Great Gig vs So-So Sound vs Your Own Boo-Boos

GhostLobby · #1 11-25-2006, 03:08 AM

I'm new so hopefully this is in the right place. Please move if not.....

So we had a great gig tonight, went over really, really well. We play our own tunes (I've never actually been in a cover band) and we pretty much killed 'em tonight. But...... while acknowledging that we're all our own worst critics, I have to say that the crappy sound in the room saved my bacon on a couple of occasions tonight. Overall I played as well I can, but there were times when my hands just got away from me, especially when I was playing with a pic (this is the first band I've been in where pic really works and is needed). Part of it was the the five decafs I had before the gig ( I don't drink the real stuff ), part of it was nerves (our first headlining gig), and part of it was the fact that I'm just a spazz anyway.

So I guess my question is: Have you ever had a gig where the band went over really well but you knew you yourself still wasn't 100%? I'm still questing after that perfect gig. You?

bassfacekevin · #2 11-25-2006, 08:39 AM

Yeah, actually the last show that I played I felt went pretty decently, but unfortunately, I was unfamiliar with 2 songs (I kinda improved over them, but knew the changes decently.) but I felt far from my A-game. Luckily, my (ex) drummer went nuts (he had a tenancy, when playing live, to start adding fills in weird places, to make his parts seem more virtuoso-ish, hence the "ex" Ha, drummer with the singer complex.) , and so most of the people actually blamed my mistakes on him. (ex. I had several people [all musicians] come up to me and say "man, you sounded good, it's a pity that [the drummer] totally obscured the pocket for you."

I just kinda smiled and nodded. I mean, come on, who won't blame the drummer when they have the chance?

~K

jady · #3 11-25-2006, 01:19 PM

The last few bands I have been in have gone over great even when we have only played up to 50-60% of our potential. Thats a nice place to be in, it takes a lot of the pressure off.

We all strive for perfection but in reality, most of the shmoos in the audience dont know good music from an asshat. I have seen pure turds with a PA go over like grade A rock stars. Sad really........

Crazyeelboy · #4 11-25-2006, 04:02 PM

GhostLobby - That's all part of gigging. The sound is never 100% and you will always drop some notes, but the whole point of playing a gig is for the band to communicate your art to the audience. It is a pure team effort, so look at your personal performance in the context of how it fit into the entire band's performance.

Jady - I don't knock an audience for liking something which I think sux - they are looking for a good time and there isn't anything wrong with people enjoying even a crappy band. I just hope the crowd is in a good mood when we are ourselves a crappy band!

Blavelle · #5 11-25-2006, 10:21 PM

ahh us musicians have it good, about 99% of the time, an audience member wont walk out of the venue and say "damn that bass player screwed up those 3 notes it really ruined the show for me!" as long as your group has a lot of chemistry and has a tight understanding of the songs the audience will love it.

jady · #6 11-26-2006, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crazyeelboy

I just hope the crowd is in a good mood when we are ourselves a crappy band!

Gotta agree with you there brother!!!