HELP! Band Members "Wussing Out"

[Alan Vorse]

I play in a quartet made up of people who are relatively new to playing jazz (including myself). We play 2-3 gigs a month. Due to schedules, we don't get to rehearse as much as we should.

There is another band in town that is roughly the same age playing roughly the same kind of stuff who are a very good band (sax player was in New York for 5 years). They are friendly with us and even though they are more experienced players, they are very encouraging.

This dosen't stop certain band members from acting like these guys are the Second Coming. The worst part is when they stop by to check out one of our shows. The band members I mentioned seem to get all flustered and start playing horribly. When faced with a situation like that, I just try to play my best. Music SHOULDN'T be about impressing people.

Any advice to get my people to stop acting like scared girls?

[Stinsok]

An old player gave me a piece of advice. He told me "screw them, you have a gig a they don't-how great can they be?" That is kinda Stephen Cobert (ish) sounding, but it is true. Don't let them initimidate you!

[Jason Sypher]

These good players could be doing anything they want with their time and they are bothering to come check you out and support your gigs. Instead of being "scared" they should be appreciating their presence. If these players are good it might even be seen as a kind of local endorsement and then other players will come and check you out as well. That means you have an audience and that's how you keep gigs. Tell your band mates to grow up and get real. There's always going to be better players than you, so what? You ought to try living in NY. Seems like every time I have a gig that I really wished I didn't take, playing music I don't like with people who I don't want to play with William Parker shows up, or Drew Gress or somebody like that. It's crazy. But even if your band mates lose their cool, you don't have to lose yours. Either just block it out and play or take whatever the band is giving you and make it musical. Great players can hear right through the mix, right through genre, right through b******* and hear who is up there playing like they mean it. Play what you mean and most musicians will respect you. Besides that hang with them and learn what you can.

[oliebrice]

you could tell them the charlie haden story about why he closes his eyes....

[Alan Vorse]

Originally Posted by oliebrice

you could tell them the charlie haden story about why he closes his eyes....

+1

[fingers]

You guys got the gig in the first place didn't you. I always remember what I sax players friend said to me when I panicked when somebody good showed up to our gig. "Look man, we're all in the trenches together."

[M Ramsey]

Musicians are all just people with their own abilities/inadequacies. I know folks from the top to the bottom (in regards to notoriety) in the bluegrass field.

Some are nice folks, you couldn't ask to meet more cordial people. Some are arse wholes (<G>) and you wished you hadn't wasted the time to speak, BUT, they are all JUST people. They (we) all have stellar nights playing and then they (we) have nights where they (we) play poorly, or less than their (our) usual level.

Tell your bandmates to calm down, be glad the "Second Coming" is coming to see your shows and if they feel pressure, more than likely they're applying it to themselves. If they feel they need to be better, maybe they might try to rehearse on a more consistent basis.

This all can become productive, not counter-productive.

[Pcocobass]

I agree with the above posts. The fact that these cats are coming to your gig is a good thing. If they thought you guys sucked they'd stay home, but instead they are supporting you & the band.

I was in NYC one night to see my teacher's band play and in between sets we were outside talking. As we were standing there, Ron Carter walked into the club for the second set! Talk about pressure.....