Conference napalm::guitar

	Go back and do it again....

I agree wholeheartedly.

dbii

    Totally normal for the first time out.  Keep at it; any other response
    would have meant your weren't really in over your head deep enough.
    
    What'd your teacher say?
    
    At least there was a reason the people who left could use: "There's
    a club down the street."  When people walked out on my band(s),
    they just plain left 'cause they didn't like us.
    
    ...and don't stop!
    
    Regards,
    John K.
    
    PS - I suggest taping your next jam/gig/whatever.  On playback,
    you can hear what you did wrong and correct it.  Keep the faith...it'll
    happen.

all I can say is from experience.

I played my first club gig when I was 16.  I didn't eat, or sleep for
three days before.  I was so nervous that day, and that night, prior
to playing, I thought I was gonna have a stroke...

Now-a-days,,   17 years later...

I've played in dozens of bands, some were kept fairly busy...
I've been in a very active band for nine years,, got tons and tons
of performing hours behind me..  Stage fright, or that anxiety that I
used to get, I'd love to get back again.  Seems that you can take that
nervous energy and use it against the crowd ! Nothing like going
"~~electric~~" on a room full of dead heads...

Seriously, the more you do it, the better you get... the easier it gets..

What happened to you was completely normal and totally human.

The mistake would be to feel bad about it.

    
      You're gonna fall off that bicycle many more times before you're a
    smooth rider!
    
      Forget it.....it's over and done with. Learn from it and go on.
    
      You have a big problem if you can't get better.
    
      This to shall pass...it'll all work out.
    
       Bob

    What makes you think the people who walked out know good playing
    from bad?  Screw 'em.  Just stand up there ready to puke wtih your
    knees shaking and keep playing.  It'll get easier.

    I agree with all the other replies.  Keep at it, you'll be fine!
    
    My keyboard player told me this regarding fearing the audience: 
    Remember, they're all naked! 
    
    Will

    Jamming on acoustics scares me to death !  Getting up in front of a big
    crowd is a walk in the park though.  I sort of go into a mental thing,
    almost like I'm someone else when I get up on stage.  I'm not really an
    extrovert unless I'm jamming with a band live.
    
    My advice (like countless others ...) is just to go do it again !  WTF,
    have a good time, pretend you're at home in your skivies jamming along
    with your favorite tune.  And, if that doesn't work, just get blind
    drunk before the next gig (just kidding !!!).
    
    Scary

    > Remember, they're all naked!
    
    I use that fantasy often, even when I'm not on stage...;^)
    
    Edd

    I'll have to try that next time I play out !  Wagagga !
    
    Hmmmm .... this should be interesting ....
    
    Scary (who's having a good chuckle thinking about this weekend's gig)

    It also helps if you jam with other musicians on a regular basis.
    When you do go up on stage, don't think that you are all alone up
    there. Remember that you are part of a team, consisting of the
    drummer, bass player, etc. Everyone should be covering each other
    so no one feels that they are all alone.   Do this enough and even-
    tually, you can get up and solo on acoustic if that's your' thing. 
    
    I started playing in front of people when I was a kid, and I was so
    bold, that they had to drag me off the stage. I think I had better
    stage presence then than I do now. The music store I took lessons at
    used to hold recitals once or twice a year, and it helps young
    musicians get used to being on stage. It was sort of like being in a
    school play. No one took it too seriously, and everyone had fun. 
    
    

    I was at a concert way back in '74... The 1st performer was 
    Freddie King. He played that guitar soooo well it gave me shivers!!!
    He jammed his heart out- he was sweating so hard that he went from
    a full tux to a tee shirt by the end! Well, all through this
    the audience Booed him, heckled him, and walked around talking
    to each other and chanting "we want Grand Funk". It was the 
    most pitiful display of musical ignorance I have ever seen!
    While my friends and a few others were cherring for one more
    blistering leed, we were totally drowned out by boo's and hisses.
    He took a bow anyway and said goodnight.
     Do you think he went back stage and said "I quit, I must s*ck 
    because the audience booed me"...I doubt it.
    
    Moral of the story... if you think you played poorly then you
    probably did... BUT...don't let the crowd be the ones to judge
    your tallent- ever!!
    
    Tom...a legend in his own mind :)
     

    
    Well,my first appearance WAS BY MYSELF! I was singing solo in a
    
    competition. Boy,did I bomb! I couldnt remember words,everything
    
    went wrong! Good thing I had some people for moral support to lessen
    
    the pain,like the guys and gals in here. It should get better from
    
    here,Steve. Good luck.
    
    Mike

    My first really big solo performance was when I was 15 years old,
    giving a concert with the Naval Acadamy Band. I had won a scholarship,
    and this was part of my "retribution". I was playing percussion at the
    time, and my performance consisted of getting up in front of this big
    band of professional musicians and playing a marimba solo, a timpani
    solo, and a snare drum solo, backed by the band. This was in a big hall
    with at least 500 people in it.
    
    By this time I had considerable experience being on stage, but always
    at the back. Somebody advised me to look over the heads of the audience
    at the back wall of the hall. That was supposed to give everyone the
    impression that you were looking at them, but keep you from getting
    scared by the mass of faces staring at you. I was so nervous I went
    through the whole thing like an automaton, with about as much feeling.
    I can't say I would really advise staring at the back wall - I think I
    gave the audience the impression I was in a stupor. Maybe I was.
    
    In any case, the thing I try to remember in performing is that I'm
    human, and so is everyone in the audience. Try to imagine before going
    on that you are sitting out there with everyone else watching yourself.
    You wouldn't be too hard on yourself, why should they? I think the best
    performers have a knack for relating to the audience on a human level -
    or at least making it seem that way. By the way, I still don't consider
    myself to be a "good performer". I'm a pretty good musician, but
    performing is a whole different skill. It's a good skill to develop,
    but like anything, it takes practice.
    
    - Ram

    A great performer may make it look easy, but playing in front of
    an audience never is. 
    
    I find that at home I can pull off all kinds of bold things, but 
    on stage all bets are off. That's why I like to keep my equipment
    as simple as possible. I don't like to have to think about anything
    but the tune I'm playing/singing. The equipment should take care 
    of itself. It should serve me, instead of me serving it.
    
    I think that's the main reason I have shyed away from MIDI. With
    midi I would have to remember all kinds of patch numbers, and think
    about the equipment all the time in stead of thinking about the
    music.
    
    The Grateful Dead have been one of the biggest box office hits for
    the last several years running. If you have ever been to a concert
    or listened to a Bootleg you know that these guys are constantly
    screwing up the lyrics. The Deadheads in the audience are very 
    aware of this as most of them know the lyrics as well as the band,
    if not better, but usually they just laugh it off and forget it.
    
