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Topic: Why does this happen? |
John Parker
From:
Golden Valley, Az. USA
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Posted 24 Oct 2006 7:53 am |
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I can go out and play with a band in front of a few thousand people and never miss a lick. But a few friends or coworkers come by the house and say, "Play something for us," and I manage to hit sour notes and make all kinds of mistakes. Why is it that playing in front of a large crowd is easier than giving a demonstration for just a few? Or am I the only one this happens to?
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John Parker
Zumsteel SD10 3x5
Peavey Session 400
Fender Steel King
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Larry Bell
From:
Englewood, Florida
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Posted 24 Oct 2006 8:06 am
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Because you practiced the stuff you play with the band more thoroughly and your confidence level with them is greater?
Because you didn't really have something prepared that sounds (and FEELS) good solo?
I've always told students that if you can't play something 10x in a row at tempos both slower and faster than concert tempo, probability is high you won't pull it off. That's often underestimated by players, but it shows most often when you see a fulltime pro player side by side with one who plays for enjoyment. The one thing I notice every time is that the player who is in a club or concert situation on a regular basis just HAS BETTER CHOPS. No matter how much woodshed, music room time you put in, it's hard to play with the authority and precision of someone who gigs most every day.
I don't know you personally but would suspect that several factors contribute to your discomfort:
* you are much more 'under the gun' when playing solo, even among friends
* you weren't as familiar with what you played for your friends as you are with what you play with the band.
* when you play solo, the entire burden is on you; with a band the tempo and accompaniment are taken care of for you.
Just a hunch. 
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Larry Bell - email: larry@larrybell.org - gigs - Home Page
My CD's: 'I've Got Friends in COLD Places' - 'Pedal Steel Guitar'
2003 Fessenden S/D-12 8x8, 1969 Emmons S/D-12 6x6, 1984 Sho-Bud S/D-12 7x6, 1971 Dobro, Standel and Peavey Amps
[This message was edited by Larry Bell on 24 October 2006 at 09:09 AM.] |
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chris ivey
From:
california (deceased)
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Posted 24 Oct 2006 8:10 am
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| i find that i don't really care or try hard enough til i'm on stage. [This message was edited by chris ivey on 24 October 2006 at 09:10 AM.] |
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Gene Jones
From:
Oklahoma City, OK USA, (deceased)
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Posted 24 Oct 2006 8:29 am
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[quote]"* when you play solo, the entire burden is on you; with a band the tempo and accompaniment are taken care of for you."
....but the real problem is that "it shouldn't matter to you what "they" think?
To hell with what "they" think....do what you do, and think positive about it!
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Rick Campbell
From:
Sneedville, TN, USA
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Posted 24 Oct 2006 8:38 am
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The steel is a lead instrument and sounds best when played with a good rhythm section. Proof....compare a good singer singing Heartaches By The Number without music with an average singer singing it with a good band. The public don't know enough about music to look into the makings of a good sound, all they know is what they hear.
On the positive side, the company at your house won't know the difference if you hit a bad lick. Just make sure it's loud. To the public, loud is good.
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Emmons Lashley Legrande D-10 8/4, Peavey Nashville 400, Peavey Nashville 112, Peavey Bandit, Baggs Fiddle Bridge, Peavey Profex II, Several Fiddles, Martin Guitars, Eastman Mandolin, Johnson Dobro, Rich and Taylor Banjo, Yamaha Keyboard, Upright Bass, Stratocaster, Yamaha Bass, Korg Tuners.
racmusic.tripod.com
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Terry Edwards
From:
Florida... livin' on spongecake...
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Posted 24 Oct 2006 9:59 am
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I think in a band situation the stress gets distributed between band members and they support each other.
When it's just you...well, it's just you!
I can play in a band with little stress. Solo is highly stressful to me.
Terry |
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Ernie Pollock
From:
Mt Savage, Md USA
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Posted 24 Oct 2006 10:04 am
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John: get yourself some rhythm tracks together that you like to play, be ready for them next time. I know I can play at least a 100 different tunes, but I stay up on them all the time, ask anyone who I have played for, it works & keeps you off that hot seat of 'all by yourself'
Ernie Pollock http://www.hereintown.net/~shobud75/stock.htm
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Jim Cohen
From:
Philadelphia, PA
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Posted 24 Oct 2006 10:29 am
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Not knowing you, I have no idea if this would apply in your case but I believe that for many people the reason for this would be because you are going to see your friends and coworkers again in the future, and so you care what they think of you, as individuals. With a 2,000-person audience, you will never meet those people, or see any of them again, so if you screw up, they won't think less of you. Now with 'friends' you don't want to spoil their admiration for you.
