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Going out on my own....... - Synth Zone BBS
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Author Topic: Going out on my own.......
subwayboy
Junior Member posted 06-14-2001 02:03 PM

I've been reading this forum for a few years now, and it's strange but I
feel I know most of you. (even though this is my first post)
anyway let me get to the point, I have played keyboards on and off for
about 20 years, I was never classically trained , but can hold a tune.
Like a fool I have agreed to play in friends bar/restaruant next saturday.
He wants me to play for about 1 hour then a 20-minute break and then
another hour. I have gigged before in my youth but only in bands where
mistakes can be hidden , hell, I was hidden behind the Guitar player,
vocalist and bass player.
I am looking for adivice about that first "on your own gig"
I'm going to use my PSR740 through and amp and speakers and have a back up
tape (actually 3 songs I recored onto and MD recorder). I have done the
gig in my bedroom twice. The first time I took 53 minutes (O.K) but the
second took 36. I don't know how they both felt the same to me.
I don't sing , lets make that clear (Although I might if he keeps feeding
me wine)
But what can I do about nerves, just the thought of it makes me cringe.
I had a dream last night that I hit the ending button but I did'nt work
and I had to jam the the same song until the last customers left.

HELP!!!!
Fran Carango
Member posted 06-14-2001 02:44 PM

RELAX, Just have fun,be personable, talk with the customers. If it looks
like you are having a good time they will too. Mistakes are OK. Poke fun
at yourself once in awhile, they will think you got it together. On the
material side, play what you enjoy. It sounds like you will need 35 tunes
or so. Be prepared to do another set, they may want you to stay. If you
can , have a coulple popular or novelty songs ready to go. When you go on
break,"smooze" with the paying customers, this is what makes you in
demand. You are an entertainer, not just a keyboard player. BE HAPPY, this
may be the start of BIG things to come..Fran
sk880user
Member posted 06-14-2001 02:46 PM

1) have some songs already prepared on PSR740.
2) Practice and prepare very well.
3) Be as much as possible comfortable with the use of the keyboard.
4) arrive very early and give enough time to setup the keyboard, adjust
the volume,
5) start with songs that you know how to play very very well.
6) Play through mistakes.
7) have fun
8) do not drink and play.

and finally,
remember Uncle Dave's advice and I quote, "I have backup's for my
backups."
brickboo
Member posted 06-14-2001 03:41 PM

I just did my first gig ever with the keyboard a few months back. I
thought I'd make in my pants. After the first three tunes and you see the
expressions on the peoples faces you will be able to go all night.
Like the others said, do the things you know for sure to start. Most if
not all won't hear your mistakes.
You're better than you think. We are our worse and toughest critics. Now
go have fun.
Boo
Scottyee
Member posted 06-14-2001 03:47 PM

SubwayBoy: Practice a lot NOW, but . . . on the day of the gig, don't play
a single note. Instead, Go do something else FUN & RELAXING. Arrive to the
gig EARLY to allow plenty of time to not feel rushed in setting up. Open
with the song you feel most confident playing as this is the ice-breaker.
Once you past the 2nd song you should begin feeling at ease with your
audience and relaxing into the groove. Just remember it's 1000% normal to
feel nervous the first time, second time, third time , etc ... out.
It took quite a while to get over the jitters when I first started out in
this biz. After a while though, it becomes so second nature that you don't
give it a thought to be nervous. Entertaining is like a confidence
building exercise, the more you do it, the easier it gets. But, I must
admit though, that I still get a little nervous if I know that a celebrity
or well renowned musician is in the audience. Just remember that we are
all human and that most all our stage fright insecurities are self
induced, as most people (including musicians & celebrities) are there to
have a good time and are not the keyboard competition judges we somehow
invision them to be.
MISTAKES? It's NOT the mistakes (as we ALL make mistakes . . . hey, we're
human), but HOW we cover them up that make the difference between
coming off as a professional or amateur entertainer-musician. If you do
make a big mistake, DON't take it seriously. You might even want to stop,
and make a joke about it with the audience. If YOU'RE not uptight about
it, chances are that the audience won't be either. Remember, this is YOUR
show and you have the power to give the audience a good time
Now go HAVE FUN! - Scott
Uncle Dave
Member posted 06-14-2001 10:09 PM

All good advice. Playing music for others is like a conversation - give &
take. You give tunes, the audience gives approval.....or not. Just the
same, it's a two way communication. Watch their faces - listen to their
conversations - see if they are tapping their feet to the beat..... all
signs of paying attention.
Did I understand you to say you have only THREE songs to play? Even
wonderful solos won't save a 20 minute song from getting "long winded". I
hope I misunderstood that, because as Fran said - you are going to need at
least 30 songs to fill two sets up.
As for the jitters - they are therapeutic, in a way. They put you in touch
with your inner fears. After you confront them, they diminish in size till
they are no longer so scary. Everyone gets stage fright..... to a degree -
it's "how you handle it" that makes life easy or hard. Remember, you
already have ONE fan, (the guy who hired you!) so play to him, and the
others can feed off THAT energy.
Don't read too much into the jitters thing - just go play, man. HAVE A
BALL. Music can crawl up inside people and change their whole way of
thinking. It can alter your feelings. It can touch their souls. That's
POWER, my friend............. and it's in YOUR hands.
DonM
Member posted 06-14-2001 10:11 PM

Many famous athletes are physically sick to their stomachs before
important contests. It is natural to be nervous. It will pass.
When I first started it helped to pretend I was somebody else, like Elvis.
(Hey whatever works!)
Most of your mistakes they will not hear or they will quickly forget if
you don't call attention to them.
If you make one that is REALLY obvious, just tell them "during the course
of the evening you make think you hear me make a mistake and you're
probably right, because some people are always looking for something to go
wrong and I try to please everybody, so I will throw in an intentional
mistake now and then." "Hey, it's not my first mistake, I've been married
three times!"
Make the audience your friends and they will overlook your inexperience
and enjoy your talent. You're doing something they ALL wish they could do.
DonM