    Mark

    
    
    
    	Thanks for the kind advice dudes...  Tom: (legend in his own mind!)
    stop, yer killin' me, I'm gonna die laughing right here.... hee hee.
    
    	I just finished my lesson for this week and my teacher worked on
    what I learned on my first time out (well, since I was a teen-ager) and
    it turns out that I learned a lot... especially that I don't have to
    rush things... dang, it seemed like one second the turn around would be
    comin' up then BANG.. I'd miss the downbeat on the one... Well, you can
    imagine my surprise when he showed me that I didn't have to do anything
    (at least from a solo perspective) for a whole measure if I didn't want
    to.. feels uncomfortable now, but this week, I plan on trying to get
    the hang of taking my time... and not feeling "behind" all the time...
    or racing to catch up...  pretty cool... stuff
    
    
    
    Steve

re:12, Freddie King..

Ya, the guy is a great blues guitar player,,,  People can be
real assholes sometimes, but Freddy knows where his bread is buttered,
and could care less.

The best way to handle a hostile crowd is to go along with them...
once they like you, you can do no wrong...

I remember one night our drummer whacked a rimshot by accident, and
(Scary stuff here) a splinter of his stick, shot up into his eye
and stuck there... (OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOWWWWWWWWWWWWEEEEEEEEEEEE)

He literally fell of his stool, and over went half of his kit...  
Mind you this was in the middle of the song.. a song that sort-a-
ended rather upruptly....  Like, no faking it this time,, no way
we're gonna cover this one over..

So up I walk to the mike, made a joke of it, ("And so there you have,
our special rendition of "TUNE NAME HERE" complete with exploding
dummer... )   Got many chuckles... then, we told the crowd
what really happened....  Seemed after that incident,, the cold, judgemental
style of the crowd that opened the night,, just loosened up completely. 

We admitted to being human, Apologized for the interuption in the show, 
and they responded to it...

Oh yea, Ric was ok... he got the piece of wood out, luckily it hit the inside
edge of his eye ball and reduced itself to a minor irratant for a few days.
He was lucky... he made it through the reset of the night just fine.

    Gad, Steve, what a nightmare...

    Sounds like you need to find a different gig to jam at.  I can't
    believe that people would be so RUDE as to get up and walk out on you
    at a jam like that.  What kind of jerks are we dealing with here,
    anyway?  That kind of behavior is appalling!

    I've heard you play, you're not that bad.  I can't believe they
    couldn't sit through one bloody song...
    
    If it makes you feel any better, I think we've all gone through at
    least one gig where there was a mass exodus.  Mine was last summer.  I
    was playing in a techno-pop kind of band and the audience was Jimmy
    Buffet/Dead fans.  A guy playing acoustic guitar singing kind of
    country/folk type songs opened up for us.  It was outdoors and the
    weather was kind of nasty too (it rained in the afternoon and when the
    sun went down and it got unseasonably cold).  AND we didn't get a sound
    check because of the rain...
    
    When we started playing there were about 150 people there, after about
    three songs only about 50,{after about 7 songs about 20, comprimised
    pretty much exclusively of our friends.  It sucked, we'll never play
    another one of those parties.  
    
    What was kind of funny was that we played reasonably well
    too...(despite all that)
    
    Greg

    
    A friend repeated a story his french horn teacher had told him.  His 
    teacher was trying to make a living with his horn during the depression
    (not a good time for french horn players).  He heard of a job with a
    big band.  It was live on the radio coast to coast.  Most french horn
    players were afraid to take the job because it worked like this.  Just
    before the hour you stood on stage while they manually linked up all
    the stations, the announcer said and now from the blah blah hotel ...,
    and the french horn player had to come in cold SOLO on a high note
    until the rest of the band joined in.  Well he took the job.  Most
    interesting was his preparation.  He had a room in a boarding house. 
    He would set his alarm for some random time in the middle of the night
    (and not peak) place his horn in the open case beside his bed.  When
    the alarm went off he would get up pick up the horn and try to hit the
    note.  Sometimes he did some times he didn't (but he couldnt be
    colder).  He said the other roomer never knew what hit them.  %^)
    
    Beside being amusing I think the story has a good lesson.  Now matter
    how small your part be fully prepared know exactly what you want to do.  
    Start several days in advance.  Decide what emotion you want to
    project, the music to do it, and practice walking out on stage, if you
    talk between pieces, plan (write down) what are you going to say that 
    communicates what you had in mind.  You owe people that are listening
    something they shouldn't have to listen to you wing it and you have too
    much on your mind to be smooth.  It takes work to be ready and the work
    will make you more comfortable in the long run.
    
    There is another part to overcoming stage fright I learned in a speech
    class.  One student was literally terrified of presenting.  His voice
    literally shook when he got up to speak in front of other people.  A
    man in the class (trained to sing opera) pointed out a major component
    to this man's fear.  When he rose to speak his breathing had been shallow. 
    When he tried to speak he ran out of air and his voice began to quaver. 
    This was not fear this was mechanics.  You may find that sweating and
    other "symptoms" of fear are present for other reasons like hot lights.  
    If you can recognise these symptoms for what they are then you only have 
    to deal with real problems.  %^)
    
    Good luck
    
     
                                          

    One more piece of advice: Play for your OWN enjoyment! My experience
    has been that in the majority of cases, if you're "on", you feel 
    good aboutit. If you're "off", then you feel bad about it.
    
    Most of the people you play for, either at "informal" (parties)
    or formal (at clubs) gigs, don't give two s***s about you OR
    the music you're playing. So, lighten up on yourself, before 
    playing in front of people becomes too frightening of an experience.
    
    If YOU like what you're doing, enjoy it! Try to ignore the "audience", 
    and you'll find that you can concentrate on your stage presence, the
    music, etc. The next thing you know, the "audience" may be actually
    paying attention to you, and get into it......
    
