I was surprised but very pleased to find that many of musicians that I meet go through much the same cycle of feelings before, during and after performing.
Before we take the stage, hours or even the entire day before, we are nervous, some so nervous they find it hard to function normally during that period of time. There are ways to address being nervous that an experienced teacher can help you with. There is also a drug, propranolol, also called the stage-fright drug, that lowers blood pressure and thereby slows your heart rate. It is often prescribed for anxiety, an appropriate term for that nervousness you feel before a gig.
Once a musician begins to play, the nerves typically begin to fade and the playing begins to take over. In the best-case scenarios, you lose yourself in playing, that is, you’re not really “thinking,” just “playing.” Again, it’s not called “working music,” it’s called “playing music.”
Afterword, I’ve learned of other feelings that are rather common: relaxation and joy. Driving home from a gig that went well, where the band played well together and each of you played well individually, you can fell deeply satisfied—actually, proud might be a way to describe it. And even beyond pride or satisfaction, the best feeling you can have after a gig well done is in knowing that you reached your audience, that you brought some joy to their lives. That’s damn near euphoria.