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Dirty-South Blues Harp forum: wail on! >
Oh, the nerve!
Oh, the nerve!
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toddlgreene
1821 posts
Sep 23, 2010
9:29 AM
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Performing live in front an audience face-to-face is something I have done since I was a young boy. I've sang solos in church, acted and sang in plays, and I've fronted bands for 24 years-21 of that I've played harp. Hundreds of stages, thousands of faces. I've also been married twice and gallantly made the propasals to my wives-to-be, seen two of my own children born and stood strongly by my wife's side throughout, and sworn in the military without a flinch. I've skydived too, without a second thought. Throughout this all, I've been fairly calm and collected, with minimal 'butterflies'. I'm not a shy person, which may also help.
But yesterday, I was on the radio. In a studio with microphones pointed all over the place and a few other fellow harp players. We went on air, and it was my turn to talk, then play-I stammered, got cotton mouth, and dang near forgot how to play. My heart was beating fast, and I had the cold sweats. I was a nervous wreck! Perhaps because the audience was one I couldn't see eye to eye, I don't know. It took me a while to settle down afterwards, too.
I think this happens to us all at one time or another, even those who are seasoned peformers. Spill the beans.
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Crescent City Harmonica Club
Todd L Greene, Co-Founder
Last Edited by on Sep 24, 2010 10:17 AM
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HarpNinja
645 posts
Sep 23, 2010
9:33 AM
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I had to play in front of an entire elementary school recently. I am fine playing in front of adults, but kids are hard...especially when not being backed by a band.
I also had to talk about a perserverance as it related to a building-wide theme. After me were wheel-chair athletes, an Olympic medal winning hockey player, and a firefighter. Most the school didn't even know what a harmonica was and my directions were to give them something they wouldn't forget for the whole year. Yikes!
I didn't get the shakes, but I did get cotton mouth and a bad stomach ache (which may or may not have been related...I have health problems like that).
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Mike
VHT Special 6 Amp for Harp Blog
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Jim Rumbaugh
310 posts
Sep 23, 2010
9:36 AM
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I'm the "front man" for our club when go public. I have NO problems with the group. BUT, at a harmonica competition where I am being judged...... It's BIG TIME dry mouth to a point the harp won't move.
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intermediate level (+) player per the Adam Gussow Scale, Started playing 2001
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KingoBad
401 posts
Sep 23, 2010
9:37 AM
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It is unbelievable when it happens. I had to do a short clip for a video once. There was the camera man and the guy pitting together the videos. I knew both of them and was very comfortable, but as soon as they asked the question - I drew a blank. The only thing I knew for sure was that I wanted out of there. I am usually not one to shy away from speaking or performing in public, for that matter - I quite enjoy it. I still remember the horrible experience, and for the life of me, can't figure out why I got so worked up. It hadn't happened before that and hasn't happened since.
Last Edited by on Sep 23, 2010 1:08 PM
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HarmonicaMick
149 posts
Sep 23, 2010
9:55 AM
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I've done quite a bit of public performance: 20 minute solo piano recitals (not kiddy pieces, but concert stuff); played harp at countless jams; busked on harp and on keyboard; sang in bands; taught in class; and, played Steve Reich's Piano Phase twice (the scariest thing I've done in public).
I've learnt to control my nerves.
But, a couple of times on the way to my local booze shop, my neighbour has asked me to play to her and the odd few standing outside with an early evening wine in hand. Both times, I've come away with my hands shaking like hell, and my chops in tatters.
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YouTube SlimHarpMick
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JimInMO
85 posts
Sep 23, 2010
10:00 AM
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I can rip off a guitar, bass and (short) harp solo to any audience without breaking a sweat. I sing OK at home and even in rehearsal. But, try to sing even a simple song in public and the dry mouth is so intense my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth and my throat is so tight it's hard to breath. Been that way all my life. Can do some background DooWop and even some simple harmony, but no solo's no way.
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Greyowlphotoart
40 posts
Sep 23, 2010
10:10 AM
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I remember watching Blind Faith in a free concert in Hyde Park, London 1969 and the horror what happened after the concert is still fresh in my memory. Me and my mates were all excitedly discussing the finer points and merits of the performances of Eric Clapton, Ginger Baker, Steve Winwood and Ric Grech, when out of nowhere appeared a radio reporter brandishing a mic asking for my impression of the performance. Well I was like a rabbit caught in headlights, nowhere to run and all reasoning suddenly leaving my brain,I mumbled something really perceptive like, 'Yeh they were great man' which came out on radio the next day like 'Yeh doh, they er were um great uh man' in this really stupid voice. My one chance of stardom and I blew it!!:)
"Inside every old person there is a young person wondering....What the fu*k happened"
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Kyzer Sosa
808 posts
Sep 23, 2010
5:32 PM
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HCH was an eye opener for me. i had played for my kids, significant other, family, friends, hell, id even jammed with some local boys for a good while when i made my way to HCH.
Every man sizes up other men almost immediately upon laying eyes on them. I found myself looking around at HCH saying to myself "whos good and who aint"? My pride placed me somewhere right in the middle of the pack after the first few hours. Then i heard some of the voices in the crowd in the later hours of Saturday and Sunday night. Then, out of nowhere, this uneasy feeling came over me that hadnt happened since i picked up my first harp. my confidence wavered, and the words in my head changed to "i suck"...
I sat in the front row, in my folding chair, for the duration of HCH, and Adam asked me, subtly, if id like to play with Terry, and again with Bill Perry.... I declined. Hindsight tells me Id have done okay, but then Sunday night came.
The "conga" line of players on stage with Billy freaking Branch...
I was the very last one to go up there that night. I listened for the better part of an hour to what everyone else had to say on the harp. they'd done it all. I had nothing new to contribute. then it hit me. NO ONE had done anything with Juke!!! Honestly when LeonStagg handed me Deak's mic, I had NO IDEA what to play. Since everyone had gone before me, I had one hell of an audience. so i plucked a few bars of the tune the man next to me helped make famous....and i NAILED it.
that moment alone was worth the price of admission for Kyzer.
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Kyzer's Travels
Kyzer's Artwork
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nacoran
2805 posts
Sep 23, 2010
6:59 PM
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I caught it Todd, and aside from it being a little short I liked it.
I once had to do an oral report for a Sports Journalism class. We had to come in around 3 minutes. I practiced until I had it down pat, talking as fast as I could (because hey, they don't give you long to read the sports!). I got up in front of the class and read what I had been able to squeeze in just under 3 minutes in practice in 45 seconds flat! Who knows how fast I would have got it if I'd had a real microphone in front of me.
I should probably try to get a job reading the fine print at the end of radio commercials.
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Nate
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barbequebob
1261 posts
Sep 24, 2010
10:08 AM
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Todd, in many ways performing a radio broadcast is kind of like being in a recording studio because it is so different, especially when you don't have audience feedback.
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Sincerely,
Barbeque Bob Maglinte
Boston, MA
http://www.barbequebob.com
CD available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bbmaglinte
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toddlgreene
1829 posts
Sep 24, 2010
10:17 AM
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I agree, Bob. It takes me quite a while to relax in a studio. But, at least you have a few minutes to acclimate before recording(at the very least), or can always do another track. When it's live, you get one shot...
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Crescent City Harmonica Club
Todd L Greene, Co-Founder
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JTThirty
85 posts
Sep 24, 2010
10:53 AM
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I do relate to that 'cotton mouth'. Ain't nothing worse when you want to slip and slide around the comb.
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