    Bill

    
    Hey, what a supportive crew here!  Steve, it was really rude of that
    crowd to walk out, *especially* at a jam.  They were losers.  I'm sure 
    that made it a lot tougher on you than it should have been.  Last year 
    I had to play a song at a local Blues Jam at Al's Pumphouse.  The
    kicker is that I had no idea it was going to happen that night.  I walk
    in and there's a table of my buddies with grins on they're faces. 
    Well, they told me matter of factly that I was going to play that
    night.  I responded with a casual, but firm, F*CK YOU!  Then a guy in
    the house band comes up to me and says, "You're playing tonight".  I
    knew I was in deep shit then and started eyeballing the back exit.  
    Anyways, to make this a little longer, I only knew about 3 songs, and
    *no* leads, cuz I was a real beginner.  Steve Dandrea worked it out so
    we'd play Stormy Monday, with him on lead, me on rhythm and the regular
    singer on vocals.  We were gonna go on at the end of the night, so I
    had to wait it out and get more nervous.  After a few brews (ok, 6),
    I finally had enough of being nervous, and told myself that I had been
    in similar fixes before (I used to have to take Karate tests in front
    of large crowds), and decided to HELL with being scared - just do it.
    So, I carefully step onto the stage (w/ beer bottle), cuz I didn't
    want to stumble, and put on somebody else's guitar with a strap so long,
    it was around my knees.  I hitched it up, ignoring Coop who was yelling
    out "Cherry Boy Blair!", and away we went.  I started out around half
    volume in case, well, you know why, and after a few bars, I turned it
    up.  I was doing pretty good and then Steve took off on a lead - all 
    of a sudden, I didn't know where I was and prayed for it to be a short
    solo!  Man, I latched onto the bass player's beat like a drowning swimmer
    and luckily I did ok.  It could have easily turned out *real* bad, but
    even tho' I had a small, but "all guitar player" audience, they were
    supportive, and I think they would have been even if I had crashed.  
    Try to remember that in general, the masses are asses and the only
    thing that should matter is the feedback from your friends and
    instructor.  Just look at the support here in these replies.  I'll bet
    none of us would have walked.  Shit, we would have applauded cuz we knew 
    it was tough.  
    
    -pat

  RE: <<< Note 1880.21 by RAVEN1::BLAIR "I like EVH, EC, & Jimi (SO THERE!)" >>>
                  -< you're meaner and wiser now grasshopper >-

    
   > Hey, what a supportive crew here!
    
    
    	The absolute best, Pat... I agree.. thanks for the great story..
    
    
    Steve (who's headed back this week-end)

    > Steve (who's headed back this week-end)
    
    Now THAT'S the right attitude!  Go for it, Steve.  You already know
    it'll be better then the last time.
    
    Greg

    
    What a bummer, dude!
    
    Next time you play out, let me know!  I'll send some Korean maffia 
    friends out there to make sure there are no d*ckheads like them in 
    the audience!  ;)
    
    What bunch of dildo's!  Like they're guitar gods like, well, never
    mind.  I'll keep that trouble over at H_M.  ;)
    
    Dude!  Keep pluggin'.
    
    I get nervous playing in front of people(suprised, Greg? ;)  )
    but when you look up and see few older people dancing around 
    the pool table(this was not a dance type bar), it makes it all worth
    it!!!
    
    J-Dot

    Steve,
    
    Only one thing I can think of that hasn't already been said:
    
    	You are ALWAYS your own worst critic.
    
    I know that perhaps you'll never believe that, or think I'm just saying
    it, but honest dude, I'm sure that NO ONE in the audience thought it
    was as bad as you did.
    
    The sad thing is that perhaps the only way you'll come to really
    believe that is the way I did: experience.
    
    Everyone in my current band is more or less an "old pro".  We know
    when we're good, we know when we're awful *AND*... we know when we 
    were weren't so good, but good enough to fool others.
    
    Anyway, we auditioned for a gig a few weeks ago, and we were TRULY
    pathetic.  Awful!!!!   The worst we've ever played by a factor of two.
    
    when the people we were auditioning for left, we said to ourselves
    "OK, let's not get down on this - it was a bad night - there'll be
    other gigs."
    
    Well... we got word a week later that we got the job!!!!
    
    Having that experience behind me, I think I now have supreme confidence
    on stage.  If we can get away with playing shitty like that, we can
    do anything.
    
    Keep at it - the next time will seem infinitely easier than the first
    time, and it will keep getting easier.
    
    	db

    Wise words db !
    
    I was listening to the tapes we made at the gig this past weekend, and
    my vocals sounded terrrible (never said I could sing ...).  But,
    several people told me and my wife that I had a good voice and should
    sing more, blah, blah, blah.  John Q Customer usually isn't as hard to
    please as you or other musicians.  Roll with it .... 8^)
    
    Scary (who's gonna drag Pat Blair on stage this weekend, if he shows up!)

    
    re: scary
    
    Thanks for the warning!

    re: .26
    
    I recorded a tune with my (now "ex") girlfriend (she sings).  She
    really didn't like the take we did, but I loved it.  She made me
    agree to re-record it but we broke up before that happened.
    
    Having broken up, I didn't feel any compulsion to NOT use her vocal
    track (the one she didn't like).
    
    *EVERYONE* I have played that tune for is blown away by the vocals!
    
    Now... it DOES have some minor technical problems which I notice, and
    which I guess other musicians might notice, but the vast majority
    of people probably can't tell a mistake from something that was
    intentional (do you think of any of those bum notes on Led Zep I or II
    as "mistakes"???  Not Moi!)
    
    Anyway it's a good example of how you're your own worst critic. 
    What my ex thought was poor (at times to the point of embarressment),
    most other people thought was "superlative".
    
    	db

    It is called the art of self control. It requires a great deal of
    patience, the ability to put off conclusions, to observe but not have
    to react. You have spent a great deal of time learning how to control
    your fingers, you also have to spend a great deal of time learning how
    to control your mind. You have to train your mind to make it do what
    you want it to.
    
    The other half is practicing to the point where you can play
    unconsciously. That way, if your mind wanders your fingers still know
    what to do.
    
    Nothing's foolproof, however, and you'll make mistakes. Get over them.
    Nothing goes according to plan.
    
    Improvisation is both a curse and a blessing. It a blessing because you
    don't have to remember your part. It's a curse because you must pay
    attention. You will eventually master both.
    
    ( a word of warning: some may insist that the way to get over stage
    fright is to not care about the audience. Big mistake. )
    
    							John.

Boy this note kind of hits home.  I've been playing in bands on all kinds of 
stages for the last 12 years or so - though not as much as I'd like recently.
It has taken me until about a year ago to learn NOT to put presure on myself.

About a year and a half ago I took a temporary gig playing bass with an 
all-original band.  I did it mostly because I hadn't been playing with 
other musicians enough and I just wanted to get together with other musicians
and relate..  Anyway, a few club gigs popped up.  So off we go to perform.
The other members were noticably nervous and worried, but not me.  I was more
calm than I had ever been.  It was just so much fun!  Even when I was playing
out often, I always got a little nervous; but for some reason I was not the 
least bit nervous for these gigs.

Anyway, I thought quite a bit about it afterwords.  It all came down to a 
couple of thoughts I had that REALLY took the pressure off:

	1. I'm not a bass player, I'm a guitar player so if my bass playing
           doesn't flip everybody out, it's not my fault - I'm just sittin' 
           in temporary like, see....

