There certainly is thought patterns that can be useful in order to reduce nerves before going live. But it have to be directed towards the cause of the nerves. Like an antidote. Those antidotes are used as the mind-training in order to change bad habits and thus help tame the mind.
Real confidence doesnāt come from being skilled, as we easy get to believe. Many times we actually become more nervous from being skilled. Thatās because being skilled doesnāt solve the root cause for being nervous. - As skills develop, we also have a tendency to expect more, meaning it hurts more when we make a mistake, as we think we shouldnāt be doing that as skilled.
Our disturbing emotions is the cause of our mental misery. The very root of all that is ignorance. But lets not go there. Itās way too deep. But the disturbing emotions we all know about, we can deal with by doing the correct mind-training. That is to train the antidote of those disturbing emotions.
Instead of emotions, we could also call them the five poisons of the mind. Within those five, ignorance is present, but if looking at the other four, that gives us: desire/craving/greed, anger/hatred/aversion, jealousy/envy and last pride/megalomania/arrogance/thinking we are better/more than others.
When we have anger/hatred/aversion, then the antidote will be loving kindness and compassion.
When we have desire/craving/greed, then the antidote is generosity.
When we have envy/jealousy, then the antidote is rejoicing.
When we have pride/megalomania/arrogance/thinking we are better/more than others, the antidote will be being humble, see ourself as equal no matter skill level.
Those four create so much suffering for us, in all kind of ways.
Anger/hatred is easy to discover. We get destructive thoughts, our body can shake and it is easy to feel and know.
Greed/craving/desire is fairly easy to recognise also.
The two last is very tricky. It doesnāt take much before we become mentally blind. They are also very tricky to deal with because they can be so hard to recognise. Mind is very tricky when it comes to these two.
But those last two are a big part in having loads of nerves before going on stage or doing live performance. Thee more those two habits have grown stronger, the more nerves will there be in such situation as when going live in front of others.
The last one, pride/megalomania/thinking we are more or better than others, create an expectation that there is something we have to live up to. Itās the same coin as lower self-esteem, just the other side. We are unable to relax and just enjoy and have fun. Sometimes itās not really there and at other times it can hit us like a freight train. - For some that bad habit can be so overwhelming that they stop performing all together. No longer go to the scene and maybe even going to hide in the woods.
When reading through posts, it goes again and again, am I good enough, I made some mistakes here and there, how will others see me, etc etc etc. That is lower self-esteem / pride-megalomania.
If we could totally let go of that, we would not be nervous before performing. It takes a lot of training to be able to just let go. So instead of letting go, we can try with some antidote.
It could be see all of us as equal. Just like guitar training, do it over and over. We are all equal, no matter skill level. When ever we notice we have expectations, we can take tell ourself, that what ever happens, happens and itās totally ok. There are many other ways dealing with that.
My first video I put up, is labelled as with sweaty hands, but that was not because of nerves, but because I had just swallowed a big mug of warm tea. That makes my hands start to sweat.
In my young days, I was skilled in many things. I also used to ride the bike 7 days a week and did 35 km on average for 80 - 120 km. I was totally proud and suffered from megalomania. Despite the many skills I also suffered from lower self-esteem at the same time. Now my body is ruined and time is running out, nothing to brag about anymore.
It took me almost 20 year to tame my mind to a degree where I donāt suffer from those mental issues. There are still traces of those habits, but since I also have trained to recognise and being able to let go, it more or less happen automatically. Just like my bad habits in the past happened automatically, the serious mind training during all those years have now become good habits and I hardly put effort into it anymore. Being constant mindful and able to see when ever something comes up and just let go, is a habit.
When some say that we will always have nerves, itās simply not true. That is a statement that comes from not knowing, ignorance. Can also be a sophisticated excuse for not wanting to deal with the issue, if I was to make that statement, because I have 25 years of education and practice with these things.
A very good friend of mine, Daniel Goleman have written some books. Emotional Intelligence and some other books worth reading. I donāt recommend him because we are old friends, but because they are good and he knows what he talks about.
Another friend of mine is one of the leading neuro-psychologists here in Denmark and we have spent many hours talking over the years. Have done some work for him also. So I got a little knowledge within that also.
Itās friends like that I have, professors, lawyers, philosophers, anthropologists etc.
I was not sure if I should make this post or not. But my strong commitment I made in my mid twenties kind of force me to. - I have tried to avoid it, but when you make a post like you do here, I feel I have no choice, than contribute with the knowledge and experience I have. Due to my strong commitments.
No matter of people agree or not, I hope it will be received as intended and that is, that I made this post out of care and loving kindness for all sentient beings. To help and serve wherever I can and share my experiences, insight and knowledge. - If some should feel intimidated, become angry or what ever, I am sorry you are getting such feelings. I have no intention of hurting and harming. Also if such feelings should arise, they doesnāt belong to me.
Have a moderator delete the post, if it is too much, and I will never touch the subject again in this community. I know it can by some, be perceived in not so good ways. 
(okay there are exceptions like when you on an examination / operation table and they push a hose into something ā¦ or something like that,then there are seconds you donāt enjoy,breaking bonesā¦etc 
).