CCK1
Tele-Afflicted
I’ve certainly had those nights too. I’ve been driving to gigs, and seen someone trimming hedges, and thought, “I’d much rather be trimming hedges.”
I Played like Crap.
- Thread starter stephent2
- Start date
It happens.
Tonetele
Doctor of Teleocity
Sounds like my golf- I suck at golf.
Fiesta Red
Doctor of Teleocity
One of the best things about “growing up” (gig-wise) is realizing that a single bad song or gig will not ruin your life nor will it end your dreams of playing in a band.
Shake your head, acknowledge it didn’t work, figure out what didn’t work and get ready to play another gig.
Shake your head, acknowledge it didn’t work, figure out what didn’t work and get ready to play another gig.
Tele-beeb
Friend of Leo's
Yes… it happens and we move on, so it can possibly happen again!
Not since I was 20 - I tend to play at a certain level all the time - have occasional low energy nights - but I rely on my Muscle memory and don't really have to be powered to get through them.
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Everybody has off nights. Sometimes we fool the audience, some nights we don't
I'm not sure didn't Jerry Garcia say that or was it Mozart?
NeverTooLate
Tele-Meister
I think it is a function of routine and therefore inevitable at times.
I am not a musician but I do public speaking. I enjoy a great deal what I do.
The people in attendance have nothing to do but listen to me--or surf their phones LOL.
On the one hand, as the adrenaline kicks in, my day brightens and everything gets better as I forget any crap that might be in my head. You could argue that this is a fundamentally healthy side of performing!
On the other hand, if the crap in my head is made of BIG worries, then, yes, I can be off.
Before I started working on my voice (singer practice without the singing, just the exercises), I could be thrown off by issues with voice as well.
I am not a musician but I do public speaking. I enjoy a great deal what I do.
The people in attendance have nothing to do but listen to me--or surf their phones LOL.
On the one hand, as the adrenaline kicks in, my day brightens and everything gets better as I forget any crap that might be in my head. You could argue that this is a fundamentally healthy side of performing!
On the other hand, if the crap in my head is made of BIG worries, then, yes, I can be off.
Before I started working on my voice (singer practice without the singing, just the exercises), I could be thrown off by issues with voice as well.
Ben Harmless
Poster Extraordinaire
You know, I've had nights like that, but sometimes even when I think I blew it, others don't agree. One night, I thought my band had played it's worst set, but after the show a label owner walked up to us and invited us to play his bar downstate. We did that a few weeks later, and asked if we could come back after we were done recording our EP. He said "before you release anything, you should let me take a listen..."
Sometimes having nothing left in the tank hurts our ability to fully size things up more than it hurts our ability to actually perform.
Sometimes having nothing left in the tank hurts our ability to fully size things up more than it hurts our ability to actually perform.
stephent2
Poster Extraordinaire
Speaking for myself when I rely on muscle memory, I'm not doing my job. If I'm not in the moment and reacting, searching for the muse,.. then it's cliched playing.
If it's a cover song where one is playing pre-arranged material I suspect relying on muscle memory is the best way to get through the night.
JPKmusicman
Tele-Meister
We're not robots. Some nights are awesome, and some nights suck. Hopefully those that suck are few and far between.
Humility is a healthy thing- because there is no rhyme or reason, to these lapses.
Sometimes, I have high expectations of a gig but feel flat, once it starts. On other occasions, the engagement feels like more like an obligation, than a pleasure- but everything I try seems to work, once the show begins.
Everyone has gear snafus, memory voids, transport, or audience related anxieties. As we gain more experience, we see the bigger context and move beyond the problems, rather than being derailed by them. As we always affirm on TDPRI.....the crowd doesn't know, or notice, for the most part. Often the band is unaware and unconcerned, come to think of it.
To the OP, I say- 'this too shall pass'. You've paid a lot of dues- and this is just another one.
Sometimes, I have high expectations of a gig but feel flat, once it starts. On other occasions, the engagement feels like more like an obligation, than a pleasure- but everything I try seems to work, once the show begins.
Everyone has gear snafus, memory voids, transport, or audience related anxieties. As we gain more experience, we see the bigger context and move beyond the problems, rather than being derailed by them. As we always affirm on TDPRI.....the crowd doesn't know, or notice, for the most part. Often the band is unaware and unconcerned, come to think of it.
To the OP, I say- 'this too shall pass'. You've paid a lot of dues- and this is just another one.
I have found that self assessment is unreliable. Maybe that riff I just played in the wrong key evokes enjoyment in the audience. At least that's what I assume.
Gris
Tele-Meister
I don’t know about others, but for me music is emotion. That works a few different ways. You might play great when you’re happy. And you might play great when you’re torn up. (I had one of my best nights playing ever right after my stepdad died.) But it’s hard to play good when you’re emotionally flat or worn out.
StoneFaceGrin
TDPRI Member
“I’m breaking new ground! You’re just not cool enough to ‘get it’.”
I hope the OP’s wife is on the mend and feeling better.
sax4blues
Poster Extraordinaire
Christmas eve I had possibly the opposite experience. I was very pleased with my playing, everything went well. We use IEM so I have no idea how the FOH sounded. My son told me after the service I wasn't in the mix at all.
So is it better to play great and no one knows, or fumble about but be present in the song?
So is it better to play great and no one knows, or fumble about but be present in the song?
I had a night like that a couple of months ago. Just could not find the groove to save my skin.
All you can do is write it off and get ready for the next one.
- D
All you can do is write it off and get ready for the next one.
- D
OmegaWoods
Tele-Afflicted
Lack of sleep will dramatically impact performance in all areas of life much more than most people realize. Add in some sick and stress and it’s a miracle you were able to play at all!
That's one reason I don't like IEMs. I want to hear the house and I want to hear myself in that mix. Otherwise I just feel like I'm play acting.
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