Purple Cobwebs
Member
I was hesitant in posting here, as everyone here seems to be an accomplished gigger, but I'm trying hard to overcome my fears, so here goes!
I've been playing 3 years now, but pretty much only in my sound isolation booth at home. I've been having lessons for those 3 years and practice hard, but although I'm comfortable reading music and playing at home, playing "out" without music has always been a big fear!
A few months ago I got together with friends and we started practising together, first in a local youth club (even though we are certainly not youths!), and then at a studio.
I'm now chuffed to bits to be able to say -I did it! I survived my first gig!
I was incredibly nervous and felt like jelly up there on that stage! We'd practiced and rehearsed like mad, but were still unsure whether we'd pull it off or crash and burn lol. We didn't really think we were ready, but as I was organising a festival in the village, it was too good an opportunity to pass up, so I added us as the opening slot at 1pm. I didn't think there would be many people there at that time, but word had got out and there were a lot more people than expected.
We were by no means perfect and there were several fluffs, but we coped, survived them and ploughed on through the 6 songs we'd rehearsed. We now know that we can cope when the singer adds in an extra chorus part way through the song, or misses a line, or I start a song with a different groove to normal (oops!), or guitar or bass miss a cue, so it was a great learning experience! Listening back to a recording, the mistakes are not as noticable as they seemed to be at the time, although we do sound a bit rough round the edges. I also now know that nerves make me speed up, so that's something to watch in future.
There were many giggles, especially when I decided I didn't want to end "We're not Gonna take it" and so took everyone round for another chorus at the end, and when I got a bit carried away at the end of "I like it heavy" and let rip with a thunderous double pedal (that woke the village up!)! Our singer also had to think on the spot when she realised that there were several kids in the audience, so a certain word was quickly changed to Mucka Pucka, which set me off in giggles!
Even the setting up and taking down of my drums in a limited time was a learning experience. The drummer of the band following us helped me get things off stage in time, which was really good of him!
All in all a great experience and I'm so glad we did it.
It is so different to playing at home, and I know it's what I need to push me on, so we are booking more rehearsals and adding new songs to learn in the hope of improving and getting other chances to play "out". My teacher is very supportive and helped me learn the songs which was a great help.
So, if you're hesitating, give it a go! If I can do it, so can you!
I've been playing 3 years now, but pretty much only in my sound isolation booth at home. I've been having lessons for those 3 years and practice hard, but although I'm comfortable reading music and playing at home, playing "out" without music has always been a big fear!
A few months ago I got together with friends and we started practising together, first in a local youth club (even though we are certainly not youths!), and then at a studio.
I'm now chuffed to bits to be able to say -I did it! I survived my first gig!
I was incredibly nervous and felt like jelly up there on that stage! We'd practiced and rehearsed like mad, but were still unsure whether we'd pull it off or crash and burn lol. We didn't really think we were ready, but as I was organising a festival in the village, it was too good an opportunity to pass up, so I added us as the opening slot at 1pm. I didn't think there would be many people there at that time, but word had got out and there were a lot more people than expected.
We were by no means perfect and there were several fluffs, but we coped, survived them and ploughed on through the 6 songs we'd rehearsed. We now know that we can cope when the singer adds in an extra chorus part way through the song, or misses a line, or I start a song with a different groove to normal (oops!), or guitar or bass miss a cue, so it was a great learning experience! Listening back to a recording, the mistakes are not as noticable as they seemed to be at the time, although we do sound a bit rough round the edges. I also now know that nerves make me speed up, so that's something to watch in future.
There were many giggles, especially when I decided I didn't want to end "We're not Gonna take it" and so took everyone round for another chorus at the end, and when I got a bit carried away at the end of "I like it heavy" and let rip with a thunderous double pedal (that woke the village up!)! Our singer also had to think on the spot when she realised that there were several kids in the audience, so a certain word was quickly changed to Mucka Pucka, which set me off in giggles!
Even the setting up and taking down of my drums in a limited time was a learning experience. The drummer of the band following us helped me get things off stage in time, which was really good of him!
All in all a great experience and I'm so glad we did it.
It is so different to playing at home, and I know it's what I need to push me on, so we are booking more rehearsals and adding new songs to learn in the hope of improving and getting other chances to play "out". My teacher is very supportive and helped me learn the songs which was a great help.
So, if you're hesitating, give it a go! If I can do it, so can you!