Worst performance of my life

[Music&Chaos]

The main guy who the party was for did well, and I am glad. He knows I have chops and has heard them for years, as I used to also give lessons in his shop. That is one of the reasons he was so adamant I was there for the event to perform and was set to meet and play with this band. Hopefully it just makes it all the more memorable for him. I geuss maybe it just wasn't meant to be today!


Thanks guys.

 

[mentoneman]

It happens. I recently did a solo dinner gig where my looper malfunctioned and it got interesting....lol...

I made it through, but it was one of my worst gigs ever....

i once stepped on my flashback x4 during a slow contemplative moment in church expecting a ethereal long tape delay i planned to swell chords into,
and it was in looper mode and started playing this crazy up tempo crunch riff i had captured during soundcheck!

my bad!

 

[rsm]

I have been gigging and practicing since the age of 11. I have never in my life had an experience such as this. I have made mistakes and had issues but never before have my hands and brain just died on me.

Yes - I was stuck using one of those Music Man amps after being told NOT to bring my stuff over and over and then being asked if I brought my stuff when I arrived.....

After that, had to stick into a Tonemaster and it was horrible feeling.

Just really sucks as I had a slight reputation, and everyone was kind of waiting and then.....this. Today. I just wish it never happened. And at my friend's retirement party and everything. Oh man......

sucks.

but learn from it.

always bring your stuff. a modeler, a pedalboard, or a small combo amp that can be mic'd,...

these days, if I was still gigging, I'd always have my Helix Stadium in the trunk, even if I was brining another rig.

 

[rsm]

Playing bass, I blew my 1x15 speaker and only had the 2x10 cab working; couldn't hear myself at all on stage. Luckily, I was using DI out to FOH, and in the next set I was able to use monitors with my bass-only in them

 

[gman1951]

Title says it all. IDK what was up today but I got the chance to gig with a pretty big local band and just kept eating shit every step of the way. I cannot explain why but for whatever reason - it just wasn't happening. The worst part is that one of the players knows my capabilities and nodded me into the set. And then this happens. Worst possible time as well I feel. Great.

Well that show was absolute shite on my part and I cannot feel more aggravated about it.

The Fender Tonemaster I had to play through didn't do me any favors - made me feel like it was literally eating the notes as I was trying to play them.

All of these crazy, monster licks and riffs and.....nada. Just not meant to be I guess.

At 75, and a gigging guitarist for over 60 years, I've developed baseball memory regarding those inevitable bad gigs! No matter how bad one sucks, it's just one occasion and there will be other, future opportunities to shine!

 

[DanTravis62]

At 75, and a gigging guitarist for over 60 years, I've developed baseball memory regarding those inevitable bad gigs! No matter how bad one sucks, it's just one occasion and there will be other, future opportunities to shine!

Yep you just have to accept that they happened, and do your best to prepare and make it more likely they don't happen again

Gotta worry about the next at bat, not the last one

 

[Music&Chaos]

At 75, and a gigging guitarist for over 60 years, I've developed baseball memory regarding those inevitable bad gigs! No matter how bad one sucks, it's just one occasion and there will be other, future opportunities to shine!

Yep you just have to accept that they happened, and do your best to prepare and make it more likely they don't happen again

Gotta worry about the next at bat, not the last one

1000%!!!

 

[alund]

I’d bet you played better than you think but like everyone in the room, you are your own worst critic. Chances are a few flubs make you feel way worse than the reality of how you actually play.

 

[WizardAmpIphoneClip]

Also if the gig was in front of the bands gf's/ wives other bands and 20 barflies who cares man

 

[japetus]

Playing bass, I blew my 1x15 speaker and only had the 2x10 cab working; couldn't hear myself at all on stage. Luckily, I was using DI out to FOH, and in the next set I was able to use monitors with my bass-only in them

Sansamp Bass DI in the bag

 

[DanTravis62]

Also if the gig was in front of the bands gf's/ wives other bands and 20 barflies who cares man

Yeah this is totally a factor

Since it sounds like it was a friends retirement party, it couldn't have been THAT bad bro

Like worst case scenario you had a bad gig in front of "friendlies"

It's not like you were opening for Slayer getting spit on in an arena because you made it obvious you fucked up lol

 

[Music&Chaos]

Also if the gig was in front of the bands gf's/ wives other bands and 20 barflies who cares man

It was kind of in front of part of the town during a historic event. Read a proclamation from the mayor and everything.