	2. This is not *my* band.  So if we absolutely suck, it's still not
           my band. :)

It's a hard thing to explain.  It's not that I didn't care how it all came 
out, but I didn't care how it all came out.  Thing is, I'm sure I sounded 
much better (even with my nonchalant attitude) than I would have if I was
overly concerned about how I was going to sound. Of course, you want to sound
good and all that, but geez, don't take yourself too seriously.  Because of my 
personality type, this is a hard lesson for me to learn, but after experiencing
it first hand, I think I can translate it to my own instrument and my own
band (assuming I form another one).


steve

    Let me take some exception to -.1:
    
    To me, to get that energy out means you gotta want the audience. For
    me, I'd rather play a great set than to play a set without making any
    mistakes, if you know what I mean. Most of the mistakes you make fly
    over the audience's head. What they remember is the performance.
    
    						John.

re: -.1

Point was that too much nervous energy is bad in terms of performance as well
as "making mistakes".  I used to put way too much presure on myself and that
negatively affected my performance.  I just never realized where the presure
was comming from (me! -- nobody else) until fairly recently when it was gone 
and I wondered why.  I was still *up* for performing, but in a much more
positive way.

steve

    I don't have stage fright at all with one xception. When it comes time
    for me to take a solo, I get this damned death grip on the neck of the
    guitar. My fingers seem to weigh about 10 lbs, and my timing goes to
    shit. Now I'm no Yngwie but I got a couple of nice enough moves. I'll be
    damned if I can do them when we play out, unless its between songs
    while say the other guitar player is tuning, and the volume is low.
    Now heres the other part. We even do some acoustic numbers that I don't
    know at all, I jsut kind of stand there, fake it and try to look good.
    That doesn't bother me at all. But I always feel that my best solos are
    when nobody is listening.
    
    "sakman"

    The only thing that ever wigged me out about playing out was the
    possibility of my equipment going south and/or hitting the stage and
    realizing you're WAY out of tune!
    
    Buck, who pulled over a Marshall stack on his first big gig...BAM!

    
    re: Sakman
    
    Yeah, I had (have) that problem too, but I'm working on developing my
    "don't care" attitude (with a little help from my friends).
    
    re: Buck
    
    That's wild.  One of my first gigs I was really worried about pulling
    my rack off this little wimpy keyboard stand it was on!  I didn't end
    up actually pulling it over, but I could only move about 6 feet from
    the thing and it had me really antsy the whole night.
    
    Now I run my cord into a stomp box or wah or something before it goes
    up there.  Gives me more range on the cords and keeps me from pulling
    anything important over.
    
    (Geez, you pulled over a Marshall stack???  Wow...)
    
    Greg
                            

Plugging into stomp boxes works... until someone trips over your
cord and yanks it out of the plug just as you rear back for
a wicked solo...Right Scary ?  ;)

jc

    Before you get on, you might try a hand excersizer. Generally, a little
    warm up helps. Loosen up and relax, no one can play with two clubfists.
    
    						John.

    re: Coop
    
    It beats them tripping over your cord and pulling your Marshall stack
    over...

    I've just about solved that problem - I plug into the back of my GP-8
    and tape my cord to the back of my cab, leaving about 4' of slack. 
    That way if someone *accidently* gets tangled up in my cord, I can rope
    'em like a steer.  8^)
    
    Wireless *is* the way to go, but most of the places I play are so small
    (Yo Coop, is the stage at Shooter's small or what ?) I can't justify
    the buckage for one.  But I'm sure one day I'll get one ....
    
    Scary (in search of more toys ... always ...)

The stage at Shooters is so small you have to stand within 6 inches of
your rig.  Since I have a marshall type cab, I have to turn up so loud 
to hear it, that my levis are in tatters from mid-thigh down. ;)

Yup, it's small.

jc 

    re:.33 Sakman.
    
    	Sometimes the problem is in relying too much on improvisation 
    during a performance.  Try working out a solo for a tune that you
    can execute in your sleep - then when the performance rolls around
    you've got your mind and fingers trained to do the right thing and
    you'll start getting more comfortable.
    
    

As far as improvising is concerned. If you feel uncomfortable playing a
solo, consider cutting it out entirely, or simplifying it (by shortening it).

I do this alot (as there are many instances where I feel that my style is
lacking depth & solos tend to sound too much alike). You can easily fall into
your favorite patterns & never leave them. Sometimes it works to just avoid
the problem area and go on to what works. I solo less than I used to & I think
my solos stand out more because of it.

								Jens

    Eddie the Van H. does basicly the same solo all the time.
    So for your solo practice the basic thing until it's like a framework
    you can play around, like the frame of a georgeous girl you can wrap
    up , so to speak.

    
    
    
    	Jeeze, I did it again this Sunday, at the local Blues Jam Joint and
    it was a much improved experience... My teacher invited me up and we
    jammed with a guest singer (kind of a little anthony type vocalist)...
    the first song we did was "Stormy Monday Blues"... (somebody here,
    helped me with the chords to that one, but I forget who.. thanks
    anyway, bro) and I had a chance to do stuff slooooooow and build up
    some confidence... It felt great.. I was playing with attitude and
    loving it.. Went on to "Little Bit"... a song I love and knew the
    rhythm to and went right through it... Nobody left... an hour later we
    quit and I started to sit down.. but drunk guys were coming up to me
    telling me how much like BB I sounded (keep talkin' drunk dudes..)
    
    	Real ego trip, I loved it... wonder what it'll be like next
    Sunday..
    
    [;^( Stevie Squarehead Johnson..   But I looo oooo ove my Lucy...

    See Steve, it was worth it the next time huh?  Hanging in there paid
    off!
    
    Congrats!
    Greg

    Aren't drunks great for your ego.  The first time I played and sang
    live when I came off stage this guy walked up and told me "hey man you
    have a really grouse voice"  Seems to me there should be a law that 
    all "punters" should have at least 8 beers aboard when seeing a band.
    
    
    P.K.
    

