The Guilds of Grot said:
argh! i did that recently at an open mike too, i wrote my own song the month before so i had it on paper - but the lighting was so bad i couldn't read my own lyrics! oh well, i'll take sympathy clapping any day :wink:
I am a couch professional
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argh! i did that recently at an open mike too, i wrote my own song the month before so i had it on paper - but the lighting was so bad i couldn't read my own lyrics! oh well, i'll take sympathy clapping any day :wink:
JerryR
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Nothing I can add to what the good folks have already said - a bit of nervousness before performing in public is natural, and keeps you from getting sloppy 
Try and imagine it all going well before you start - if you imagine errors happening - they probably will :roll: I'm speaking as someone who acts on stage - and sings/plays in public a fair bit :mrgreen:
Try and imagine it all going well before you start - if you imagine errors happening - they probably will :roll: I'm speaking as someone who acts on stage - and sings/plays in public a fair bit :mrgreen:
The Guilds of Grot
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And if you forget the words just go with "Oh Sh*t!"JerryR said:
JerryR
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Well you were there when I attempted to play in Arlington :lol: :lol: :lol:The Guilds of Grot said:
The Guilds of Grot
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With you suffering from all that "jet lag" it was understandable!JerryR said:
Scratch
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JerryR said:
As I recall, you were the star that evening, Jerry!
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Scratch said:
Ken
What with the jet lag, the bourbon you kindly bought me in the bar where we met up first (and I still hope to repay one day), and several bottles of beer, I happy to say that much of my memory of my 'performance' is somewhat blurred :roll:
But I do remember several false starts, several 'clams', playing a different tunes to the two guys attempting to accompany me, and several utterances of my favorite lyric
:mrgreen:
Scratch
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That was my pleasure, my friend. Hope to buy you a double next we meet...
JerryR
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Scratch said:
Aw come on Ken - it's definitely my turn
And I hope that meeting won't be too far away but I have no plans to be in Texas in the near future - are you and Pam ever likely to visit the UK - I can promise you rain. Wettest June, May etc since 1910 - we'll be washed away soon :roll:
JerryR
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Well - just to share with you - last night at the Royal Oak acoustic club I was asked to sing first - did Love Minus Zero, no limit - a Dylan song I've been doing for 30 years - and forgot some of the words in the second verse
My next turn, started Dylan's 'masters of war and clean forgot the words of the second verse - total blank out - so as we had a German band visiting I said I'll do an English song instead - so did McTell's Streets of London. That went fine but I can tell you there were a few 'oh sh*ts' quoted by me during the proceedings :mrgreen:
My next turn, started Dylan's 'masters of war and clean forgot the words of the second verse - total blank out
- so as we had a German band visiting I said I'll do an English song instead - so did McTell's Streets of London. That went fine but I can tell you there were a few 'oh sh*ts' quoted by me during the proceedings :mrgreen:
6L6
Senior Member
The best advice I can give is to just get out there and DO IT. There's nothing like continued exposure to the situation to build confidence. And always remember that they can't send you to Vietnam if you screw up!
In reality, I find at our weekly Open Mic most people are either not paying attention or are wishing the best for you. I've yet to see any "incoming" directed at a performer on stage!
I certainly agree with the advice above to practice, practice, practice the songs you want to play so they are second nature to you. As you get more comfortable on stage, you can stretch out and try some things not so familiar in your muscle memory.
If at all possible, leave the sheet music behind and look at the crowd you are playing to. Nothing puts a crowd to sleep faster than to see someone focused on their sheet music. It makes for a total disconnect from the folks you are there to play for.
For starters, go and check out your local Open Mic(s) and get a feel for what's going on. I think you'll feel immediate comfort when you realize over half the folks sing off key and none play like Tommy Emmanuel. LOL!
Here's where I play every Thursday evening (Cameron's Pub & Inn located in Half Moon Bay, CA). Nothing but FUN and great food at this place:
Half Moon Bay Coastline. In the far distance you can see a satellite tracking station. Right below it is famous Maverick's Beach where they hold the annual World Surfing Championship:
Bill
In reality, I find at our weekly Open Mic most people are either not paying attention or are wishing the best for you. I've yet to see any "incoming" directed at a performer on stage!
I certainly agree with the advice above to practice, practice, practice the songs you want to play so they are second nature to you. As you get more comfortable on stage, you can stretch out and try some things not so familiar in your muscle memory.
If at all possible, leave the sheet music behind and look at the crowd you are playing to. Nothing puts a crowd to sleep faster than to see someone focused on their sheet music. It makes for a total disconnect from the folks you are there to play for.
For starters, go and check out your local Open Mic(s) and get a feel for what's going on. I think you'll feel immediate comfort when you realize over half the folks sing off key and none play like Tommy Emmanuel. LOL!
