room, you can rest assured in the knowledge that at that moment, you are doing everything you can to improve as a musician, because, you gotta play to play!