What I’ve Learned Performing Live as a Metro-Detroit Musician

I have always been around live performance, but becoming a solo musician has been a completely different experience.

My first memories of performing go back to middle school band. I started out playing percussion, then moved into orchestra where I played upright bass. Later, I joined marching band and drumline, performing on tenor drums in front of crowds.

At the time, I did not realize how much those experiences were preparing me for what I do now. I was learning how to be comfortable on stage, how to perform under pressure, and how to trust the people around me.

But stepping onto a stage alone is a different feeling.

When I started performing as a singer-songwriter in 2025, there was nowhere to hide. It was just me, my guitar, my voice, and the songs I had written. Every mistake was mine. Every moment of silence was mine. Every connection with the audience was mine.

And honestly, that was terrifying.

My First Singer-Songwriter Performance in Detroit

My first ever singer-songwriter performance was at The Congregation in Detroit during an open mic night.

I remember feeling a mix of excitement and anxiety leading up to it. I had spent so much time writing songs privately, but there is something completely different about standing in front of a room of people and sharing something personal.

Once I started playing, though, something changed.

The room felt electric. For the first time, I felt like I was actually stepping into the role of an artist instead of just someone who writes songs in his spare time.

After I finished, I remember feeling like I had finally earned the right to call myself a performer.

It was not because I had a perfect performance. It was because I showed up.

Learning That Mistakes Are Part of Performing

One of the biggest things I have had to learn is that mistakes are going to happen.

I have always been someone who wants to be prepared. I want to know every lyric, every chord change, and every detail before I step on stage. A big part of that comes from being a perfectionist.

The problem is that perfectionism can make performing harder.

The fear of messing up can become bigger than the actual mistake itself.

The reality is that every musician makes mistakes. Someone forgets a lyric. Someone plays the wrong chord. Someone loses their place in a song.

The important part is what happens next.

Can you recover? Can you keep playing? Can you stay connected with the audience?

Those are the moments that actually build confidence.

Confidence Comes From Repetition

Before I started performing, I thought confident musicians were just naturally confident.

Now I realize that confidence comes from doing something over and over again.

Every open mic I play makes the next one easier. Every time I step on stage, I learn something about myself as a performer.

I still get nervous. I still worry about forgetting parts. I still have that voice in my head telling me to make everything perfect.

But I have learned that the only way through that fear is to keep performing.

You cannot think your way into confidence. You have to build it through experience.

Finding My Style as a Performer

When I perform, I want the music to feel honest.

My style is more on the moody and intense side, but still relaxed. I am not trying to put on a character. I want people to feel the emotion behind the songs and understand where they came from.

For me, songwriting is about taking real experiences and turning them into something other people can connect with.

Performing live is where that connection happens.

Start Now and Improve Along the Way

The biggest lesson I have learned so far is simple: start now and perfect later.

It is easy to tell yourself that you are not ready. Maybe you need better equipment, more songs, more practice, or more confidence.

But waiting does not make you ready.

Doing it does.

Every musician has a first show. Every musician has moments where they are nervous. Every musician has performances they wish they could do differently.

The only way to improve is to put yourself in those situations.

My journey as a live performer is still in the early stages, but every show teaches me something new. Every performance helps me grow, and every person who listens reminds me why I started making music in the first place.

I am excited to see where the next stage takes me.