Here's where I play every Thursday evening (Cameron's Pub & Inn located in Half Moon Bay, CA). Nothing but FUN and great food at this place:
Half Moon Bay Coastline. In the far distance you can see a satellite tracking station. Right below it is famous Maverick's Beach where they hold the annual World Surfing Championship:
Bill
adorshki
Reverential Member
Or at least it wouldn't be considered punishment duty anymore.... :lol:6L6 said:
That's very true, and you reminded me of something else, if you play originals they're usually easier to remember and they'll never be able to tell you made a mistake... :lol:6L6 said:
The ten commandments of playing in public.......IMHO
1) Barring the possibility of there being a ringer in the audience waiting to walk up on stage, take your guitar away from you to make you look like a buffoon, thou shalt assume that thou playeth and singeth better than 100% of your audience.
2) Thou shalt start thy set with the simplest, dumbest piece of garbage music you can think of, like "I like bread and butter" or some such drivel. If there is a ringer in the audience he will leave in disgust……problem solved. Thou shalt not start your set with The Bohemian Rhapsody. Where the heck are going to go from there?
3) Thou shalt get thyself into the music and present thyself happy and rockin, for it is written that whosever bendeth over and shaketh a tail feather shall be considered in the highest regard.
4) Thou shalt listen carefully to remarks from the audience and then disregard them. I have heard such things as "come on you can do better than that" and "oh my doesn't he have a small head".
5) When thou forgetest the lyrics, thou shalt play the chord progression with great gusto. The audience will think you are doing a great solo. The other members of the band will follow along with deep understanding.
6) Thou shalt not eyeball the pretty women. If thou wantest to forget the lyrics there is no better way.
7) Thou shalt laugh at thyself before anyone else has the opportunity. Adorn the garb of an intellectually challenged donkey and it shall be your protection.
eight) If the audience is not paying attention, thou shalt not prod them with a pointed stick. Some fortunate young man may be in the process of encountering his soul mate. Thou shalt not go there.
9) Thou shalt not test thy audience with questionable humor. And, I might add, never ever ever test your audience with questionable humor. Thou art a musician not an upright jester.
10) Thou shalt never contemplate the worst case scenario. For as it is in the game of golf, that which thou contemplate is that which will occur.
1) Barring the possibility of there being a ringer in the audience waiting to walk up on stage, take your guitar away from you to make you look like a buffoon, thou shalt assume that thou playeth and singeth better than 100% of your audience.
2) Thou shalt start thy set with the simplest, dumbest piece of garbage music you can think of, like "I like bread and butter" or some such drivel. If there is a ringer in the audience he will leave in disgust……problem solved. Thou shalt not start your set with The Bohemian Rhapsody. Where the heck are going to go from there?
3) Thou shalt get thyself into the music and present thyself happy and rockin, for it is written that whosever bendeth over and shaketh a tail feather shall be considered in the highest regard.
4) Thou shalt listen carefully to remarks from the audience and then disregard them. I have heard such things as "come on you can do better than that" and "oh my doesn't he have a small head".
5) When thou forgetest the lyrics, thou shalt play the chord progression with great gusto. The audience will think you are doing a great solo. The other members of the band will follow along with deep understanding.
6) Thou shalt not eyeball the pretty women. If thou wantest to forget the lyrics there is no better way.
7) Thou shalt laugh at thyself before anyone else has the opportunity. Adorn the garb of an intellectually challenged donkey and it shall be your protection.
eight) If the audience is not paying attention, thou shalt not prod them with a pointed stick. Some fortunate young man may be in the process of encountering his soul mate. Thou shalt not go there.
9) Thou shalt not test thy audience with questionable humor. And, I might add, never ever ever test your audience with questionable humor. Thou art a musician not an upright jester.
10) Thou shalt never contemplate the worst case scenario. For as it is in the game of golf, that which thou contemplate is that which will occur.
There's a very popular local band that are pro's in every way but their not ashamed to abruptly stop a song and start over again (I've seen'em do it at a couple of times). They laugh about it and their attitude is neither embarrasment nor anger or blame. It's just "Hold it! Sorry, but let's try it again !" They have fun but want the song right and give 110% every show. They give themselves an 'out' and so they're obviously much more relaxed.
!" They have fun but want the song right and give 110% every show. They give themselves an 'out' and so they're obviously much more relaxed.
6L6
Senior Member
Good points made above. Some other things to consider:
- Always tune your guitar BEFORE you take the stage.
- If you do originals, keep them short. WAY too many performers get lost in their interminable "story to tell" and put the audience to sleep.
- Never start off with negative comment like, "I hope I don't screw this up." Be positive in your thought process!
They start 'em out young at Cameron's Pub & Inn. Here's a young rocker and O/M Host Kevin North, aka "Kevy Nova". Kevin is a phenomenal player and this little kid did fine too!
Get off the couch and go out and have some FUN!!!
Bill
- Always tune your guitar BEFORE you take the stage.
- If you do originals, keep them short. WAY too many performers get lost in their interminable "story to tell" and put the audience to sleep.
- Never start off with negative comment like, "I hope I don't screw this up." Be positive in your thought process!
They start 'em out young at Cameron's Pub & Inn. Here's a young rocker and O/M Host Kevin North, aka "Kevy Nova". Kevin is a phenomenal player and this little kid did fine too!
Get off the couch and go out and have some FUN!!!
Bill