Well I faced my fears yesterday and got up on stage in front of all my friends and quite a few strangers and played a 50min set of my songs with a full band and it was GREAT. I was in a state of extream anxiety by the time I got on stage as more and more mates turned up, I had only told a few but word got out, but once I was into the first song I was away and the people love my songs. The whole thing was made even more nerve racking by the fact that Lyndon Anderson was standing watching my whole set directly in front of me but i just looked into the middle distance and went for it. I was really buzzing afterwards and I even got paid a few quid by the organisers which I did'nt expect.The only downer was my Camcorder which I had charged and bought a new memory card for froze after 2seconds of my first song so I did'nt get to film any of it. I'm going to text round my mates and see if any of them can e-mail me there footage cos they all had cameras on the go so hopefully I will be able to post something soon. Thanks for the support and kind words on my previous thread it made a real difference to me and helped me get up there and do it. Right now it's time to organise the next Gig!
Last Edited by on Jun 24, 2012 3:27 PM
So pleased to hear it Geordie. Shame about the camcorder. I did an open mic. I was told I could plug my phone/mp3 player into their equipment and play to one of my own backing tracks but when I got there I couldn't so had to play along with a guitarist who I couldn't hear too well and through an amp that was crap and distorted like mad. Luckily for me it was late and most of the audience had had a few and wouldn't have even known if Sonny Terry himself had turned up. So much from me being nervous beforehand. Such is life. Well done to you though. Love to see some video if you can find some. ----------
Last Edited by on Jun 24, 2012 4:03 PM
funny thing about nerves. once the first note is struck, the nerves just turn into energy and can be focused and used in a very positive way. ---------- http://www.reverbnation.com/jawboneandjolene
If I assume he is a local harmonica gunslinger, the standing in front of you stuff is real old school intimidation silliness. Most pro players would stay in the background and enjoy what you have to offer.
As long as you play from where you are at in the moment with feeling and joy, even Kim Wilson would come up to you and shake your hand at the end of your set.
Don't sweat the mid level ego games and keep on groovin'. So many excellent musicians still have stage fright right up to the moment the first song starts, at which time it all changes to joy of music.
Barbara Streisand has such stage fright that she hates giving live shows and has only done a few in the last 15 years or so. ---------- The Iceman
Whoa Iceman you misunderstood my meaning, I was'nt saying Lyndon was standing right up front in an imtimidating way, he was actually right at the back, but on the raised entrance at the rear of the pub which put him exactly in my sight line looking out from the stage. He did infact stand and chat to me at the bar for about twenty minutes after I came off and was most encouraging, Lyndon is one of the finest players around today and could easily throw down with Jason Or Adam in fact he was telling me how pleased he was to have been invited by Adam to next years Hill County Harmonica weekend, I mearly meant that I felt a bit intimidated and humbled that a player of his stature bothered to stand outside for the best part of an hour on a freezing cold windy day watching me do my thing,I think the guy is the dogs.
geordie: your sentence "The whole thing was made even more nerve racking by the fact that Lyndon Anderson was standing watching my whole set directly in front of me but i just looked into the middle distance and went for it." had me imagining someone standing right in front of you.
Sorry that I misinterpreted the incident.
I have seen local "harp hero's" stand in front of the stage, arms crossed, staring at a harmonica player to intimidate.
Glad this wasn't your experience. Also, not having heard of Lyndon, can you tell me something about him?
Hey Bluemoose thanks for posting that man, I love this song it's got such a great Harp riff in it, sadly the sound quality of the clip is'nt great but hopefully it's enough to turn the Iceman onto a great player who he had'nt heard of and that is one of the great benefits of this wonderfull forum of ours.
