Guitar player playing first huge bass gig

[Coach]

My school is hosting it's night of jazz tonight. There is an expectance of 1,000 people at the event. This is the first real big gig I've had on bass and I'm pretty nervous.

I'm playing in a combo group and then a symphonic group later in the evening. 7 songs total.

Wish me luck. :BEER

[Brian Scherzer]

Good luck! The good news is that an off-note will be more difficult to detect on bass when compared to guitar, so just relax and you'll be surprised at how quickly the nervous feeling goes away......probably within a couple of minutes of beginning the first tune!

[Thor]

Break a leg - I'm sure you will do great.

Remember - it's never a wrong note - just a start to a chromatic passing phrase!
Brian is dead on - the band may hear an off-note - 99% of the audience won't. Good rhythm and tone will rule the day!

Cheers,

Edward

[Coach]

I knew the parts - but I panicked.

I've never been one to have stage freight but tonight I gave my worst performance - and to a packed auditorium no less.

This wasn't a couple missed notes. This was getting mumble fingers and not being able to walk like I have been. I lost my focus. As I was playing I knew I was messing up but I felt a passenger to whatever it was that was driving me.

Unfortunately, whatever it was couldn't see the road ahead and I crashed hard.

To boot it was recorded and will be distributed. People said they couldn't hear me - lets hope the mics didn't.

In contrast, the top band ripped the place apart. Many of these kids are off to school next year at music conservatories around the nation. My school has a disproportionate amount of virtuoso players.

I've never been more disappointed, embarrassed and ashamed of myself as I am right now. I never want to play a note again in my life and I sure as heck don't want to go to school tomorrow.

[Thor]

Hang in there Coach!

We have all had rough performances (I think I have had more than my share already). Don't dwell on it. You stepped up and pushed yourself, and sometimes that means you crash. Dust yourself off and get back to playing. As for the recording - my guess is that it won't glare as brightly as you might think - first off, bass usually get short changed in the mix. Secondly, if the recording gets any editing prior to its release, if there was a particular piece with more "mumble" than rumble - they will simply take you down a bit more.

Playing bass is a wonderful thing - don't let this fist outing sour you on it!

Thanks for sharing and get back up on that horse!

Cheers,

Edward

[martyncrew]

Yes, hang in there. Some of these High School and even Middle School Jazz bands just kick-ass. There are some great arrangements for them to work with these days.

[bmgblues]

remeber to always vamp on the one when confused

[Zhangliqun]

You just gotta remember: You're not pulling somebody out of a burning car, you're just playing music. It's not that big of a deal. Also, half the people aren't listening, the other half wish they were you.

[Zim]

Don't let it get you down. I've crashed and burned on more than my fair share of gigs. But I still get call backs! Just shrug it off, laugh at yourself, and learn from it.

[mge80]

Yeah. You are the only one that knows or cares. Put it behind you and move on. Certainly don't quit over it. Turn it into a positive and motivating experience.

[The Golden Boy]

Selective memory.

Everyone lays clams.

Remember what you did good, think of what you can do to help prevent bad things from happening again.

[Tim Michael]

Back when I was learning to be a hang glider pilot, I really bungled a landing one time. My instructor runs over, bends my downtube back in shape and hooked me right back up to the tow plane before I had a chance to think too much about it and off I went. Same principal applies man.

You'll be fine!