Well that was...

sirpug · #1 09-04-2010, 10:21 AM

First show back after a three month hiatus. Really pumped up all day; a couple of new originals and covers (we are a mostly original band). Lots of people showed up. Get through the first four songs perfectly and then the wheels fall off.

I knew I we were in trouble when our mascot decided to take a header off of my rig (where he normally resides) a few seconds into our fifth song. About 15 seconds after that, my B string gets really loose. First time that has ever happened to me so it took me about 15 more seconds before I figured out that it had stretched past the point of no return.

Well, that killed the buzz.

I got my string changed between songs but it really killed the energy. Before the string break we had the crowd really going, people were jumping around and head banging with us. Afterwards we lost the crowd and just couldn't get back to the top (so to speak).

How do you guys get the energy back after you've lost the momentum?

Joe Nerve · #2 09-04-2010, 10:25 AM

Practice and experience. The more it happens the quicker you learn to shake it off. And then there are always those times where there's no shaking it off and you have to just smile and act as if.

Stingray89 · #3 09-04-2010, 10:29 AM

I've played shows before where we've lost the audience and never gotten them back, and then I've played some we're they did come back. My solution is to always try to be on your top, don't blame only yourself and have fun. You'll have your good days and bad days.

chrisbass0013 · #4 09-04-2010, 10:32 AM

you really can't control the audience to a certain extent you just have to move past it and make sure you keep your energy up

sirpug · #5 09-04-2010, 11:31 AM

Not blaming myself, that just seemed to be the point where the wheels fell off of the show. And we did shake it off. We all just looked at each other and laughed when it was over and then proceeded to get stupid drunk while we watched the other band. Just one of those nights I guess.

I'll tell you what though, I sure am glad that I'd boughten two sets of strings last time instead of just the one set. I need to get a back-up bass but until then I'll always have a complete set of spares with me.

Marginal Tom · #6 09-04-2010, 12:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sirpug

I'll tell you what though, I sure and glad that I'd boughten two sets of strings last time instead of just the one set. I need to get a back-up bass but until then I'll always have a complete set of spares with me.

That extra set of strings won't help if you break the nut, the output jack fails, etc. A backup bass solves these problems too.

steveksux · #7 09-04-2010, 01:54 PM

The trick is to put it out of your mind, when mistakes or equipment failures pop up. Move on like nothing happened, don't worry about it. Worry about it after the show is over.

If you let them get to you, it affects your mood, which affects the energy level you put into the performance.

You may or may not get the audience back. You can only control that you get YOUR groove back. Usually the audience will follow the groove, but not always.

Randy

walterw · #8 09-04-2010, 06:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sirpug

Just one of those nights I guess.

I'll tell you what though, I sure and glad that I'd boughten two sets of strings last time instead of just the one set.

yep, some days you get the bear, some days the bear gets you. being prepared will get you through it.

oh, and "boughten"?

JohnMCA72 · #9 09-04-2010, 09:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by walterw

oh, and "boughten"?

That's a Southern thing. I'll bet he's not a Washington native!

walterw · #10 09-04-2010, 09:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnMCA72

That's a Southern thing. I'll bet he's not a Washington native!

i live in virginia, so not deep south, but south nonetheless.

i suspect it's just an "invented word" thing.

sirpug · #11 09-04-2010, 09:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnMCA72

That's a Southern thing. I'll bet he's not a Washington native!

No, I'm a Washington native. Born and raised in Cheney Wa (just west of Spokane) and transplanted to Everett.

Boughten is actually a word, I just looked it up to make sure because my spell check didn't catch it. I'm not sure where I picked it up but I've been using it for a while.

sirpug · #12 09-04-2010, 09:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marginal Tom

That extra set of strings won't help if you break the nut, the output jack fails, etc. A backup bass solves these problems too.

I hear ya. Damn money...