My first ever "live audition"

[awakefie]

I posted to CL looking for a band. Got an inquiry for a band asking if I would look over their set list and pick 5 or 6 songs I could do in a live setting.

Anyway, we agreed I would sit in on the middle of their second set.

I got there early and listened to the first set. They are very good, better than my skill level. I started to get nervous. Get up, do the first song (Rock N Roll - by Zep) things go pretty good. Then into twist and shout by the Beatles, had to drop out on the change up but otherwise went well. Then, the easiest song I know for me, Johnny B. Goode. I'm grooving along, having a good time in the pocket with the drummer. I suddenly realize I could barely hear the band (monitor went out). I walked around to the guitar player's monitor and, to my horrow, realized I had been playing the song 1/2 step down from everyon else. Next song was Authority song by Mellencamp, one I had never played live. I finished by butchering back in the USSR and sweating bullets through a Romantics tune.

I have played on stage lots, I have made mistakes, but I have never had stage-fright/nerves like after JBG. The guys politely thanked me for playng on short notice and I left.

[UnfortunateTony]

These things can be intimidating, especially if you don't know the guys. But no matter how much you mess up, act confidently. That's often a huge part of it.

[Russell L]

Sorry it was tense for ya, pal. But, don't sweat it, no worries. Life's too short to worry about stuff like that. Those guys have been there, too, no doubt. Hey, I've been off-key before and didn't know it when the sound was bad like that. I also started a song a whole-step too high once (B instead of A, because I didn't look) at the Blues and Jazz Festival they used to have here. Heh, heh, just gotta laugh.