I just played my first show.

Harrison · May 17th, 2005, 12:43 AM

I just played my first performance at an open mic night at a local coffee house, it was fun, I did the Bob Dylan song "The Times They Are a'Changin'" and two of mine. It was soooo wierd getting up there and singing, I could feel my heart racing like I had just run a mile when I got up there. Anyway, anyone have any stories about your first performances?

cody420 · May 17th, 2005, 01:03 AM

Congratulations. I was nervous as hell my first time. I still get nervous every time, but after a few minutes of being up there it goes away.

Tim Armstrong · May 17th, 2005, 01:06 AM

Congrats! What a great feeling, eh?

I played guitar and sang with my friends in high school, not at gigs but at parties and during lunch. My first actual gig with a band, where we got (barely) paid was when I was in college at the University of Maryland in January of 1986. I was bassist in a garage/punk band with two other guys, playing a fretless Precision and trying to sing at the same time. Yikes! We got booked to be the "opening act" for another band, playing at a Chinese restaurant on L Street in Washington, DC. They just pushed some tables out of one corner, and presto, it was a nightclub.

We drew a whole bunch of friends to the gig, which was cool. We set up, and I suddenly realized there was a problem with my bass! The pickup kept shorting out! Crackle City! The other band's bassist was a lefty, so I was out of luck trying to borrow his bass (a really nice lefthanded Mustang). Fortunately, it settled down and I was able to play the gig.

Even better, we didn't suck, and we got a very nice response from the audience. Who, after we were done, all left!!! That's right, the "headliners" didn't draw ANYONE! We stayed and gave them moral support, but it was pretty funny. Their leader was a real prima donna jerk, but the rest of the guys were great...

It was quite a night!

Cheers, Tim

ramblinmike · May 17th, 2005, 02:31 AM

congrats! my first performance was last year at my school's coffee house. and boy is that a rush right? hahaha. i still get it, but it goes away after a song usually. assuming the first song goes well. not sure if you did this or not, but try to get as many friends as you can get to join you there. it really makes it easier on the nerves having the support there. i too like to play a dylan song or two. i have yet to play anything i've written, but i don't think i've written anything worth playing when there's already so much good music out there that people haven't heard yet. enjoy and keep doing those open mics!

Paul in Colorado · May 17th, 2005, 04:24 AM

Congrats on getting up and doing it! It gets easier as time goes on.

My first performance was with two buddies in fifth grade. We got up in front of the class and sang "Hey Little Cobra" a capella. For the life of me I can't remember how it came about. Maybe we were singing on the way into class and the teacher asked us if we wanted to get up in front of the class. I'd guess I sang it with my eyes closed.

The first public performance I can remember was at our local city park in 1968. The band was two guitars and drums. We jammed on "Spoonful" and "Intersteller Overdrive" for an hour or so. Some old lady told us to turn down. Some things never change!

sneakyjapan · May 17th, 2005, 11:20 AM

not sure if this counts but...in grade 4, our school principal was Irish and every class had to do something on stage for the parents on St. Patricks day. So, our turn is getting closer ... we all line up inside the class and just as we`re heading out the door, I blew chunks. The rest of the class filed by me while the janitor, dressed in his Sunday goin to meetin duds gave me the dirtiest look as he passed by with the mop and bucket.
Played my acoustic at a friend`s restaurant last year for Canada day... and I pleased to say...there was no upchucking. At least...not by me, not sure how the listeners felt.

teleduster · May 17th, 2005, 11:21 AM

I did "Cotton Fields" in '62 on my Silvertone with a buddy of mine at a recital at McCord's Music in Richardson, TX. We "opened" for The Gents.
They were great! I've often wondered what ever happened with those guys. They were heros back then.
I don't remember being nervous, but that was a long time ago.

RevMike · May 17th, 2005, 11:28 AM

....when my old band got our first real gig in a bar. I was supposed to just be playing guitar. We got to the gig and set up, and were just about ready to go on and could not find the singer. Turns out he was throwing up in the men's room. He came out and said, "Dude, I can't do this". He got in his car and drove back to Raleigh. I was the only one left who knew the lyrics to all our tunes. That was my debut as a singer and as lead guitarist. I still find the first song to always be a little nerve-racking, but it always gets easier. And it definitely gets more fun.

Jakedog · May 17th, 2005, 11:43 AM

Outside of jams at friends houses, or parties, my first gig was at my high school. We played Money for Nothing, Another Brick In The Wall, and a bunch of other songs I don't remember. I was the lead singer, and wasn't supposed to play guitar, but our rythym guitarist quit, so one week before the gig, our lead guitarist handed me his back-up guitar and announced that I would play ryhtym, AND sing. I knew a few chords, and had been playing acoustic for awhile, but it was still scary as hell.