I’d bet you played better than you think but like everyone in the room, you are your own worst critic. Chances are a few flubs make you feel way worse than the reality of how you actually play.

I have had those gigs. This was like, I somehow couldn't even hear what key we would be in or play right, even if I knew it, like tracks I cover and perform all the time. Was the oddest experience ever man.

 

[Music&Chaos]

Yeah this is totally a factor

Since it sounds like it was a friends retirement party, it couldn't have been THAT bad bro

Like worst case scenario you had a bad gig in front of "friendlies"

It's not like you were opening for Slayer getting spit on in an arena because you made it obvious you fucked up lol

Either way, nothing I can do now but yeah wasnt like an arena gig lmao

 

[Texsunburst59]

Shit happens M&C

Sometimes you just feel like your someone else and it’s almost like you are lost and can’t remember a damn thing in the moment.

In my 28 years of playing live , I had only 2 times where I really shit the bed on stage.

There were 2 different times I was talked into smoking weed during a break, and both those times I screwed up after getting back on stage.

The first time was in the late 70’s, and the 2nd was in the early 90’s, and after the second time I never got stoned again.

You learn from your mistakes, and make sure you’re prepared and never let it happen again.

 

[DanTravis62]

Either way, nothing I can do now but yeah wasnt like an arena gig lmao

At least IME it helps to keep things in perspective - this wasn't an arena gig, or a record label showcase right?

Imagine if this happened at one of THOSE gigs? It could have been way, way worse

 

[japetus]

At least IME it helps to keep things in perspective - this wasn't an arena gig, or a record label showcase right?

Imagine if this happened at one of THOSE gigs? It could have been way, way worse

Look, if you had one shot, one opportunity..to everything you ever wanted....One moment.
Would you capture it or just let it slip?

 

[reignman454]

Title says it all. IDK what was up today but I got the chance to gig with a pretty big local band and just kept eating shit every step of the way. I cannot explain why but for whatever reason - it just wasn't happening. The worst part is that one of the players knows my capabilities and nodded me into the set. And then this happens. Worst possible time as well I feel. Great.

Well that show was absolute shite on my part and I cannot feel more aggravated about it.

The Fender Tonemaster I had to play through didn't do me any favors - made me feel like it was literally eating the notes as I was trying to play them.

All of these crazy, monster licks and riffs and.....nada. Just not meant to be I guess.

The hardest clam I ever had was on national/international television…. Sometimes the stars just align and you have an off night….

Beautiful thing is, you’re typing which means you’re alive, still opportunity. Worlds still spinning… back on the horse

If you don’t mind my asking, bad phrasing? Clams, losing the groove? What was the issue?

 

[tallcoolone]

It happens. And it isn't close to as bad as you think it was, it never is

 

[Kordoba]

To paraphrase Dan T, at least you play in bands and play live to boot. That's more than most forum guys can say.

 

[Music&Chaos]

The hardest clam I ever had was on national/international television…. Sometimes the stars just align and you have an off night….

Beautiful thing is, you’re typing which means you’re alive, still opportunity. Worlds still spinning… back on the horse

If you don’t mind my asking, bad phrasing? Clams, losing the groove? What was the issue?

Everything. None of my grooves felt with it, none of the notes even felt right. It sounded to me like I wasn't in key when I knew damn well I was, etc. I have never had such an experience tbh. Being lost? Yeah, been there. Hell, I literally performed bass with an award winning ensemble and improv/listened and made up all of the lines because at the time I could not read bass clef. I live in improv. Not today. It was almost like being unable to compute between my brain and hands for a bit. I am never empty handed or minded with a guitar/bass. I think part of it had to be the health issues and lack of food along with working outside all day as well.

Just, felt all sorts of off like I haven't before and I could hear that reflected in the music. I kept using the word 'horrible' to describe it to my wife and also- "Like a joke - you would not have believed that was me in a million years."


At least it is technically 11/8 - so this memory already lives in yesterday.