--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: But even so, I still get nervous before I…" description: "\"But even so, I still get nervous before I go onstage.\" — Etta James" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b94/etta-james-10990_anxiety_but-even-so-i-still-get-nervous-before-i_2581528.jpg" --- # But even so, I still get nervous before I go onstage. ![“But even so, I still get nervous before I go onstage.” quote by Etta James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b94/etta-james-10990_anxiety_but-even-so-i-still-get-nervous-before-i_2581528.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b94/etta-james-10990_anxiety_but-even-so-i-still-get-nervous-before-i_2581528.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b94/etta-james-10990_anxiety_but-even-so-i-still-get-nervous-before-i_2581528.jpg) > “But even so, I still get nervous before I go onstage.” [Etta James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etta-james/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Even seasoned performers feel anxiety before performing, highlighting universal vulnerability. **In simple terms:** Stage nerves persist despite experience. Key Takeaway Prepare, breathe, and focus on the music. Themes performance anxiety confidence Mood nervous determined Type motivational practical When to use this quote - concerts - theater - public speaking Key Concepts mindfulness self‑compassion Questions to Reflect On - What rituals help you calm before a performance? - How can you turn nervous energy into artistic expression? A Different Perspective Nervousness may hinder expression if not managed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Anxiety](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anxiety/) [Before](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/before/) [Even](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/even/) [Get](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/get/) [Go](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/go/) [Nervous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nervous/) [Nervous Onstage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nervous-onstage-611613/) [Onstage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/onstage/) [Stage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stage/) [Still](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/still/) ## Related quotes > [The stage is my comfort zone, and playing live is what I've always wanted to do. It's why I want to do two hundred…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-hayes/the-stage-is-my-comfort-zone-and-playing-live-is-what-i-ve-always/) [Hunter Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-hayes/) > [I get so nervous before I go onstage - beyond butterflies!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-kravitz/i-get-so-nervous-before-i-go-onstage-beyond-butterflies/) [Zoe Kravitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-kravitz/) > [No, because I was always nervous about being onstage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carly-simon/no-because-i-was-always-nervous-about-being-onstage/) [Carly Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carly-simon/) > [I get nervous all the time. The only time I'm not nervous is onstage, which is weird.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-davidson/i-get-nervous-all-the-time-the-only-time-i-m-not-nervous-is-onstage/) [Pete Davidson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-davidson/) > [I'm nervous before every game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-mccourty/i-m-nervous-before-every-game/) [Jason McCourty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-mccourty/) > [You're always nervous before a fight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stipe-miocic/you-re-always-nervous-before-a-fight/) [Stipe Miocic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stipe-miocic/) > [I'm actually sometimes nervous right before a performance, but as soon as I'm on the stage I'm like, 'okay, we're gonna rock this baby.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/armin-van-buuren/i-m-actually-sometimes-nervous-right-before-a-performance-but-as-soon/) [Armin van Buuren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/armin-van-buuren/) > [I am always nervous before the start of a race. It helps me to say to myself to try my very best. That is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-karnazes/i-am-always-nervous-before-the-start-of-a-race-it-helps-me-to-say-to/) [Dean Karnazes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-karnazes/) > [I get so nervous, I get belly pains before I go on stage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-ora/i-get-so-nervous-i-get-belly-pains-before-i-go-on-stage/) [Rita Ora](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-ora/) > [I can't say I don't get nervous, but I really kind of enjoy performing now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-phair/i-can-t-say-i-don-t-get-nervous-but-i-really-kind-of-enjoy-performing/) [Liz Phair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-phair/) > [I don't feel any pressure. I'm not nervous about going out there and pitching.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cc-sabathia/i-don-t-feel-any-pressure-i-m-not-nervous-about-going-out-there-and/) [CC Sabathia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cc-sabathia/) > [I feel it is good to be nervous because you are not fully sure or over-confident.