For most of you this wouldn't be a big deal but I'm sure that EVERYONE has had to had the experience of playing for the first time in front of others. Now, I've played for a muso friend of mine as well as in front of my wife and kids but NOBODY else that knows me has ever heard me play.
On Saturday I got together with a bunch of friends I haven't seen in years (some upwards of 20 years!). A buddy of mine has a nice piece of land out in the woods and we had a nice little party. We all sat down around a bonfire so I decided to break out the harps! I just played a couple of the tunes I've learned through Adam's lessons as well as my basic rendition of Amazing Grace and Swing Low Sweet Charriot. I was surprised at a couple things: 1) how easily I got into a groove (probably beer induced)and 2) how "good" everyone sincerely thought I was playing (sure fooled them). In fact, one friend was SURE that she remembers me playing 'back in the day' but I really just started playing about a year or so ago.
It has certainly given me the confidence and desire to keep working and to improve as well the confidence to pull my harps out and play no matter who is around. Anyway, I just wanted to share :)
Well done Jay. I still have to overcome that hurdle. I've had my harp with me on a number of occasions when I thought I may jump up and whip it out (the harp, that is) but I don't drink and haven't had the guts to do it yet. I'm working on it. ----------
Tooka, I gotta tell you, a couple of beers may have loosened me up but it certainly wasn't the beers that got me to play. I just decided that, what the heck, what was the worst that could happen. I learned from a prior experience that I would simply play the stuff that I REALLY knew how to play, nothing fancy and then take it from there. After that it just 'flowed'. I also made sure I was one of the first to sit around the fire with a good friend and just started playing. That way people were showing up while I was already playing and I felt like I was less obtrusive (i.e. they were coming to me, not me jumping up in front of them!). Go for it! I'm so glad that I did.
That first step, the first time you play in front of "strangers," is a big one. It is like crossing the threshold that opens into the room containing the rest of what playing music holds. You can only entertain yourself for so long before you feel the need to entertain someone else... all double entendres apply..
I now carry a couple of harps with me wherever I go, so if there is a time in a conversation somewhere, and the other party says, "Really? You play harmonica?" I can pull one out and rip a phrase. I remember the first time I had the nerve to do that. After that, I have done it many, many times with no thought of embarrassment whatsoever.
It's a lot of fun, walking down the street or through a parking lot while playing. It not only teaches breath control, but it's great to see the looks on people's faces. I had a few black folks sort of stop and listen when I was walking through the outskirts of downtown Atlanta, near the Centennial Park, playing a few of LW's riffs.
good for you jaymcc28. You've now been bitten with the bug. Go out and do it again and again and again and each time you will come away with mixed emotions and the "thrill of the kill". There's nothing like it for me. Its a great high. Good Story and Good Luck. ---------- "Keep it in your mouth" - XHarp
@XHarp: thanks, man. you're right, I've been bitten! @Randy:"...the first time you play in front of "strangers," is a big one..." I think that was the key for me on Saturday. Although I knew everyone at this small get together, some were close 'old buddies' while others were folks I knew back in the day but sort of 'friends of a friend'. It was great fun. I think my next "conquest" will be the parking lot at lunch time while everyone is walking around getting fresh air.
I also pretty rarely played in front of strangers... Last saturday when I was in town I stumbled upon this street preacher. The things he says are pretty extreme, so there are usually some people watching in awe and amusement. I whipped my harp out and accompanied him with some call and response... it was fun!
contrary to what you'd think, it was literally years before my family heard me play. and i think most of them have heard me on tape or cd only since we're many miles apart. i found it easier to step up in front of total strangers early on, what could they do, boo me? fire me?! the campfire approach is cool, sort of an anonymous presence you can have. and also to amaze your friends and acquaintances, it's a real validation of your hard work learning this thing.
i was nervous early on going out to open mic nights and playing with actual musicians since they would know how crappy i was. but i went anyway and soaked in all the knowledge i could, used it for inspiration, and woodshedded even more while i'd be alone at home. this pattern repeated itself for a lot of years. and even in the early times, out in public, it seemed people were fairly forgiving of my novice status. they offered me at the very least the kindness of polite compliments, at most invitations to come back or come out to some other event and jam, and at worst i think maybe some just held their criticisms to themselves.
several years ago i was at the king biscuit blues fest with my new girl friend. the fest had just finished on saturday night and we were on the observation deck over the levee, which looks out on the mississippi river. it was close to a full moon and a warm night. there were some other folks taking the night air before turning in at their campsites. sometimes the muse just grabs you. i pulled out a harp and started doing a "mellow down easy" riff, and it built into an instrumental thing. people were clapping, tapping feet, and keeping time with the song. when it was the right time, the song ended. no rousing cheers or encores, it just was what it was, a moment shared by strangers who had the music in them. it is one of my top 5 music moments in a long history of playing harp.
i used to get nervous as hell before playing. by the second note i would usually forget to be nervous and just go with the flow. these days i am very comfortable on stage. it's sort of business as usual. my wife, however, is still in the phase where she gets really tense until we take our places and play. once the first note is struck, she just gets in the groove and we do the magic thing, play music and enjoy ourselves, and turn people on to what we love.
