Do professional musicians intimidate you?

[Neil Pye]

Meh. This sounds like an exercise in trying to make someone look bad/embarass in a live situation (kinda like the house band switching the key up on a musician in an open jam so they sound out of key). Like others mentioned, not my kind of gig...but also I dont play covers. I'd be fine and make decent music but I would miss the changes and certainly not play any lines that are true to the actual song unless by sheer luck I choose the same notes or general groove as the actual song.


To me, playing covers is not the measure of being a musician...its the measure of woodshedding on lots of cover songs. The measure of a real musician is someone who can play and have a musical conversation by just listening and responding.

For me...
Its a show up and play job for a crowded bar you have only talked to the drummer online. He has a guitar player friend who is supposedly really good coming and he is bringing a trombone player. There is also a keyboardist that the drummer just met but has never played together. No one is pro, but everyone has the chops and abilities of pro players...they just all have families and day gigs. Nothing planned, no set list, no discussion...fully improv, use your ears, listen for the tonic center. 2 60 - 90 minute sets

How do you feel about that?

This is the gig I LOVE and look for. IMO, this is what being a musician means. Its the difference between knowing how to play an instrument vs knowing how to play some songs.

Ok, so I'm going to make some enemies here. The pros I know (myself included) would not take that gig if it was the last gig on earth. A jam, sure. I love that. That's for me and for them, NOT for the audience, unless they're going to a jam night and they know what they're getting. A paying audience deserves the respect of at least having sat down and run a couple of numbers. The gig you describe is all about ego. Put your ego back in the case, and prepare for an audience. Again, just me, personal opinion.

 

[sleddogn]

covers? nah would like to see the warriors show up to our original only gig and rock it

 

[SteIIa]

No.

Why would I feel intimidated? I do stuff in my day job that most of the musicians I meet don't know how to do, everybody's good at different things. I can't do what the OP is talking about, because I just don't have the time to learn thousands of tunes and no real interest in it, but I'm decent enough to jam with pros and if you give me a setlist ahead of time I can usually learn what covers I need for a show if I have to.

This is the absolute best answer.

 

[Gustopher]

Nah, I don’t let anyone intimidate me really. Life is humbling enough to allow people to bring me down because they are good at something. Especially if they put so much effort into it, I am usually just happy for them.

 

[Medicine Man]

I used to be intimated by Berklee graduates (being in the Northeast you find them all over the place) until I realized they just paid a lot more than I did to end up at the same gig.

Word.

 

[Robert B]

Just playing with your eyes gets you so far, but playing with your ears is another level.

I once had the chance to talk to the bandleader/one of the trumpet-players in a big band in the Chicago area called "Brass Tacks". When I say big band I mean like the band that used to be on Johnny Carson. Multiple saxophones and trumpets, keys, stand-up bass, the whole deal. They played strictly off charts.

He asked me if I played and I told him yes, I had played in club bands for years, but I only played by ear. He told me folks like me impress him - playing by ear is a talent that not everyone has. I was shocked to have a pro sight-reader offering me such a compliment. Was he just being nice? I don't know.

 

[Bunk McNulty]

I'm always at least a little intimidated playing with pros for the first time, but intimidation quickly passes to respect, which is as it should be, I think. As far as the OP's proposition goes, it depends. Can I play "All The Things You Are" in any key? No! But I can handle a lot of other stuff.

 

[edro]

Its a show up and play job for a eating establishment outdoors and most of the folks are pro and do music for a living. Just call tunes at random. Country to jazz. No set list.

Ok, so I'm going to make some enemies here. The pros I know (myself included) would not take that gig if it was the last gig on earth. A jam, sure. I love that. That's for me and for them, NOT for the audience, unless they're going to a jam night and they know what they're getting. A paying audience deserves the respect of at least having sat down and run a couple of numbers. The gig you describe is all about ego. Put your ego back in the case, and prepare for an audience. Again, just me, personal opinion.

Maybe you read something into OPie Taylor's post that I didn't.

Pros I know would get off in that kind of environment. They deal with structure every day.

I am sure the clientele is aware. I would also think it works pretty well if they still do it... If it was Charlie Foxtrot, venue would have shut it down already...

Pros I know can handle about anything thrown at them or make a damn good effort at ghosting through the tune until they get the feel of it. Pros I know don't care if they dick up. Pros I know don't care if others dick up. Pros I know realize it's a human thing, they just keep going. Pros I know don't sweat the small stuff...

Some folks are not wired for such musical freedom (read fun). Some folks must have their own concrete routine they are unable to deviate from.

Ego? Interesting..............

 

[IamGroot]

Maybe you read something into OPie Taylor's post that I didn't.

Pros I know would get off in that kind of environment. They deal with structure every day.

I am sure the clientele is aware. I would also think it works pretty well if they still do it... If it was Charlie Foxtrot, venue would have shut it down already...