    Grevemeister, I now know first hand what you went through.  I haven't
    played in front of (ulp) *people* for nearly twenty years (if you don't
    count playing for my fellow techs and communicators during my Navy
    days), but jumped into the fire today.  I didn't puke, but it sure
    would have been nice to be able to turn that shaking into an awesome
    vibrato. 8^)
    
    For all you noters "from away" (as we say in Maine), Steve Greve put
    together a band for our United Way day, consisting of dbii, Steve, me,
    and several other local musicians (and DECcies) and in the space of six
    rehearsals, we had a six-song set to do toclose the variety show. 
    Playing rhythm backing up dbii was no sweat; unfortunately for me it
    was *AFTER* my "Kansas City" solo.
    
    	a) I was wearing nonprescription sunglasses and my uncorrected
    	   eyesight is 20/200 (yes 200) so I couldn't see the neck well
    	   in the somewhat dim light on stage
    
    	b) I had tried all day to get the right attitude and forget about
    	   the 600 people out there -- people I work with or around every
    	   day -- and had praticed that solo half the morning and part of
    	   the afternoon as well (in my cube).
    
    	c) the attitude evaporated about three notes into my solo; I spent
    	   most of the two verses worth of solo trying to cover my muffs
    
    	d) I tried turning my back to the audience when playing, which
    	   helped only marginally, only to discover after the gig that
    	   I had mistakenly worn my Maine designer jeans -- you know the
    	   ones with three inches of BVDs hanging out the top?
    
    I thought I choked big time and I'm right. I don't care what all my
    supportive friends and coworkers said  &8^).  But, I didn't drop dead,
    I felt great after playing, and I'm ready to do it again in hopes I'll
    stop shaking and play as well as I know can.  Came home and played the
    solo flawlessly (well, flawlessly for *ME* anyway) -- don't it just
    figure?
    
    --Chuck

    >	   day -- and had praticed that solo half the morning and part of
    >	   the afternoon as well (in my cube).
    
    > stop shaking and play as well as I know can.  Came home and played the
    > solo flawlessly (well, flawlessly for *ME* anyway) -- don't it just
    > figure?
    
    Yo Chuck, you actually play the same solo everytime?  
    
    Woah...  8^)
    
    >	d) I tried turning my back to the audience when playing, which
    >	   helped only marginally, only to discover after the gig that
    >	   I had mistakenly worn my Maine designer jeans -- you know the
    >	   ones with three inches of BVDs hanging out the top?
    
    Not to laugh at ya or anything, but...
    
    HAHAHAHAHAHA!  8^)  
    
    That's hilarious!  If anyone else were here this time of night, I'd be
    getting some pretty funny looks right now!
    
    Hang in there dude, at least they didn't walk out on ya.  (YukYuk)
    
                                   (...just raggin ya there Steve!  8^)
    
    Greg

    
    It's not for the flawless performance.
    It's not for the soulful performance.
    We're all just adrenalin junkies!
    8*)
    
    J.

    > Yo Chuck, you actually play the same solo everytime?  
    >
    >Woah...  8^)

    Good gawd, no.  I was just trying to find phrases that fit; kinda like
    Lego blocks -- the blocks are always the same, but you never build
    exactly the same thing twice.

    >Not to laugh at ya or anything, but...
    >    
    >HAHAHAHAHAHA!  8^)  
    > 
    >That's hilarious!  If anyone else were here this time of night, I'd be
    >getting some pretty funny looks right now!
    >

    I can't wait to see the video tape...

    >Hang in there dude, at least they didn't walk out on ya.  (YukYuk)
    >
    >                               (...just raggin ya there Steve!  8^)
    >

    They *couldn't* walk out -- it was another ASO mandatory fun day. "You
    vill enchoy yourselves und you vill like it; othervise, we haf vays of
    restructuring you." (said in stereotypical Hollywood German accent --
    think Colonel Klink)

    J., I OD'd on adrenaline yesterday; I just gotta learn to handle the
    rush. &8^)
    

>    They *couldn't* walk out -- it was another ASO mandatory fun day.
    
    I love a captive audience!  ;^)
    
    Greg

    
    
    
    
    	Chuckie, did good, guys...  Looks like we're gonna have to get the
    Ramsey unit down to the local Blues Jam (where I did my initial, two
    hand vibrato, hee hee)...  See you bout' qwata ta nine theya hoss!!

    Yeah, I managed not to wet myself in front of the crew at work.  Maybe
    I can make up for that at the Wharf. &8^)
    
    Everybody was so interested in why I didn't turn around that they
    missed all the muffed notes in my alleged solo.  Wonder if anybody
    (besides db) picked up the fact that I was completely surprised by
    being given a third verse of solo time after stumbling through the
    first two -- I sure didn't expect that extra verse.  I've promised
    everyone at work that next time I'll face the audience.  I'll wear
    PRESCRIPTION shades next time too.
    
    At least I got the ending right.  It sure got easier when db took
    over the solo spot.
    
    So when are we gonna do this again? &8^)
    
    --Chuck

    
    >So when are we gonna do this again?  &8^)
    
    I knew it!  Yer hooked!  8*)
    
    J.

    Speaking of "playing out and puking", Pat Blair's gonna get a chance in
    front of a real live crowd on the 21st ... you folks wish him well !
    
    And Pat ... YES, I'm gonna make ya play a lead or two !
    
    Scary (who thinks Pat's holdin' out !)

    
    Break a leg, Pat!!!!!!
    
    J.

    
    
    Chuck,
    
        That 3rd solo was suppose to be a bass solo for Vinnie,but,I
    forgot,He wasnt doing any! You never know what to expect. Hey,everyone
    was having a great time,thats where its at! Keep at it,the more you do
    it the more comfortable you'll be. 
    
    Mike
    

    
    
    
    	Yo, Pat.. go get em' big guy... This special wish comes from me
    what trembles in me boots when I play in front of anyone except my cat
    (ahem, cat=future strings)...
    
    	Howzat dude's Tele workin???
    
    
    Steve

    I kinda sprung this on him ... he doesn't *have* to play, it's gonna be
    a pretty laid back gig (more like a drunken jam ...).
    
    Guess I better not tell him about the guy doing the video huh ?
    
    Yo Pat, there's gonna be a stripper there ... so ya gonna show or not ?
    
    Scary .... 8^)

    
    What would I do without my friends.  We'll see how drunk out it gets.
    Do I really gotta do a solo - geez.  
    
    

    Hey, it'll be like jamming in the living room in your BVD's .... trust
    me ....   8^)
    
    Scary (who figures folks will end up in their BVD's anyway)
    
    ps - it's a pre-Halloween costume party, if you dare.

    
    
    
    	Hey, Pat... find the root note of the key you're soloing in.  Find
    it on the b string, mute every other string and wail on it!!!!  really
    gets their attention after ohhhhh... 48 bars give or take 12!!   Hee
    hee.. easy for me to be brave now, huh???
    
    	Really though, my teacher uses this smashing technique to open some
    of his solos and I love it, it's gritty and hard and is a great time
    for one to get their head together about what kind of story they really
    want to tell.

    
    
    
    
    	Hey, I just had one of the best playing out nights that I've ever
    had.. really got my phrasing out the way I wanted it and it felt like I
    had a lot more time to put my stuff together than I usually do...
    