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vaani-kapoor/i-feel-it-is-good-to-be-nervous-because-you-are-not-fully-sure-or/) [Vaani Kapoor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vaani-kapoor/) > [That's one of the reasons I wanted to be an actor, to be like them. And there they were at my table, all talking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gavin-macleod/that-s-one-of-the-reasons-i-wanted-to-be-an-actor-to-be-like-them-and/) [Gavin MacLeod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gavin-macleod/) > [I think I'm prone to panic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-plant/i-think-i-m-prone-to-panic/) [Robert Plant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-plant/) > [I get nervous when I don't get nervous. If I'm nervous I know I'm going to have a good show.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beyonce-knowles/i-get-nervous-when-i-don-t-get-nervous-if-i-m-nervous-i-know-i-m/) [Beyonce Knowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beyonce-knowles/) ## More by Etta James > [I want a Sunday kind of love A love to last past Saturday night And I’d like to know it’s more than love at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etta-james/i-want-a-sunday-kind-of-love-a-love-to-last-past-saturday-night-and-i/) [Etta James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etta-james/) > [It feels so good to be happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etta-james/it-feels-so-good-to-be-happy/) [Etta James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etta-james/) > [People that can't stand to listen to the blues, they've got to be phonies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etta-james/people-that-can-t-stand-to-listen-to-the-blues-they-ve-got-to-be/) [Etta James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etta-james/) > [My mother always wanted me to be glamorous. When I thought about that, it really fired me up, and once I lost all those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etta-james/my-mother-always-wanted-me-to-be-glamorous-when-i-thought-about-that/) [Etta James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etta-james/) > [I talked to the record company about what I had in mind. They said they wanted something lush. I figured the best thing to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etta-james/i-talked-to-the-record-company-about-what-i-had-in-mind-they-said/) [Etta James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etta-james/) > [Now I can stand up on the stage again like I used to after five years of sitting down while I sang.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etta-james/now-i-can-stand-up-on-the-stage-again-like-i-used-to-after-five-years/) [Etta James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etta-james/) > [What happens is, when I perform, I'm somewhere else. I go back in time and get in touch with who I really am. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etta-james/what-happens-is-when-i-perform-i-m-somewhere-else-i-go-back-in-time/) [Etta James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etta-james/) > [The music was thunder and joy. Lightning bolts of happiness and praise, foot-stomping, dance-shouting, good-feeling singing from the soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etta-james/the-music-was-thunder-and-joy-lightning-bolts-of-happiness-and-praise/) [Etta James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etta-james/) > [See, I don't like places where people can't dance - don't like clubs or theatres where a bunch of bourgeois people sit around tip,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etta-james/see-i-don-t-like-places-where-people-can-t-dance-don-t-like-clubs-or/) [Etta James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etta-james/) > [That's where it begins and ends for me and these songs were the ones that touched me the deepest. It was like I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etta-james/that-s-where-it-begins-and-ends-for-me-and-these-songs-were-the-ones/) [Etta James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etta-james/) > [You know the one with the big ears? Wait a minute, he ain't my president, he might be yours, he ain't my president. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etta-james/you-know-the-one-with-the-big-ears-wait-a-minute-he-ain-t-my/) [Etta James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etta-james/) > [Bobby Womack is always very real, both with his music and as a person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etta-james/bobby-womack-is-always-very-real-both-with-his-music-and-as-a-person/) [Etta James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etta-james/) > [I'm not starry eyed, and I'm not money crazy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etta-james/i-m-not-starry-eyed-and-i-m-not-money-crazy/) [Etta James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etta-james/) > [My mother was a jazz fanatic and she wanted me to play the piano so I could play jazz tunes. I wish I had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etta-james/my-mother-was-a-jazz-fanatic-and-she-wanted-me-to-play-the-piano-so-i/) [Etta James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etta-james/) > [They said that Etta James is still vulgar. I said, Oh, how dare them say I'm still vulgar. I'm vulgar because I dance in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etta-james/they-said-that-etta-james-is-still-vulgar-i-said-oh-how-dare-them-say/) [Etta James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etta-james/) [Explore all 62 Etta James quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etta-james/) ## More Anxiety quotes > [“Anything that you find yourself worrying about regularly may find you suddenly wanting unrealistic