Like I said, maybe not for you, but for at least others I'm sure this applies. |
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Earnest Bovine
From:
Los Angeles CA USA
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Posted 24 Oct 2006 10:49 am
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| Quote: |
| I can go out and play with a band in front of a few thousand people and never miss a lick. |
Would it be so easy in front of a few thousand steel guitar players? |
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John Parker
From:
Golden Valley, Az. USA
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Don Barnhardt
From:
North Carolina, USA
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Posted 24 Oct 2006 6:07 pm
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| I think Ernie Pollock has the right idea. Most musicians are not geared up to do solo and some rythm tracks would make a big difference. |
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Stephan Franck
From:
La Crescenta, California, USA
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Posted 24 Oct 2006 7:12 pm
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I've seen world-class pros get nervous and stiffen up when family members are in the audience. It's the weirdest thing...
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www.mojaveroad.net
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James Cann
From:
Phoenix, AZ
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Posted 24 Oct 2006 8:18 pm
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| Quote: |
| I guess that when playing for a few friends I'm too worried about trying to be "perfect" and wind up blowing it. |
I have to agree; proximity evokes intensity. The effect is similar to watching a play in a small theater, where the actors are sometimes even nearer to your seat in the front row. Their emotions can go right through you. |
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Gil Berry
From:
Westminster, CA, USA
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Posted 25 Oct 2006 5:26 am
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| What you said, Ernest. I've been "outfront" a few times with audiences of maybe 1,000 or so people, and was only mildly nervous. But to get in front of other steel players? Forget it. I'm just afraid they'll recognize what a lousy player I really am, while most people in a big audience can't tell the difference between how well you play and "Big 'E'".....well maybe not him...anyway, my wife (silly girl) thinks I'm just as good a player as any she's heard on cd's so I'm happy. Too bad the girl is completely tone deaf.... |
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Steinar Gregertsen
From:
Arendal, Norway, R.I.P.
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Posted 25 Oct 2006 6:11 am
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When I play a gig I put on my "professional hat" but when playing for a few friends or family the whole setting is much more intimate and personal, so the "professional hat" thing doesn't work... It's a totally different challenge.
Steinar
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"Play to express, not to impress"
www.gregertsen.com
Southern Moon Northern Lights
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Nic du Toit
From:
Milnerton, Cape, South Africa
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Posted 26 Oct 2006 5:59 am
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I got clever.......When friends or family ask me to play something, I normally do the first 8 bars of "Love you so much", and stop and say 'and so forth...'
That's about the time when I become aware of the fact that there's no backing music to help me keep the tempo,.....and all of a sudden I start getting nervous. You gotta know when to quit.....the first eight bars should be just enough the keep them wanting more.....rather invite them to your next gig.
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    Nic du Toit
1970 P/P Emmons D10 Fatback 8x5
Peavey Session 500 unmodfied
Click on the images to go to the CD's
Click here for Nic's other projects
Click here to E-mail us.
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Perry Hansen
From:
Bismarck, N.D.
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Posted 26 Oct 2006 6:06 am
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| John. I have the same problem with recording. I think my problem is when I'm playing for a crowd, they are mostly dancing. But when someone mentions recording, I try too hard to be perfect, so I don't relax. Sounds like a good excuse to me. |
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Jim Cohen
From:
Philadelphia, PA
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Posted 26 Oct 2006 7:39 am
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| I agree, Perry, and some recordings sound like the player was trying sooo hard to be sooo careful not to make any mistakes, that the music loses its flow and nuance. |
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Tony Prior
From:
Charlotte NC
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Posted 26 Oct 2006 10:11 am
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| Give your friends more alcohol before you play for them next time..they'll never know... |
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Calvin Walley
From:
colorado city colorado, USA
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Posted 26 Oct 2006 8:36 pm
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tonight had a couple of freinds over and my wife told them about me and my steel and of course they wanted me to play something, so i started to play a song that i had down cold ...easy nothing to it ...WRONG i looked like Barney Fife shaking could not play 2 notes without screwing up
thats why i play just for me.
wish i could get over this but i just don't see it ever happening
after they had left i sat down and played it without even thinking it was so easy
aaaaaaaaah
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Mullen SD-10 3&5 / nashville 400
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