We rehearsed in my studio for six months, then we finally landed a job. It was a wedding in a German beer garden. We gave all we had; on the way out the manager said we were the worst band he had ever heard. When I think about today he was right.
Starting at the age of 11 my father would play the piano player I would stand out front and sing. We had a musical family; there was always music in my home.
Schmoozing was not my thing. I believed that if the music was real good I did not have to do anything else. I was always ready to talk but not with purpose.
Was I nervous before starting? Yes, every time we started to play. I played a job for the Bank of North America; it was in a local park. There were about 2,000 people. After setting up a crowed of four deep completely circled the band. B3 with pedals, drums, sax, and myself on guitar.
I picked up my guitar and was about to start playing and I froze. Four deep, I was beyond nervous. I took a deep breath and we started. That was one of the best jobs I ever played; the crowd with crazy and so did we.
I booked a job In Manhattan at a high end hotel, as we entered the room that we were going to play in there was not a white person to be seen. Black people love music and they are great at what they do so was beyond nervous. My band never played so good – we booked six jobs before leaving.
OK, I writing too much. My last thought: I feel being a bit nervous always made us play better. AS a salesman we always wiggled our toes in our shoes before going into a home.
A good crowd and a touch of the getters makes a band play better.
John C.