    
    	My question to pro players is: Is there anyway that you folks
    "prepare" for a gig that maximizes the probability that you'll have a
    good playing experience.
    
    	Last week people were telling me that they enjoyed my playing and I
    felt like they were just being nice and I wasn't satisfied with my
    playing... THIS week I heard the compliments again, but in the context
    of me being pleased with my playing as well... great feeling, I'm
    starting to recall what it felt like when I was a pup.
    
    
    	Lastly, in the "Why I love this conference" category.  People who
    I've never seen (and may never) are taking time to write me a note
    saying they liked my playing or, that it showed promise.. jeeze, I
    can't tell you how much that means to me... thanks for the support,
    fellers!!
    
    Regards,
    Greee Veee King
    DECMail Expert

                       Coops Recipe For Consistancy
                       (Or how to crank the blooz)
    
    To play da blooz mon, yigotta be like, totally relaxed.
    Try two shots of Cuervo Gold with a 16oz Bud chaser.
    
    ;)
    
    Seriously, just don't over do it, cuz thenyou think your wailin'
    ...but it's all in your mind...
    
    jc (I'm relaxed man...)
    

    I'm light years from being professional, but here's my recipe ...
    
    Play according to your mood .... if I'm down about something I tend to
    color lead passages differently.  My band does mostly covers, so a lot
    of my leads are pretty much like the cover - but on originals and blues
    tunes, I just roll with it.  
    
    Also, before a gig I usually like a little time by myself - maybe a
    walk around the club or something.  Just a few minutes to get my
    thoughts in order, and then go bust 'em !    8^)
    
    Scary (having his best playing years right now !)

    
    
    
    RE: Scary (having his best playing years right now !)
    
    	Yeah, I would have to say the same thing scarymon.  As an old dude
    (speaking only for myself), I'm spending a hell of a lot more time with
    my musical peers as opposed to spending time with just "the band".
    
    	I can't describe (and probably don't have to) how great it feels to
    get compliments from players that I admire.
    
    
    
    Greee Veee  (life is good right now, don't rock the boat, Stevie)

    Yeah, the compliments I cherish most are those from my peers, not usual
    bar customers.  A lot of folks here at GSO have seen me battle trying
    to play metal, and compromise to play country.  Now, at last I've found
    my niche, and it definitely shows ....
    
    Scary (who's an old fart too ...)

    I need help with this one, people, bear with me..... 

    My first real 'gig' --- since I played La Bamba on a nylon-string
    guitar (no kidding!) for my 7th Grade assembly in 1964 --- is coming
    up January 30th. 

    The occasion is my son's Bar Mitzvah reception on Saturday night. This
    is not a stereotypical Gross-national-product-of-Peru-squared big
    budget production, it's just cocktails, dinner, and 3 sets from the
    band.  Right now there are 82 people coming, mostly co-workers from
    Digital and my wife's employer, some friends, and a small group of my
    son's friends --- mostly my age group (35-45, 'yuppies').

    About the band:  this is a 5-pc folk-rock originals band, also around
    my age, who _also_ do covers of things like All Along The Watchtower,
    Blood & Roses (Smithereens), and some Celtic acoustic stuff.  The
    guitarist, Andy  Willey, writes most of the material, his brother plays
    electrified mandolin and violin; there is also a bassist, a drummer,
    and a woman who plays synth and some stringed instruments (bouzouki,
    guitar, mandolin).  The guitarist does most of the singing, with
    backing from his brother and the synth player.  

    They take their name from the family of the brothers: "The Willeys". 
    They have 2 records out; 1st on cassette, the 2nd is on CD also.
    I learned to play all of their material from the recordings. 

    Whenever they play locally, our family goes to see them.  We all love
    their music.  I booked them last summer, and my family wouldn't
    believe me until we stopped off to pick up the contract. 


    Anyway, I'm in the restaurant bar where they were playing about a month
    ago, and the drummer came over to shoot the breeze before the first
    set.  I had gone there to ask him if he thought it possible for me to
    sit in for a couple of numbers at the private party on the 30th, and
    somehow he read my mind.  He called Rick Willey over and they agreed
    that it would be fun.  At this point, I am supposed to join them for
    practice this Thursday night (and maybe Sunday) to work out the set
    lists, etc., and to try out some songs with them, sharing rhythm and
    lead with Andy Willey. 

    I guess you could say I am psyched.  :7)

    Any advice for a first-time one-shot deal like this? 
    \Gary

    re: previous

    The Willeys are scheduled to play 3 sets, he first one being a short
    acoustic set that I will gracefully stay out of (I need an amp to hide
    my mistakes behind)  ;7)  
    I will sit in during the 2 electric sets, especially the latter one
    that will likely contain more jamming. 

    Here's some advice that my guitar teacher gave me so far:

    (1)  Don't try to upstage anyone either in volume or in 'chops'.  
         Try to fit in with the sound of the band.  

    (2)  Use your own gear, too (in this case that is not an issue). 

    (3)  When soloing, remember that the rest of the band is still playing,
    too, so you can allow for some air (as I believe Mike Heiser said,
    rests are notes, too!).  We are focusing now on sustained notes, broken
    phrases, etc., rather than just filling the air with the minor
    pentatonic scale. 

    (4)  Relax and have fun.

    There has to be a bazillion musician-years of expertise out there ---
    I could use some. 
    \Gary

>    (3)  When soloing, remember that the rest of the band is still playing,
>    too, so you can allow for some air (as I believe Mike Heiser said,
>    rests are notes, too!).  We are focusing now on sustained notes, broken
>   phrases, etc., rather than just filling the air with the minor
>    pentatonic scale. 
    
    (3a) Don't attempt any of Mikey's licks, they're too scary.
    

    (3b) When comping with the rhythm section, try to make the three or
    four of you play as a unit.  In many bands, the bassist and drummer
    (and keyboardist) have a good rhythm thing going...join it by locking
    your playing to the pulse set up by the section.  Soloing's a blast,
    but rhythm playing separates the men from the boys, IMVHO.
    
    The last item about having fun and relaxing is key.
    
    Lastly, you might try settting up your rig at home to simulate how
    it'll be on stage:  is your guitar cord long enough when your amp is
    upstage and you're downstage?  Do you need AC out by your feet to
    power stomp boxes?
    
    Have a great time!

    RE: advice
    
    Relax, have fun, and appreciate the opportunity!  Playing out live is
    something that many people just dream of.  I've been fortunate to have
    had the opportunities to play and I still try to create opportunities
    to play via family jams and local scene jams.  Watch out, it's
    addicting!!
    
