DrummerCA35
Senior Member
Our band is going to open for a couple of (formerly) nationally famous 60s/70's bands, some with timeless songs. It's a at a festival that may have up to 2,000 people. It's at a "hippie" type festival. OUr band isn't even of that genre, we are doing our disco/R&B, with some rock thrown in. Of course, we are just the opening band, and aren't even in most of the flyers/publicity. Gates open an hour before we play, and it's general admission. So there may be very few people, or there may be a lot. I flat out don't know. All I know is that this is different from the usual weddings, bars, and casuals that we play. It has the POTENTIAL to be in front of the largest audience I've ever played for. I feel nervous about this.
What do you guys do about handling your nervousness, when doing something out of your element? For any of you that get nervous? I doubt the headliner would even be there when we play, but if they are, I find that in and of itself making me nervous. I've been playing a long time, but again, never anything like this.
And, would you guys "risk" playing something that you find very challenging to play? I have a separate thread I just posted about physically challenging drum parts. Our band wants to play "American Band." I can play the intro, but it's a physical challenge (which I wrote about in the other thread) and I know I'd be worrying if THAT is the time I end up not pulling it off, despite having practiced it thousands of times. The pressure of doing this in front of (potentially) hundreds or maybe a thousand people and some (formerly) nationally famous acts is different than doing it at a wedding or club or casual. On the hand I like giving myself a challege. But, on the other hand, I see the value of "playing it safe." But is playing it safe a cop out? Our singer won't do certain songs, our guitar player won't do certains songs if they don't feel comfortable.
Would you guys play it safe or risk it? "American Band" is one of our one-offs and the band doesn't even usually do it anymore in our sets.
Any thoughts are appreciated. And yeah, maybe I'm overthinking this. As opening band, likely no one cares anyway.
Thanks
What do you guys do about handling your nervousness, when doing something out of your element? For any of you that get nervous? I doubt the headliner would even be there when we play, but if they are, I find that in and of itself making me nervous. I've been playing a long time, but again, never anything like this.
And, would you guys "risk" playing something that you find very challenging to play? I have a separate thread I just posted about physically challenging drum parts. Our band wants to play "American Band." I can play the intro, but it's a physical challenge (which I wrote about in the other thread) and I know I'd be worrying if THAT is the time I end up not pulling it off, despite having practiced it thousands of times. The pressure of doing this in front of (potentially) hundreds or maybe a thousand people and some (formerly) nationally famous acts is different than doing it at a wedding or club or casual. On the hand I like giving myself a challege. But, on the other hand, I see the value of "playing it safe." But is playing it safe a cop out? Our singer won't do certain songs, our guitar player won't do certains songs if they don't feel comfortable.
Would you guys play it safe or risk it? "American Band" is one of our one-offs and the band doesn't even usually do it anymore in our sets.
Any thoughts are appreciated. And yeah, maybe I'm overthinking this. As opening band, likely no one cares anyway.
Thanks