• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

It's never as bad as you think, It's never as good as you think

awakefie

awakefie

Jul 14, 2008
1,211
477
Colorado Springs, CO
#1
Last week I posted about a live edition I did with a local Denver band. I played six songs and went home shaking my head. I thought I did a terrible job (in my defense I had 2 days to prepare for 6 songs with 6 other people I had never met before).

Anyway, I get home, crash, and the next morning there is an e-mail waiting from the drummer. Says the band was really impressed with me and that I was one of the top 2 contenders.

I just found out today I have a final 3 hour audition next week (not live). I am so stoked. When I got home after the live audition my wife asked how it went and all i said was "train wreck".

Wow. Now I have 4 gigs coming up in the next 30 days if I can crank it out Wednesday night. :hyper:
 
#5
Often, we judge ourselves far harsher than others would. What you thought a mistake, maybe they perceived as a creative touch, and to them it sounded good. Or maybe they understand that once you are in, you'll practice and get the songs down.
 
#12
You have no idea how many times I've come off a set pissed with how bad we sounded only to be met by person after person saying how great we were, asking us our band name, if we have any recordings, where our next gig is, etc... To say the least, it definitely is a confidence booster :)
 
#13
A few weeks ago at a gig our guitarist showed up PLASTERED... I think in the 3 hours of playing he played 1 song right, the encore.... which I was pissed from 2nd set on with him and felt it was horrible... we still got an encore at a place that doesn't normally have them and was told countless times it was great... makes for a good show but a really bad excuse from our guitarist
 
#14
I was stinkin' up the joint at an audition Friday only to realize in the Q & A after that they were impressed that I went through about a dozen songs with no notes and played parts their current player consistently misses.

I was nervous but mostly concise. They played at a very low volume and no matter how much you internalize the music you're supposed to learn, real time playing with others and factoring in their interpretation of the music is one thing you don't get a handle on until it happens.

We'll see.
 
#17
Thanks for this thread. I think we all have had off nights or weak sets but it's nice to hear that I'm not the only one questioning my performance. The hardest part for me is when said audience member gives compliments and I have to say thank you when my heart tells me we haven't earned it.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back