    8^)

    And just remember, most of the audience knows a lot less about music
    than you do, so they're not as critical as you might think.  Especially
    if you're sort of the founder of the feast.
    
    Congrats on the gig, and have a great time, 'cuz that's why you're
    doing it, right?
    
    Dave

    One suggestion is to make an effort to make eye contact with the other
    musicians while you're playing. I often see inexperienced performers
    totally buried in themselves and their instruments. I have to make an
    effort myself not to do this, because it doesn't look good to the
    audience, and it tends to actually make you more self-conscious.
    Ideally, it's good to make some eye contact with the audience, looking
    right at specific people (especially if you know there's some friends
    in the crowd). But if you're too nervous to do this, at least go for
    the other band members. They'll be pulling for you, and probably having
    fun too. It's a lot easier to relax, come out of yourself, and get into
    the music if you open up to what the other musicians are doing.
    
    My second suggestion is to enjoy it no matter what! I never meet up to
    my own expectations when I perform. The worst thing you can do is kick
    yourself afterward. Enjoy the moment, and move on to a better one. And
    expect it to be all too short - I find that the clock cranks about 10
    times faster than normal when I'm on stage.
    
    - Ram

    RE -1
    	Yeah the clock can go 10 times faster,but on the odd occasion it
    also seems to be going ten times slower...8^).
    
    	I would say the biggest rule to follow is...don't try to play too
    fast (something I should remind myself of regularly) and rule number 2
    is have a good time and don't get hung up on any mistakes or problems
    that may occur.
    P.K.
    Ps  at sometime during the night stand back and think to your self
    "boy I really am having a good time and should remember this moment"
    that way you can recognise the goodness of the occasion later.

    Above all else, remember that this is your son's party.....don't
    upstage him. 
    Grins
    Pc
    

    I was thinking about this situation some more, and it occurred to me
    that it's probably a perfect no-lose situation for you.  As long as you
    don't bill yourself as God's gift to the guitar, or try to upstage the
    band when you play, most of the audience - whom you presumably know -
    will think, "Cool, Gary's playing with the band.  And listen, he's not
    bad, he can actually play!"  So unless you're really terrible, which I
    doubt, they'll think it's great fun even if you're mediocre.  And if
    you're any good at all, well, you might get another gig.
    
    Just let us know how it goes.
    
    Dave

    
    Having (at the age of 42) only got to play regularly with a band in the
    last two years I have learnt soooooooo much! The most significant piece
    of advice I would give is:
    
    	"Ability drops by 50% when you're doing it for real"
    
    Namely, if you work away at some complicated solo or rhythmic style at
    home and it sounds good don't assume that you'll be able to reproduce
    it on a stage in front of 100 people. Sometimes it just doesn't happen.
    
    Stick to basic stuff that is well within your ability.
    
    Richard
    
    PS Reminds me of my air force flying instructor years ago who reckoned
    your IQ drops by 50% once the wheels leave the deck. That's why they
    look for supermen to start with (So that their IQ is something like
    normal when they get in the air!).

My ability usually increases, provided people show up at the gig! I tend to
concentrate much better live and focus more on what we're doing (don't tell
my music-boss this!). My best additions to songs have come from shows.

Guess I'm backwards...

Droid

    Re: .80, .81
    
    I agree with both.  The complicated things I practiced at home I
    usually manage to screw up but I tend to play better in general live,
    more energy plus I tend to stretch myself more.  
    
    One thing that is often different when playing live is you're standing
    up, but you sit when practicing...makes a big difference!  Notice that
    King Crimson leader Robert Fripp always sits when performing, he never
    saw any reason why he should stand up!
    
    Actually, I play my best at gigs like weddings where the volume level
    is super low and we're not busy doing rock-star BS like jumping around,
    trying to act macho to impress inebriated women in the front and using
    mike stands for bottleneck slides  8^)  8^)    Forces you to create
    energy in the music the hard way rather than stomping on the old Fuzz
    Face  8^)  8^)
    
    							Brian
    
    P.S. Hey Droid, getting any better turnouts up at Geno's?

Haven't been up there since the 2nd job actually. We've done really well at
Bowlers in Worcester, been paying the rent and the studio! Hopefully the new
disc will give us a better shot at bustin' in to Boston.

By now, I expect Geno's to have Music Man guitar cabs for mains on *both*
sides  (8^o  Oops, did I say that ?!  They are really nice folks though!

Droid

Ah Geno's...I was  there in early December...not what I'd call a great gig as
we made (splitting the door with the warmup) a total of $8 each in two nights.

and no they don't have the 2nd guitar cab yet...

dbii

    re: ability going down when in front of people
    
    As Brian said, this is both true and false for me.  What it turns out
    to be is that different facets of my playing are affected in different
    ways.  
    
    My energy level is usually way up, as is my concentration on the songs,
    and my rhythm playing.  So I generally make less mistakes in things
    like song structures and hitting the right chords when playing in front
    of people then I might at rehearsals, and my rhythm's a bit tighter.
    
    On the other hand, my lead playing suffers, both in terms of
    improvisational ability and in terms of general skill.  I remember the
    last "gig" I played, the fingers of my left hand got really stiff
    feeling and I basically couldn't play anything real fast or real
    complex.  The stuff I had down pat and felt really comfortable playing
    went by without any trouble, but most of the solos that involved
    anything where my playing on it was on the edge in rehearsal, I blew. 
    If I improvise solos, they're almost never as good as the ones in
    rehearsal.
    
    Greg
              

    Oh, I should clarify in saying that I don't play really fast
    or complex ?!  ;^)
    
    Droid

    I really think the only piece of advise worth concentrating on is
    having fun.
    
    This is something I've learned the hard way.  I used to be very
    critical of bands that hammed it up on stage.  I always looked to
    bands like the Dregs, Yes, and ELP that never jumped around and got
    people off solely with their music.  I thought that was somehow more
    pure than the standard unnatural posing and stuff.
    
    What I've learned is that I'm not Steve Morse, Keith Emerson, Rick
    Wakeman nor Steve Howe, and the people listening to my band don't
    even appreciate those people.
    
    What I've found works the best, both for the crowd AND THE MUSIC is
    to have fun.  I don't pose, and I still feel like throwing up on
    people who do all those cliche's frontman stuff ("ARE YOU READY TO
    PARTY!").  But I'm anything BUT inhibited.  If I feel like jumping
    around I do.  If the moods right, I'll even take my guitar out
    into the audience, or I'll play my keyboard from the other side,
    or whatever.
    
    The stuff I do comes across very clearly as something out of the
    ordinary and not choreographed or shit like that.  Or stated more
    concisely, it's very clear that I'm not just going thru the motions.
    
    And oddly enough, our band sounds the hottest when we've got the
    crowd having fun "with us".
    
