[Harry]

Hi Guys, It is good to read all your excellent advice about the drummers Anxiety.
I have been in the same boat a bit, it seems (in my case) that even a couple of months without drumming or practicing gets me a litlle "nervy"
I found that catching-up with old music pals, have a chat and a couple of libations with them and see to get the old jam somewhere, or even better a gig, seem to get me on the right "track".
Now I know that sometimes it is not easy to get going again without having some speed wobbles.
I found a good cure in watching DVD's or go to a good concert ( My last Concert I went to was here in Auckland NZ this autum when Bonny Raitt was here with the Jon Cleary Band AWSOME!!!) to get really motivated and then try to put it to purpose.

My good old drum teacher, told me always to take it easy and keep it simple (just play the basics well) when you are out there after not having played for a while, and also to really become anal about setting up the kit, and get the sound right, it will improve your confidence!!

Also see that you get to play a song (first up) that you really like and that you had no trouble with playing before.
Sometimes that song is not on the "bracket" list, but I found when you ask nicely (the lead guitarist and /or singer will always object) and with some urgency the band will actually let you, and after that make forever jokes about your song choice.

Hey, I did some concerts with a big (harmony) band for charity when I was still living in the Netherlands, and I even managed to get nervous when I had to play a fund-raiser for an elderly home!!
Well that proved to be rightfully so when an old geezer (80+) who had been eyeballing me for at least half of our performance told me after the show that I had been drumming like a *****!!
He told me he had been a marching drummer in an army band, and that my rolls were crap!!

So here you go, at our age we should not really be nervy about anything, too late for that now, but apparently that's not the way it works.
For me, every day feels different, but I am always a touch nervous when I start the opening song.

Cheers, keep up the good work, Harry