Pros I know can handle about anything thrown at them or make a damn good effort at ghosting through the tune until they get the feel of it. Pros I know don't care if they dick up. Pros I know don't care if others dick up. Pros I know realize it's a human thing, they just keep going. Pros I know don't sweat the small stuff...

Some folks are not wired for such musical freedom (read fun). Some folks must have their own concrete routine they are unable to deviate from.

Ego? Interesting..............

Thank you.

 

[Neil Pye]

Maybe you read something into OPie Taylor's post that I didn't.

Pros I know would get off in that kind of environment. They deal with structure every day.

I am sure the clientele is aware. I would also think it works pretty well if they still do it... If it was Charlie Foxtrot, venue would have shut it down already...

Pros I know can handle about anything thrown at them or make a damn good effort at ghosting through the tune until they get the feel of it. Pros I know don't care if they dick up. Pros I know don't care if others dick up. Pros I know realize it's a human thing, they just keep going. Pros I know don't sweat the small stuff...

Some folks are not wired for such musical freedom (read fun). Some folks must have their own concrete routine they are unable to deviate from.

Ego? Interesting..............

Pros I know do it for the audience. Pros I know give themselves a chance to do a great job every time they play for an audience. Pros I know CAN do it that way, but don't view it as some kind of higher calling to vamp a sketchy version of a song. That's for jams. Pros I know do care if they dick up. Pros I know DO sweat the small stuff. That's what makes them pros. Can they jam? Of course, we all can. Do we want to do it for an audience? Different question. I'm out, we're clearly not on the same page.

 

[lbbc]

No intimidation just inspiration

 

[edro]

Pros I know do it for the audience. Pros I know give themselves a chance to do a great job every time they play for an audience. Pros I know CAN do it that way, but don't view it as some kind of higher calling to vamp a sketchy version of a song. That's for jams. Pros I know do care if they dick up. Pros I know DO sweat the small stuff. That's what makes them pros. Can they jam? Of course, we all can. Do we want to do it for an audience? Different question. I'm out, we're clearly not on the same page.

I see your point. That being said, I look at OPie's gig as NOT being their regular job...far from it... This is not big stage level production, nor is it a serious deal, nor is it just a free form jam session. It is more of various musicians doing what THEY wish to do, playing songs they like instead of what they are being contracted to do... Kinda like how a Monday night deal cranked off in Nash some years back... Having fun playing music they like, with who they like to have fun with....

 

[ELG60]

Is that Jerry Northup (or "Toledo Jerry" as I guess y'all nicknamed him down there ) on guitar? If not I'll let him know I found his doppleganger near him lol. I know & jammed with Jerry before he moved down to Florida. Damn good player.

Yes it is, and yes, he's definitely a very good player . . . Well above my pay grade! Very nice guy, too!

I understand that up in Toledo, they just call him Jerry.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

Its a show up and play job for a eating establishment outdoors and most of the folks are pro and do music for a living. Just call tunes at random. Country to jazz. No set list.

How do you feel about that?

Ps. I love it.

This is a great opportunity to not only play, but to observe and learn, as well as networking with other musicians. You’ll have a blast.

 

[klejst]

No. Just remember they started out usually the same place we all do. What I hate is when they seem to get an ego and it goes to their head and they suddenly forget that and talk down or look down upon the smaller local guys when playing gigs with them.

 

[ELG60]

This is a great opportunity to not only play, but to observe and learn, as well as networking with other musicians. You’ll have a blast.

That's how I look at the Monday night jam which I've been attending.

 

[JudgeSluggo]

Ok, as someone who would put himself somewhere in between novice and intermediate, yes, I can be intimidated by a pro. My bass teacher (Johnny B. Gayden, no, I don't need help pickup up the name I just dropped) is a Grammy-winning artist who played with Albert Collins. I definitely get nervous in lessons with him (although he's totally mellow and friendly). The pros that I mingle with at open mic nights (and one of those is tonight, yeah!) are totally easy-going and give plenty of support. Somebody save me from parenthetical phrases.

 

[nilorius]

They don't intimidate me, i just learn some stuff from them.

 

[edro]

Pretty much put their britches on like anybody else...

 

[Mike Sorr]

Its a show up and play job for a eating establishment outdoors and most of the folks are pro and do music for a living. Just call tunes at random. Country to jazz. No set list.

How do you feel about that?

Ps. I love it.

The other worldly musicians do intimidate me a little. There's a guitarist in the town I live in that is legitimately one of the best players in the country. He gives video guitar lessons for a living, kind of like the way Scott does at Scotts Bass Lessons and his resume includes playing with some of the best musicians on the planet. Watching him play with a local cover band is like watching LeBron James play a game of pickup basketball on a local playground with a bunch of high school kids. I would definitely be intimidated to play with musicians of that caliber. In fact, I usually don't even admit I play anything. I met Victor Wooten once and he asked me if I play bass, I told him "not around you I don't".