Troll - Posted - 09/19/2014:  10:21:23

I had a terrible performance last night – perhaps the worst ever. I’ve had them before, but nothing quite like this. So I figured I would share my experience with you all - as well as to share my outlook today. I told my wife when I got home that it went poorly….she told me that maybe it’s time to grow up and sell my guitars (not really). Thus, I turn to you to commiserate as some of you may have experienced a similar humiliation, and I’m sure you will all agree that growing up is vastly over-rated.-Ha!

I was scheduled to perform a mini-set with a couple of friends at a local venue where several other performers would be doing the same. Our plan was to run through some Celtic material that we have been working on in preparation for another event. As it turned out, both of my other band-mates had to back out at the last minute (one got sick / the other, a family emergency). So instead of dropping out, I decided that to be a good soldier, and play solo (the show must go on!!).

I couldn’t perform the material that we had prepared because it was heavily dependent on fiddle, whistle, and flute. So I decided to perform some of the more complex Celtic fingerstyle stuff that I've been working on myself for the last several months. It’s mostly solo guitar stuff which I've never performed before, but have been wanting to take out for a test drive. I realized that there were a few pieces that were not ready for prime time, but was willing to accept a couple of mistakes in order to gain valuable experience & feedback from performing the material; there were other pieces that I was very confident in.

I started with a Scottish Strathspey; the most difficult and least polished piece. In hindsight, this was a mistake. I got through it, but it was rough. I was glad to have it behind me. The second song was a beautiful Irish Aire that I played well until the end, which I completely tanked on. It was frustrating, because the end is relatively simple….I just blew it. Thankfully, the audience was supportive and forgiving.

The next piece was the only one that I sang, I’ve done it numerous times, and could play it in my sleep. Inexplicably, I lost it (big time) at multiple places. I don’t know what happened but I blanked-out on the accompaniment, and then became distracted and lost it again, and then once more. The continuity of the song was completely disrupted….grrrrr. I was ticked off.

At this point, I should have taken a deep breath, a sip of water, gathered my thoughts, and focused on the next piece. But I was flustered and quickly moved on (undaunted, our hero plunges blindly ahead).  I ended with a set of three jigs, and started way too fast...they were a complete train wreck, all three of them. I felt terrible about the entire performance start to finish.

(now here is some irony – as I’m writing this, an email just came in from the event host thanking everyone for a great…what a nice guy. I know he’s not talking to me. Ha!)

I’ve experienced train wrecks before, and am generally able to let them roll off my back and move on with the performance; but I have never experienced a succession of them like last night. There were several things that I could have and should have done differently – many of them I already knew, but since I was flustered I went against my better judgment.

Reflecting on the performance this morning, maybe it wasn't as bad as I thought it was last night. even if it was, I had fun and would do it all over again. A good night's sleep and a cocktail when I got home help me gain perspective. I know many people who are terrified of playing in front of an audience, fearful of public failure -I used to be one of them. But some wise person once said that you cannot experience heartbreak if you don’t open your heart to love. Likewise, you cannot experience a complete stage meltdown if you never set foot on stage – LOL. The great musical moments in my life outnumber the bad ones a thousand to one. If this is the worst thing to happen to me this week, I’ll consider myself fortunate. In the end, there is only one thing that can be done: learn from it and then....f'getaboutit!!! I woke up this morning, and viola (!!), the sun actually rose and it's a beautiful day in Kentucky:-))

I do however have some damage-control to do this weekend. First, the host of the event wants to post some of the performances on YouTube – so I’ll have to bribe someone to conveniently lose my portion of the show. Second, I brought two guitars with me last night, they are both very upset. I’ll have to treat them to new strings this weekend.              

Peace,

-Tom

imapicker2 - Posted - 09/19/2014:  17:54:33

Relax and hang- in- there, Tom. I live across town and did not smell a thing. Every day is beautiful in Kentucky.

UsuallyPickin - Posted - 09/20/2014:  04:34:09

Bad days happen to us all ..some gigs are just ... I swear there are times when my instruments fight me and kick my @$$. .... It's true ...The good news is that they are few and far between. Like falling down .... I do that occasionally too .... but thanks be not very often....

Texasbanjo - Posted - 09/20/2014:  05:24:42

We've all had those times and we work through them.  I'll bet the audience (who probably weren't musicians) didn't even notice most of your mistakes -- perhaps if you really flubbed up and had to stop completely and start over, they might notice that, but otherwise, they probably thought you were doing fine.  And, sometimes if that happens, you can laugh about it and the audience will think it's part of the show.

Jim Yates - Posted - 09/20/2014:  10:10:16

When I first met my wife she had some sage advice for me.  She said, "Jim, if you didn't say $#!T into the mic when you made a mistake, probably no one would notice."  She changed my life*.

*In more ways than that little piece of advice.

pizmo - Posted - 09/21/2014:  04:00:18

Of course at the other end of the spectrum is those magic nights when you nail everything and can't believe those beautiful sounds that you're playing.

blueridge - Posted - 09/22/2014:  07:07:45

quote:

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Originally posted by pizmo

 

Of course at the other end of the spectrum is those magic nights when you nail everything and can't believe those beautiful sounds that you're playing.

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....And nobody in the audience seems to care. :-)

I am always amazed at just how few folks really listen to what a performer is doing on stage.

Mike

Troll - Posted - 09/22/2014:  11:41:00

All good....I really just posted this as a way to work through what happened so I could understand and prevent it from re-occurring. I appreciate the support.

Redemption this weekend!!! Playing at the Louisville Irish Fest - If you're in the area, stop by and we'll have a pint:)

-Tom

captinmorgan54 - Posted - 03/10/2015:  10:13:48

quote:

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Originally posted by blueridge

 

quote:

---

Originally posted by pizmo

 

Of course at the other end of the spectrum is those magic nights when you nail everything and can't believe those beautiful sounds that you're playing.

---

....And nobody in the audience seems to care. :-)

I am always amazed at just how few folks really listen to what a performer is doing on stage.

 

Mike

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yep. most folks at a bar or whatever are not into the music as much as you are. I know I'm usually my own worst critic and I dont deal with messing up simple parts very well, but when things go swimmingly, my bandmates hardly even notice. it's kinda odd, but what can you do but shrug it off?



anybody else get antsy at the start of a performance, just waiting for that first mistake? It's always coming like when you know someones hiding, just waiting to jump out and scare ya, but you dont know when