SonnyD4885
192 posts
Feb 21, 2012
9:26 PM
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i lost it once when i hit the wrong note on something i been playing for years!
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easyreeder
177 posts
Feb 22, 2012
6:46 AM
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That rarely happens to me. I'd say not more than two or three times a day.
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Frank
296 posts
Feb 21, 2012
11:20 PM
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That's when your acting skills need to kick in gear, ACT like everything is copacetic. Now if you fudged up the timing, well - you'd better be a damn good actor...
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nacoran
5274 posts
Feb 22, 2012
7:20 AM
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When I was in high school our choir was giving our annual Christmas concert. A baby cried in the audience and a couple people got the giggles (myself included). Just a little nervous laugh, but it through just enough of a hitch in our timing that we sounded horrible. We new the stuff forward and backward, but we got rattled. Once we started to sound bad we all started trying to fix it, which just made it worse. It was frustrating, putting in months of work for a big show and screwing it up. It's one of the reasons I always push my band to play open mic every week- I don't like being able to stew about my last performance any longer than that. :)
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Nate
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HarpNinja
2191 posts
Feb 22, 2012
1:03 AM
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When in the middle of a gig, if you lose your confidence, my suggestion would be to stop playing the harmonica. If you have to play, fall back on fundamentals, and support the songs in other ways than continually noodling or taking solos when you can't deliver.
It is better to underplay than overplay.
In general, I try to pace sets for musicality and some extended soloing. In a typical set, whether it be solo, full band, or duo, I only have two to maybe three songs with any sort of extended soloing (more than one progression). The other tunes may have harp parts, but they are much shorter and sometimes scripted parts.
The best way to be confident at shows with your playing is to be really well rehearsed. This means really knowing what you're going to play when - and when it is structured vs improvised.
Between the webcam and YouTube clips posted frequently on this site, it may lead one to believe you need to be able to play 3-4min solos all night long. Truth is, that is not a gigging reality, and if it is, often a good way to end up playing not-so-fun gigs.
For a 45min to 1 hour long set, I do the following:
2 intro songs
1 great song
1 different song
1 musical
1 great/musical
1 big fun
1 touching
2 set enders
Most those songs wouldn't even require a solo, and they most certainly wouldn't be the focus of many songs. Too many musicians spend too much time trying to cram an instrument down someone's throat. I want to be left wanting more...and I'd rather a band or musician work on creating moments than solo opportunities.
If you are a band playing music for crowds and have a vocalist, the focus of the music should not be lead instruments. If that is the most "impressive" part of your live performance, most people won't care. Sometimes, you can get the attention of your peers being solo-heavy, but I wouldn't try to do that on purpose.
So going back to confidence, worrying about what your peers think is usually stupid. For example, this weekend I have a gig. How many harp players will be in the audience? Probably zero. Worry about the people who actually listen to your music and pay your bills think.
Another way to think about it - I used to want to "impress" the local blues bands. Then I realized that it was of no value. They didn't come to my gigs (they were busy gigging too), they didn't buy my music (they were busy recording their own), it didn't help get gigs (they wanted those gigs too), and what impressed them were things that actual audiences didn't care about.
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Mike
VHT Special 6 Mods
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mr_so&so
498 posts
Feb 22, 2012
5:38 AM
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Good question. Yes, I have too, sort-of. In a playing-solo situation, here is what I do.
1) Smile and carry on.
2) Remember that a good note is only a semitone away from a bad note. Get there in a hurry. Make that bad note a passing note.
3) Listen to the music I'm playing. Focus.
4) Realize that the audience doesn't notice as much as I do. Edit: Is less critical of me than I am...
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Last Edited by on Feb 22, 2012 11:02 PM
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billy_shines
109 posts
Feb 22, 2012
5:57 AM
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when you feel bad you play bad think of getting paid smile and have a good time. the show goes on.
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SonnyD4885
193 posts
Feb 22, 2012
6:03 AM
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thanks this helps
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MJ
372 posts
Feb 22, 2012
9:07 AM
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Like any song, A strong start and finish are what counts most. Those little glitches and/or rubber notes in the middle are forgivable.
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KingBiscuit
160 posts
Feb 22, 2012
12:11 PM
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They always told me "If you hit a bad note, hit it again...if anybody says anything, tell them you're playing the jazz version!"
LOL
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jbone
795 posts
Feb 22, 2012
8:27 PM
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people's memories are short when it comes to live music. a clunker fades fast so just carry on and get it right, like right now. stopping in the middle will etch a faux pax on peoples' minds, just go forward and hit the right notes.
and you must stay your right size. even after many years i have to remember i am but one part of a show or a band. other than guys like Adam, who do solo shows all over the place, a lot of us rely on partners on guitar, keys, bass, drums, whatever, to let us step out in the spotlight. without good players behind me i am no big deal. my wife has grown into a really great duo partner and i remember that we are both human, things get off course here and there. it's a matter of bringing them back on point quickly and seamlessly. the "i meant to do that" attitude has saved me more than once also.
i really think that as long as i keep a humble student type mentality, and relax, everything works out fine. i can truly wail on a harp and on vocals as well, but there is always someone better out there so i don't get the terminal big head syndrome!
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harmonicanick
1472 posts
Feb 23, 2012
1:53 AM
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The only loss of confidence I have is dealing with musicians, and trying to arrange matters in a reliable way!
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Zadozica
174 posts
Feb 23, 2012
6:21 AM
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Hard to lose something in the middle when you don't have it at the start.
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