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Help me feel Better

M

mcblahflooper94

Aug 31, 2011
762
8
#1
So, for school, my friend and I went to perform a song by the Vaselines called a Son of a Gun. Easy song, made a cool baseline for it and everything. The catch was, we had no drummer. We rehearsed yesterday, working diligently on it, and got it down fairly quickly. Today was my first "big" gig. Last week was my very first, with a couple of friends and family coming just to be kind, but today was the first with spotlights, seats, and a stage if that makes sense.

We didn't get any rehearsal/soundcheck time. The upper class men stood around their instruments doing nothing while we waited to get some time, and we got none. So, eventually, out we go, a guitarist and a bassist in front of a large crowd of people. Everything went wrong.

The bassist had his volume up insanely loud on his amp, so I couldn't hear the guitarist at all. I had no idea where we were. Then, after I killed myself trying to get through the pathetically easy song, I went to play Breed by Nirvana, because thats what we rehearsed. My guitarist kinda just stared at me, so I stopped. He was really cool about it, and had a very optimistic attitude. Jokingly, he said "Uhh... things aren't going well. Let's play silent night!!" so he played silent night and walked off the stage. On my way off, I accidentally pulled the cord out of my bass without turning off the amp (being a dorky frustrated idiot that I was at the time), which made bad noises. Then, I tripped over a wire on my way off stage.

Now, usually I'd be fine with this, but being that most people have never heard/ seen me play, I feel like people may now think I suck. But hey, life goes on, and I came home with a Hohner J Bass Fl to unwrap, so all good. Still frustrating.

Can you share your dorky expirences with me? Any comments/ stories will be read and appreciated, thank you for reading my story. (:
 
#3
No prob, pal. Hey, I once played a note all by myself on upright during a "grand pause" (when everything should be dead silent, like taking a short breath), during a concert with the Columbia Philharmonic Orchestra. Talk about wanting to dissolve into the floorboards, sheesh! I tried to make light of it during intermission to the conductor. He just stared at me and walked away. Oooooooooo!
 
#7
During college I was in this rock/punk trio where I had the job of "singing" and playing the bass. On our 1st gig ever, in front of a crowd of 100 or so people in a park.
I was sh*ting myself when the host said "Go"! I was so nervous I used this Lemmy-like stance and kept looking up to the sky, only to realize (by the laughter from half the audience) that I've been screaming my lungs out for 5 minutes on a dead mic...
 
#8
I know that's really embarrassing and humiliating, but it sounds like so many first gigs. My first large one back in college was at a dance marathon fundraiser and even during the afternoon when we were playing there were still a few hundred people there.

We had continued power problems during our set, sometimes with one circuit so only part of the equipment went out and sometime in the entire building so we lost all power. It was frustrating and embarrassing, but we held it together and never stopped playing. Even when the power in the building went out our drummer kept playing so the dancers could keep dancing and we somehow managed to find our way back once the power came back on.

We thought we played well if not for all the problems but still felt like it was a total failure. We felt a lot better when the dancers gave us a huge round of applause when we finished for how we kept our composure during all that. There were also some larger local acts playing later that day who were there watching us while their crews brought their equipment in and they gave us a lot of complements too. That felt really good.

Every one will have those kinds of trying experiences, especially when they're first starting out. As time goes one, they'll be good stories you can tell and laugh about. The important thing is that you got out there and played!

EDIT - Forgot to mention that there were no actual electrical problems that day. The school had their staff doing some electrical work in the building and "forgot" that they had a major function going on there the entire weekend. If not for that screw up, things would have actually gone pretty well.
 
#9
After playing for 32 years, I have had some worse problems in the last 5 years than your first. So, if it gives you any solice, no matter what, things (S+++) is going to happen. Smile, go through it the best you can and wait for the next gig. I know it sucks now, but one day it will be remembered in the epic fail hall of fame in your lifes memories. I can sure say IMOH experience, they get funnier the older you get!
 
#11
mcblahflooper94 said:
The bassist had his volume up insanely loud on his amp, so I couldn't hear the guitarist at all. I had no idea where we were. Then, after I killed myself trying to get through the pathetically easy song, I went to play Breed by Nirvana, because thats what we rehearsed. My guitarist kinda just stared at me, so I stopped. He was really cool about it, and had a very optimistic attitude. Jokingly, he said "Uhh... things aren't going well. Let's play silent night!!" so he played silent night and walked off the stage. On my way off, I accidentally pulled the cord out of my bass without turning off the amp (being a dorky frustrated idiot that I was at the time), which made bad noises. Then, I tripped over a wire on my way off stage.
Click to expand...

This would be a typical gig for me. I have considered getting a wireless rig so I could at least avoid the "tripping over wires" part, but I figured I would just find something else to trip over...

...like the drummer's drunk girlfriend.
 
#12
Russell L said:
No prob, pal. Hey, I once played a note all by myself on upright during a "grand pause" (when everything should be dead silent, like taking a short breath), during a concert with the Columbia Philharmonic Orchestra. Talk about wanting to dissolve into the floorboards, sheesh! I tried to make light of it during intermission to the conductor. He just stared at me and walked away. Oooooooooo!
Click to expand...
This happened to me at a high school band concert thing. I don't remember much about the setting other than it was on a pretty well regarded stage/venue in the area. There was a pause between songs where the band director wanted us to like, take some formal waiting position with instruments at attention or something. All I know is I had to put my clarinet on my right knee and then when she gave the signal to lower it to the left. I missed the signal. And the girl beside me was mouthing me to take my instrument down. I did and bashed the music stand in the process, it was very loud. lol

I wasn't nervous or anything. I played my parts fine. No stage fright. Just spaced out...maaaannn. (was sober too)
 
#13
played a nice custom modified Les Paul Black Beauty during a prom dance years ago, The band wuz just standing there like a bunch of mannequins so I began jumping around like a luny so that it might look like we knew what we were doing. I wound up ripping the cable out of the lead singers mic. Sad thing was, no one noticed a difference in the music ... hehe ... true story
 
#17
To the OP: From what I can see, this will be a crucial crossroads in your journey as a musician. You can either look at this and let it eat away at you, possibly causing you to give up the bass entirely, OR you can look at this as a really good motivational tool to practice hard, and get better.

Won't it be nice the next time you play out in front of your schoolmates to just blow them away? Won't you like to hear things like: "Man, you guys were a LOT better this time!" or "I thought you guys would never be any good, but you are!"
 
#18
MatticusMania said:
Except the kids you go to high school with.
Click to expand...

And possibly anyone on youtube if someone taped it lol

Just kidding.

My first "big gig" years ago was with an originals band, but the drummer quit the night before the gig. The other guys got a hold of a drummer they used to play with and knew some of the songs, but it was an absolute trainwreck. Up to that point we were well rehearsed and polished and it all went out the window in 2 seconds flat. I kept slowly moving backwards and to the right, to the point where I was almost behind the stage curtains lol. I thought about making a break for it at one point! :crying:
 
#19
I once go to the jazz jam session. I was very green in playing standards but i dunno why at that time i have enough guts to play with one of the best jazz pianists in town. i mess up the fomr and after that he went outside the bar and said something like 'That ****ing bass player #$&@*' ....
After some years now i can played standards better. I can tell you in the course of learning music you will face many times of this kind of feeling bad. What you can do? As you said life still goes on. you can just either give up or carry on.
The worst feeling is not scolded but others, but is the feeling that you think yourself not doing your best, even others may say you sound good.
 
#20
There is nothing I hate more than self righteous musicians. They sucked once too. We are lifetime learners and will get better over time.

I enjoy playing with guys who help me get better versus telling me I "suck".
 

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