I've been playing and singing ever since.

Jake

agent2x4 · May 17th, 2005, 12:40 PM

I'll never forget my first time on stage...I thought I was going to pass out due to the adrenaline rush. I feel the same way after all these years, except now it only lasts for the first song.

Suitor_Stu · May 17th, 2005, 12:51 PM

oooooh, well done!! It prob went a lot better than my 1st performance!

I played at our school talent show - bout 5or 6years ago now - we were a last min (quite literaly cos we were told a full 1hr before we had to perform!!!) addition cos the last people dropped out. It was the 1st time id ever sang in front of anyone - let alone played guitar and tried to do it propperly, so i was cacking it!

But the sound guy we had was an arse, and he didnt fix my mic stand propperly (it was a boom one) and he was using a small diaphragm condenser and wondering why we were getting feedback! But yeah, the mic stand kept slipping, but cos im from a theatre background, my mentality was the show must go on, so i kept singing even though it got lower and lower...

I always tripple tighten my mic stand these days.

Stu

jhundt · May 17th, 2005, 12:54 PM

I guess; I was 15, as was the drummer, and my brother on bass was 17. We played at some kinda youth club dance at Saint Teresa's in Oakland CA. We were probably a strange choice, because we played mostly MC5 and Alice Cooper covers. Tried our best to imitate those bands in looks and attitude, too. The drummer's dad died the day before the gig, at home right in front of him. But like a trooper he wasn't gonna miss that gig! We found the wine that they use for whatever ceremony they perform in places like Saint Theresa's and drank it all, and ran around backstage in these funny robes that were hanging there. When it came time to play I ended up standing mostly with my back to the crowd. Definitely stoner-rock!

May 17th, 2005, 12:43 AM	#1 (permalink)
Harrison Tele-Meister Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Indiana Age: 18 Posts: 373 15 Photos	I just played my first show. I just played my first performance at an open mic night at a local coffee house, it was fun, I did the Bob Dylan song "The Times They Are a'Changin'" and two of mine. It was soooo wierd getting up there and singing, I could feel my heart racing like I had just run a mile when I got up there. Anyway, anyone have any stories about your first performances? __________________ Insert witty phrase here

May 17th, 2005, 01:03 AM	#2 (permalink)
cody420 Tele-Meister Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Atlanta, Georgia Posts: 302	Congratulations. I was nervous as hell my first time. I still get nervous every time, but after a few minutes of being up there it goes away. __________________ "In heaven all the interesting people are missing." Friedrich Nietzsche

May 17th, 2005, 01:06 AM	#3 (permalink)
Tim Armstrong Moderator Doctor of Teleocity Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Berlin, Maryland, USA Age: 49 Posts: 10,279	Congrats! What a great feeling, eh? I played guitar and sang with my friends in high school, not at gigs but at parties and during lunch. My first actual gig with a band, where we got (barely) paid was when I was in college at the University of Maryland in January of 1986. I was bassist in a garage/punk band with two other guys, playing a fretless Precision and trying to sing at the same time. Yikes! We got booked to be the "opening act" for another band, playing at a Chinese restaurant on L Street in Washington, DC. They just pushed some tables out of one corner, and presto, it was a nightclub. We drew a whole bunch of friends to the gig, which was cool. We set up, and I suddenly realized there was a problem with my bass! The pickup kept shorting out! Crackle City! The other band's bassist was a lefty, so I was out of luck trying to borrow his bass (a really nice lefthanded Mustang). Fortunately, it settled down and I was able to play the gig. Even better, we didn't suck, and we got a very nice response from the audience. Who, after we were done, all left!!! That's right, the "headliners" didn't draw ANYONE! We stayed and gave them moral support, but it was pretty funny. Their leader was a real prima donna jerk, but the rest of the guys were great... It was quite a night! Cheers, Tim __________________ http://www.moodswingers.org

May 17th, 2005, 11:20 AM	#6 (permalink)
sneakyjapan Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: nippon Posts: 2,557 3 Photos	not sure if this counts but...in grade 4, our school principal was Irish and every class had to do something on stage for the parents on St. Patricks day. So, our turn is getting closer ... we all line up inside the class and just as we`re heading out the door, I blew chunks. The rest of the class filed by me while the janitor, dressed in his Sunday goin to meetin duds gave me the dirtiest look as he passed by with the mop and bucket. Played my acoustic at a friend`s restaurant last year for Canada day... and I pleased to say...there was no upchucking. At least...not by me, not sure how the listeners felt. __________________ quasi mojo

May 17th, 2005, 11:21 AM	#7 (permalink)
teleduster Tele-Meister Join Date: May 2005 Location: wilmington, nc, usa Posts: 192	First performance. I did "Cotton Fields" in '62 on my Silvertone with a buddy of mine at a recital at McCord's Music in Richardson, TX. We "opened" for The Gents. They were great! I've often wondered what ever happened with those guys. They were heros back then. I don't remember being nervous, but that was a long time ago. __________________ Dusty Rhodes