changes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nagisa-tatsumi/anything-that-you-find-yourself-worrying-about-regularly-may-find-you/) [Nagisa Tatsumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nagisa-tatsumi/) > [Bein Crazy is the least of my worries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/bein-crazy-is-the-least-of-my-worries/) [Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/) > [The answer to deep anxiety is the deep adoration of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/the-answer-to-deep-anxiety-is-the-deep-adoration-of-god/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [“Fear of seeing a police car pull into the drive. Fear of falling asleep at night. Fear of not falling asleep. Fear of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-carver/fear-of-seeing-a-police-car-pull-into-the-drive-fear-of-falling/) [Raymond Carver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-carver/) > [I get nervous when I don't get nervous. If I'm nervous I know I'm going to have a good show.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beyonce-knowles/i-get-nervous-when-i-don-t-get-nervous-if-i-m-nervous-i-know-i-m/) [Beyonce Knowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beyonce-knowles/) > [“Every invention comes through anxiousness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rakesh-wadhwani/every-invention-comes-through-anxiousness/) [Rakesh Wadhwani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rakesh-wadhwani/) > [“Do Not Be Anxious 25 e “Therefore I tell you,  f do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/do-not-be-anxious-25-e-therefore-i-tell-you-f-do-not-be-anxious-about/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Nothing happens on its own, you have to make things happen. If you really want to come out of your stressful situation than you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/subodh-gupta/nothing-happens-on-its-own-you-have-to-make-things-happen-if-you/) [Subodh Gupta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/subodh-gupta/) > [“I guess if we're talking about my anxiety, the even truthier truth is it started way before that.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-winfrey/i-guess-if-we-re-talking-about-my-anxiety-the-even-truthier-truth-is/) [Kerry Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-winfrey/) > [I was a very good student. Procrastinating gives me anxiety, and getting a B really ticked me off. Sure, I didn't always want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josie-loren/i-was-a-very-good-student-procrastinating-gives-me-anxiety-and/) [Josie Loren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josie-loren/) > [“The suspense: the fearful, acute suspense: of standing idly by while the life of one we dearly love, is trembling in the balance; the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/the-suspense-the-fearful-acute-suspense-of-standing-idly-by-while-the/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [The party in Alobar’s head, which agitation and anxiety were throwing, now was crashed by a notion: existence can be rearranged.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/the-party-in-alobar-s-head-which-agitation-and-anxiety-were-throwing/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [As you know, I have been very open about my struggle with social anxiety.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/summer-walker/as-you-know-i-have-been-very-open-about-my-struggle-with-social/) [Summer Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/summer-walker/) > [Anxiety is not to be managed it is a sin that needs to be repented of](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-driscoll/anxiety-is-not-to-be-managed-it-is-a-sin-that-needs-to-be-repented-of/) [Mark Driscoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-driscoll/) > [“I’ve always seen this in you, ever since you were a little girl — this hunger to love other people into their highest selves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-elisabeth/i-ve-always-seen-this-in-you-ever-since-you-were-a-little-girl-this/) [Jennifer Elisabeth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-elisabeth/) [Browse all 4,944 Anxiety quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anxiety/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "But even so, I still get nervous before I go onstage.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Etta James" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etta-james/but-even-so-i-still-get-nervous-before-i-go-onstage/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Anxiety" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etta-james/but-even-so-i-still-get-nervous-before-i-go-onstage/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b94/etta-james-10990_anxiety_but-even-so-i-still-get-nervous-before-i_2581528.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b94/etta-james-10990_anxiety_but-even-so-i-still-get-nervous-before-i_2581528.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b94/etta-james-10990_anxiety_but-even-so-i-still-get-nervous-before-i_2581528.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“But even so, I still get nervous before I go onstage.” — Etta James", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Etta James", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etta-james/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "But even so, I still get...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etta-james/but-even-so-i-still-get-nervous-before-i-go-onstage/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etta-james/but-even-so-i-still-get-nervous-before-i-go-onstage/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```