How will i survive my first gig?

[swede_peter]

I have just gotten the chance to play at a pub with 2 pro's, my saxteacher and a very good pianoplayer. Were playing at a pub, i suspect it will be a "smokey-room" in that pub when we play. We will play for 2 x 30 min with a short break between. The date is 18:th of november, im training like ¤%&$, because its a lot of tunes... :| Besides that, im nervous, its my first "public" experience. And the worst part is: its a after-work-pub, so a lot of people from my work will be there :shock: . Is there ANY possible way to "survive"? :D Tips & Tricks to stay cool? What if theres bad light, can i see the sheets? A lot of questions is running around at the moment.. How did YOU survive your first gig? Please share?

/Desperate Tenor-Pete ;)

[larry]

Swede-er:
One word: Practice! Really - the more familiar you are with the pieces, the more relaxed and confident you'll be. If you can memorize the songs, even the better. As for lighting, you can always get a stand light (such as http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/g=home/search/detail/base_pid/810500/) (%20http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/g=home/search/detail/base_pid/810500/%29)

Regarding co-workers, I wouldn't sweat that too much, they'll be more surprised by this other aspect of your personality, then they will be music critics. You get 10 points for free just for getting up on a stage in the first place!

Another tip regarding stage fright, may be to "play a role" rather than be yourself. If you get up on stage playing the role of "Peter the Muy Macho Swedish Sax Phenom of 2005" you'll be able to disengage from your normal nervous self and be that other Sax God for an hour. Try to remember, it's not about you - it's about the audience. That helps me, anyways...

[Gordon (NZ)]

I agree. Get to know the music so well that you can relax and listen as if you were the audience, rather than worrying about the music. (The player will be getting bio-feedback via the ears of the 'audience-you')

By that time, you will barely need to see the music anyway.

"An amateur musician practises until he/she gets it right. A professional musician practises until there's absolutely no chance that he/she could possibly play it wrong."

[Brendan Muse]

Just keep going no matter what happens. If you do screw up, remember that only YOU know what it was you wanted to play. The audience doesn't have a clue if you don't let them know.

And if you're getting paid, keep the paycheck in mind through the whole thing. ;)

[swede_peter]

Just keep going no matter what happens. If you do screw up, remember that only YOU know what it was you wanted to play. The audience doesn't have a clue if you don't let them know.

And if you're getting paid, keep the paycheck in mind through the whole thing. ;)


I thank you all for your advice. I will practice a lot, got some vacation, so ill guess ill have some "extra" time to practice the tunes. :) Now i have to sit down and read your advice a couple of dozen times again.. :D

/The now not SO nervous Pete. ;)

[Saxmusiclover]

Just keep going no matter what happens. If you do screw up, remember that only YOU know what it was you wanted to play. The audience doesn't have a clue if you don't let them know.
;)

As a matter of fact something similar happened to me just the other night. It was the reunion party of my old university and I was asked to play with a very accomplished pianist as well as an accomplished guitarist, fellow alumni. We were all amateurs but they were much better than I. Also, it was the first time I actually played for people other than family and immediate friends. Some of them know me from way back but many I was meeting for the first time. During the party, there were some alumni who were good singers and came up to sing, mostly old jazz favourities (As time Goes by, etc), while we play accompanying music. It was an open air venue that was quite dim so I can hardly see the music sheets. In any case the pianist and the guitarist can play without them. I ended up doing away with the music sheets and playing fills by ear. (People later told me me it came out well) When it was time for me to play a solo, I played one of my favourities (A Whiter Shade of Pale) . Although I knew it quite well I haven't really memorized it so ended up missing some notes and playing some wrong ones as I peered at the music sheet. Fortunately no one present knew the song so no knows how many mistakes I made (except msyelf).

[Gordon (NZ)]

IF something goes wrong - even if you have to stop and start again, look cool, look happy. NEVER frown. When you finish a piece, look cool, look satisfied, look contended, look happy.

Almost all of the audience assumes that you are more of an expert in the music you are playing and how it should be played than they are, so if you APPEAR to think it went well, then they will think the same. They will be happy. If you really botch things up and treat it with humour, they will still be happy, along with you.

However the more familiar the music is to the audience, the more perfect it has to be, because the audience is then an expert on what you are playing.

[djez4fun]

Hi Pete

I once had to play a public exam. Not my cup of tea! Heartbeat going too fast, cold, sweating fingers, making mistakes you normally don't make...not the best playing conditions!
I played several exams like that (not only sax, also organ and piano) and didn't want to have it once more. So, what did I do? When driving to the academy, I stopped at a local pub, ordered a glass of white wine (I hardly drink any alcohol, so 1 glass was working quiet well!) and enjoyed it, relaxing a bit (as far as that was possible)
Later on, standing on the stage, I was far more relaxed than the other times. It was possible to forget the stress and to focus on the music. Result: a nice performance with good points afterwards!
But I agree with the others, this is only helpful if you know the music.
So practice a lot, drink a small glass and most of all, go for it!
Good luck!

[gary]

Good advice above! Just a few extra comments:

Watch your intonation. Don't get so carried away with the emotion/excitement that your intonation goes to pot. The audience is much more inclined to hear "sour notes" than other musical parameters.

Also, while looking confident is defiinitely important, just make sure you don't cross that line where you seem cocky. That can set you up for criticism that might not otherwise be there.

BTW, my first pay gig I had absolutely no stress because I was just excited about making the music. Have fun and good luck! Let us know how it goes.