    So the bottom line is, relax, be loose, and have fun.  Fun spreads
    faster thru an audience than blazing chops, unnatural posing, and such.

    Thanks for all of the input so far..... 

    I went to a practice session with the band soon after the first
    posting, in the drummer's basement.  The bass player is from Indiana
    and doesn't make the weeknight sessions, so it was just the guitarist/
    singer, the mandolin/ violinist, the synth/bouzouki player, and the
    drummer (and me). 

    You know how everyone complains about not being able to hear
    themselves?  Now I finally know what they mean!  What a pain in the
    ass; one time I started a solo and just stopped after a few bars 'til
    we adjusted the levels, but these people are super to play with and
    were very encouraging. 

    I didn't feel like I had a problem keeping up, remembering what was
    said about rhythm playing and pulsing with the rhythm section (in this
    case, only the drummer), and backing the lead guitarist.  I was able to
    concentrate on what I was doing, and still be aware of what most
    everyone else was doing (what I could hear, anyway). 

    Just practicing was not as much of a high as I thought it would be; I
    think playing live will be different.  The only times I felt pressure
    was when I was trying to come up with interesting solos, because this
    band doesn't seem to do extended solos, they're real short, and I felt
    like I was going over time when they cued me..... with 3 potential lead
    players up front, plus vocals, I think they keep it pretty tight. 

    Anyway, I've got one more practice next Thursday night, and then the
    date on the 30th.  I'll keep you posted, and thanks again, 
    \Gary

    Well, on the Thursday night before the date, I attended a second
    practice session with the guitarist, the mandolin/fiddler, the
    keyboarder, and the drummer.  Everyone sings but the drummer and I; the
    bass player only attends weekend practices since he lives in Indiana. 

    The guitarist/songwriter/lead-singer/band-leader, Andy Willey, gave me
    some more advice about holding back on heavy (loud) rhythm while the
    singer is singing...

    I requested that we allow for longer solos, especially during the third
    set.  He agreed, but in the meantime, I adjusted my style for short
    solos (and that's what I ended up doing for real).

    I requested that they start at a lower volume and come up so we could
    all hear each other, and they did that.  In the course of doing that,
    the keyboarder started realizing that my chord changes on 2 songs were
    slightly off, but this wasn't detected during the first practice
    session.  Since I had learned their material off the CD, I had to go
    back and relearn some of the changes. 

    They have a gig at the bar of a local restaurant Friday night because
    their agent double-booked them for the weekend, but they are still
    honoring my Saturday night private party. 

    Now pack it all up - amp, guitar, pedals, and all - and don't touch it
    again until the soundcheck Saturday night.  Practice on the acoustic in
    the meantime. 

    \Gary

    Sat in with my sister's band last Friday.  I was impressed!  She geta
    alot of that "Gee, I never saw a woman drummer" stuff, but they're
    pretty darn tight and do a great variety.  I got to play all night; me
    and their full time axe man got some good grooves going, and my
    bro-in-law is a killer bassman.  This and blooz jams is the way to go,
    no practice, no politics, no hassles, no packing, un packing, just sho
    up and play!  (no money either, but I'm in it for the fun)  It's kinda
    like being a grandparent, ya get to play with the babies, spoil 'em
    rotten, and then let the parents do all the work!
    
    No, I'm not  a grand-bulldawg yet!
    
    Steve  8^)

    Well, I am no longer a virgin, and since my brother threw out a dollar
    at the end, I guess I'm a "pro" now, too! 

    We did the soundcheck prior to guests arriving at 5:30 for the
    reception, and, man, did it seem loud in the empty hall!  
    Well, too late to turn back now..... 

    What will the guests think of the band and their music?  How will the
    first set --- a light set before I sit in --- go?  What about when I
    walk on?  Will I handle it? 

    After dinner, the Willey's light into their second set.  Some people
    listen and applaud but no one dances, so my sister-in-law and get up
    during the 3rd number.  A few others join us.  After the 3rd or tune, I
    ask them, "Is it time?", and they say, "It's time." 

    My plan to sit in was evidently no secret, as some of the guests asked
    when I was going to sit in, but for most it was a surprise.  Someone
    shouts, "IT'S ELVIS!!!"  I switch the Peavey Classic out of standby,
    nod to the drummer, and away we go.....

    We had decided to place the band at ballroom level and not on the stage
    to keep the levels down (no amps at ear level) and to make it more
    'personable'.  My recollection is that people immediately started to
    dance, but a video shows people dancing only after another song went
    by.  In any case, the act of having "one of their own" up there with
    the band electrified the party, and people started dancing and/or
    watching, including people I never thought would do either. 

    The band seemed to feel the energy, and I seemed to be holding my own,
    so we soon got back to the business of making music.  I took leads
    when asked to do so, gave them back, and don't remember any screwups
    (except a frustrating problem knowing which channel I was in, that is,
    stepping out on leads and accidentally staying in the clean channel -
    no light - etc.). 

    We finished out the second set (6 more tunes), stopped for 1/2 hour
    dessert break, and lit into Mayall's "Sensitive Kind" to open the 3rd
    set before too many people decided to call it a night (people have a
    LOW tolerance for dead time these days). 

    Although the 3rd set was also supposed to be another walk-on, they
    seemed to expect me to start the set with them, which I was only too
    happy to do.  We worked our way up to a 10-minute rockin' "All Along
    The Watchtower" in Am and then kept going.  Dancing was furious and
    well-attended.  We finished with "I Shall Be Released", and thanked
    everyone and called it a night at about 10:30. 

    				*******************
    Much of what I recall is from the 8mm home video camera I had set up on 
    a tripod across the dance floor.  I felt calm, relaxed, and in control,
    and it came out on film, which I only mention because my normal mode
    is that of an adult going through Ritalin withdrawal  ;7) .  I took my
    time going into solos, and I made eye contact with anyone whose eyes
    were open.

    I guess every gig is different, but if they are anything like that
    night, I don't want to wait another 40 years to try that again.  THAT
    WAS FUN!  Thanks for all the help!
    \Gary

    Sounds like it went great, Gary!  Congrats!  Glad to hear that you
    enjoyed yourself.
    
    Greg

    Watch out man, you've been bitten by the bug!  There's nothing like
    that on-stage high; you may find yourself looking for another "fix"
    real soon.  Glad it worked out so well.
    
    /rick

    >Watch out man, you've been bitten by the bug!  There's nothing like
    >that on-stage high
    
    I did find something similar once when eating at a Jack-in-the-Box...
    
    						Al K. Selcer

    
    
    
        Rost mon,
    
        You still amaze me.  
    
        
    
        Rick.