Wow.. Last night was the second football game of the season and frankly, I'm disgusted with how I played. I always practice constantly everyday until I have the music down, but it seems when I'm playing with other people I just sort of "freeze up" and screw it all up. I still know the music, but I just can't get my [expletive deleted] together. Does anyone have any advice or techniques that could possibly help me out?

I have a pre-game ritual of simply closing my eyes and playing Stevie Ray Vaughns song "Lenny" in my head... that always helps me chill... but i don't know if thats a great idea for most people, some people need to focus on the music they're about to play 100%... i think you just gotta try some things till you find what works for you.

If you are too nevous, just try to relax and take deep breaths. Remember if you mess up, and it is nothing big(like dropping a stick), chances are no one will even notice.

Thats the thing, I'm not nervous.. at all. Thats whats wierd about it. I'm as calm as just messing around in my room practicing, but I can always find a way to screw it up while I'm out there. And I'm not really worried about anyone hearing if I screw up, if you saw the line I'm on you would understand why, but I really hope to go on to something after highschool and I really think this could hold me back.

Experience...
That's the best way to help you eliminate this.

This is my second marching season though, don't you think I should be fine by now?

Even if it's your second marching season sometimes things take time. The good way I found is by just keeping a serious face while you play no matter what happens. If that happens then no one will know if you played a wrong note or not unless they are in band. This will also help in competitions. Freezing up is not such a bad thing at all. It just means that you need to concentrate on the show more than other people. Perhaps while you are at a football game just think about the second quarter as warmup and concentration time. Explain this to your section leader so he or she can understand and help you through it. If you are in competitions try for the ten minutes you get before you go on to concentrate on show and that is all. Talking is not a good way to concentrate. Listening can be a good way but it does not work most of the time. Just concentrate on your show and your part. Like you said you doubt that the drumline will mess things up badly so you are all set. Concentration is your problem so hey I have given you some good pointers. Sometimes distractions during the show will give you a problem as well. I know that judges come onto the field sometimes in Regionals or some competitions. Try to avoid looking at them. My freshman year I had a judge in front of me looking to what I was doing. I just acted cool and played like I knew what I was doing. Concentrate on the audience but not too much so you avoid losing all concentration on your music. I hope this helps along with all the information the other people have posted.

I think it will. I'll find out this coming Saturday I guess, heh. First home football game of the season, in a brand new stadium, with 10,000+ watching. Gonna be sweet.

I'd say just relax. Chill out. we had our first game yersterday. Biggest attendence in our stadium, 51,826.
I'm actually fine performing infront of a lot of people but i know people that aren't. they just focus on the music and watch the drum majors. Just ignore the rest of the people.

Before you even march out onto the field take three slow, deep breaths, maybe even close your eyes while doing this. Then before each song...take one slow deep breath. Just relax, I'm assuming you know your stuff, just tell yourself I know what I'm doing, I'm ready. My DL instructer told my whole line to do the breathing thing....it gets you so relaxed. It's wonderful!!

You say your completely relaxed? Maybe you need to get nervous get some adrenaline going, then focus that adrenaline to just perform the crap out of your show. For those 8-10 minutes all you live for is doing the show, nothing else at all matters. ever. If you mess up no one is going to notice except you especially if you practice as much as you say you do, you're not going to mess up enough for anyone to notice.. Mainly you want to be nervous about doing good you don't want to be nervous about messing up. That sounds weird but their is a difference. Think about how awesome it feels after the show is done, try to feel like that the whole time.

Also what I think is important, is goofing off at the gate while you are waiting to go on. High fives, stuff like that, in my line our instructor comes around and shakes everyones hand and says do it up, and then we all just reachout out to whoever we can and click our sticks and say do it up. Im sure a lot of other people do it to, but it always just seems like that helps a lot. Kinda of a little joking between songs is good to, quietly and unoticeable to the audience of course. Just something like, "that was awesome" or something so just your line can hear it. Just kinda pumps everyone up.

Hope this helps.

PS I wish our schools stadium could hold 10,000 people!

That sounds reasonable, Thanks!
Yeah, our new stadium is awesome.

Glad to help.

Just have fun with what you are doing. Don't worry about what other people think of you because you are doing it for yourself because you love it. Yeah, mistakes happen sometimes but once its done, its done, theres nothing you can do about it. Just laugh it off and have fun with the rest of your performance.

And for me it always helps to get pumped up before a performance.

after 9 years of all kinds of performances (orchestral, band, full ensemble, small ensemble, solo) I find that I'm still worried about screwing up, even though I know that I've practiced as much as I possibly could.