[Gordon (NZ)]

Bananas? It seems they have several components which enhance mood and calm nerves?

?????????

[groovesax]

1 - I don't think your teacher would have asked you or let you if he didn't think you were ready for it. Remember, he has more comprehension of your musically aptitude than the audience will.

2 - Having a good keyboard player is a blessing and not a curse. You will be able to hear the changes much better and it will feed you ideas. The piano player will listen to what you will do and complement it. You should do the same (listen and develop what you hear).

Nothing wrong with shedding on your own, but if you can, get a couple sessions in with the cats you will be performing with.

Good luck and good practice.

[swede_peter]

1 - I don't think your teacher would have asked you or let you if he didn't think you were ready for it. Remember, he has more comprehension of your musically aptitude than the audience will.

2 - Having a good keyboard player is a blessing and not a curse. You will be able to hear the changes much better and it will feed you ideas. The piano player will listen to what you will do and complement it. You should do the same (listen and develop what you hear).

Nothing wrong with shedding on your own, but if you can, get a couple sessions in with the cats you will be performing with.

Good luck and good practice.



You really are the BEST! ;) Thanks again everyone for all your ideas and suggestions. Dang! Sotw is GREAT! :D Now, youll have to excuse me, im gonna practise, practise, practise... :D

/Pete, the not quite so nervous one. ;)

[peter rankin 8]

Hi pete, i myself have the same probs, i have done three gigs so far and still get stage fright, i find affirrmations help, i played this friday for a children in need show just had a guitarist i forgot the middle eight of charlie parkers suede shoes but just played the head again and played out nobody was the wiser, keep going sax is great. pete, U.K.

[Greyduster]

I've done very little music performance but I was a pro entertainer for ten years, Juggler, stiltwalker, fire-eater etc in all sorts of places, including the streets.
You can break a performance into two parts
1) the content
2) the presentation

Be the best musician you can manage on the day. As a juggler I never performed the tricks I wasn't sure about or were pretty much rock solid.

As to the presentation well that's a much more interesting area ripe for deep psychological analysis, but here are some thoughts.

Being an audience is tough. They're full of doubts and uncertainties. Is the act going to be any good, will I be embarrassed and cringe if they're not or they get things wrong.

One way or another you have to put the audience at their ease and that means you take control of the situation, not them. Nothing happens in that space that isn't down to you (by you I mean the performer, singular or performers, plural), controlled by you.
Let them know that whatever they see happen is going to be good, let them know either directly or indirectly that they're going to enjoy themselves, this will relax them and they will like it, they will enjoy themselves and they will tell their friends and put money in the hat. If they see you enjoying yourself (selves) they will enjoy it, forgive any mistakes they may notice and come back for more.

Alfred Hitchcock was once accused of saying that actors were simply cattle. he refuted that. What he actually said was that actors should be treated like cattle. Audiences are a bit the same. Lead them where you want them to go, they will follow you, that's why they came out tonight, to be shown a good time.

But this leads back to number one. Be absolutely as confident as you can bee with the material you are working on. This can become less easy the more performers there are involved.

[Alto Giant]

Your gig is over now but I'll post what I do:

I pick up my sax and play as nice and powerfull as I can; or simply: PLAY!

[groovesax]

And, by all means, please tell us how it turned out. Whether good bad or indifferent, we can all learn from your experience.

[Dentarthurdent]

Nerves used to kill me when I started playing live gigs. It does get easier the more you do - you just have to jump right in.
One thing which surprised me is how little the punters notice when there is an on-stage screw up. I remember one big band gig in particular. We were playing 'Its Only A Paper Moon' a la Natalie Cole. The female vocalist (my lovely wife as it happens) missed her cue completely and came in a whole verse late!! It was a complete train wreck. Afterwards though, despite mentioning it, no one in the audience had seemed to notice!!!!
Gary is right - knowing that you are well prepared for a gig will remove a lot of nerves.
I will leave you with three thoughts:
1. Don't sweat if you play a 'bum note' - you are only a semi tone away from a resolution! If anyone queries it just nod and say 'I was playing outside of the changes man"!
2. Play like you mean it - if it's your solo go for it. 'Strong and wrong' is better than weak and weedy.
3. The vast majority can't play an instrument well enough to be playing in public - consequently most people will be impressed whatever you play. Be proud of your acheivement!

[saxysteve]

I did a few performances with a bunch of other wood winds at shopping malls for Christmas carols, as well as a surprise party for a friend with a small rock band. The malls were packed with people but I was 'protected' by so many other players so if I made a mistake nobody would notice ! For the surprise birthday, all were friends and were more surprised that I 'play' sax then listening to the music and I got a great round of applause from them ! Good luck mate, btw, what pieces are you playing ? If its jazz, and you make a mistake, it wasn't,.....................you were just improvising !

[Dr G]

1) Wear dark pants. ;)

2) Always think forward. Your next note is the one the audience will hear. No one else cares about your mistakes as much as you do so don't. 8-)

[swede_peter]

Love problems, and i tell ya, why does it sound better, playing the horn, when you got the "blues"? But next week im on holiday all weeeeek, and then i will tell you all about the first gig i ever had at the McLovis pub in Sodertalje (South of Stockholm, Sweden). And i can tell you, it wasnt a walk in the park, wheew!.......:D Gotta go, have a nice week all you nice honkers and axelovers!

/Pete the no-more-always-wondered-how-it-is-up-there-on-stage-guy. ;)

[Dr G]

"Focus" is often the solution - and may come from many directions.

"Use the force for good." ;)