May 17th, 2005, 02:31 AM	#4 (permalink)
ramblinmike Tele-Holic Join Date: May 2003 Location: Long Island NY Age: 23 Posts: 924	congrats! my first performance was last year at my school's coffee house. and boy is that a rush right? hahaha. i still get it, but it goes away after a song usually. assuming the first song goes well. not sure if you did this or not, but try to get as many friends as you can get to join you there. it really makes it easier on the nerves having the support there. i too like to play a dylan song or two. i have yet to play anything i've written, but i don't think i've written anything worth playing when there's already so much good music out there that people haven't heard yet. enjoy and keep doing those open mics!

May 17th, 2005, 04:24 AM	#5 (permalink)
Paul in Colorado Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Fort Collins, CO Age: 56 Posts: 4,450 3 Photos	Congrats on getting up and doing it! It gets easier as time goes on. My first performance was with two buddies in fifth grade. We got up in front of the class and sang "Hey Little Cobra" a capella. For the life of me I can't remember how it came about. Maybe we were singing on the way into class and the teacher asked us if we wanted to get up in front of the class. I'd guess I sang it with my eyes closed. The first public performance I can remember was at our local city park in 1968. The band was two guitars and drums. We jammed on "Spoonful" and "Intersteller Overdrive" for an hour or so. Some old lady told us to turn down. Some things never change!

May 17th, 2005, 11:28 AM	#8 (permalink)
RevMike Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Staten Island NY Posts: 1,060	I was a freshman at ECU.. ....when my old band got our first real gig in a bar. I was supposed to just be playing guitar. We got to the gig and set up, and were just about ready to go on and could not find the singer. Turns out he was throwing up in the men's room. He came out and said, "Dude, I can't do this". He got in his car and drove back to Raleigh. I was the only one left who knew the lyrics to all our tunes. That was my debut as a singer and as lead guitarist. I still find the first song to always be a little nerve-racking, but it always gets easier. And it definitely gets more fun.

May 17th, 2005, 11:43 AM	#9 (permalink)
Jakedog Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Cleveland,OH But my heart's still in TX Posts: 3,231	Outside of jams at friends houses, or parties, my first gig was at my high school. We played Money for Nothing, Another Brick In The Wall, and a bunch of other songs I don't remember. I was the lead singer, and wasn't supposed to play guitar, but our rythym guitarist quit, so one week before the gig, our lead guitarist handed me his back-up guitar and announced that I would play ryhtym, AND sing. I knew a few chords, and had been playing acoustic for awhile, but it was still scary as hell. I've been playing and singing ever since. Jake __________________ Oh, the fear I've known That I might reap the praise of strangers And end up on my own All I've sown was a song And maybe I was wrong -Emily Saliers

May 17th, 2005, 12:40 PM	#10 (permalink)
agent2x4 Tele-Holic Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: WI Posts: 620	I'll never forget my first time on stage...I thought I was going to pass out due to the adrenaline rush. I feel the same way after all these years, except now it only lasts for the first song.

May 17th, 2005, 12:51 PM	#11 (permalink)
Suitor_Stu Tele-Meister Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Dundee, Scotland Posts: 113	oooooh, well done!! It prob went a lot better than my 1st performance! I played at our school talent show - bout 5or 6years ago now - we were a last min (quite literaly cos we were told a full 1hr before we had to perform!!!) addition cos the last people dropped out. It was the 1st time id ever sang in front of anyone - let alone played guitar and tried to do it propperly, so i was cacking it! But the sound guy we had was an arse, and he didnt fix my mic stand propperly (it was a boom one) and he was using a small diaphragm condenser and wondering why we were getting feedback! But yeah, the mic stand kept slipping, but cos im from a theatre background, my mentality was the show must go on, so i kept singing even though it got lower and lower... I always tripple tighten my mic stand these days. Stu

May 17th, 2005, 12:54 PM	#12 (permalink)
jhundt Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Netherlands Age: 54 Posts: 3,131 9 Photos	About 1970...? I guess; I was 15, as was the drummer, and my brother on bass was 17. We played at some kinda youth club dance at Saint Teresa's in Oakland CA. We were probably a strange choice, because we played mostly MC5 and Alice Cooper covers. Tried our best to imitate those bands in looks and attitude, too. The drummer's dad died the day before the gig, at home right in front of him. But like a trooper he wasn't gonna miss that gig! We found the wine that they use for whatever ceremony they perform in places like Saint Theresa's and drank it all, and ran around backstage in these funny robes that were hanging there. When it came time to play I ended up standing mostly with my back to the crowd. Definitely stoner-rock!