For the beginner, semi - or pro playing out. ...it's how John Prine got started! Questions, Help - Your Promos & Photos too

9 Members, Created 2/27/2011 -

Administrators: TonyS (owner) , David M , Milli2 , panthersquall , Paul R

my 6th or 7th time out

From panthersquall on 7/26/2011 8:46:57 PM

I took a few months off from doing the open mics recently while tending to some personal issues but a few weeks ago me and TGP went to a new one and wow. We really sucked! So we doubled our practice nights and worked on our starting and ending together, and tonight we went back out there and gave it good try.

Strangely, about 30 minutes before going over to Dave's house, a case of nerves really got my stomach to feeling bad. I thought 'why am I doing this?' And I thought I might actually hurl! (Don't know what the overseas expression for that is - lose your cookies?)

I got to TGP's house and he said he was nervous too.

I guess it's just something that doesn't go away? Not yet, anyway!

But then we got to the bar and had a beer or two, and we had some time to practice outside for a few minutes before our turn came up and we were both playing pretty well. My nausea subsided.

Our turn came and we got up to the stage (just a corner of the bar, not really a "stage" stage) and because they were short of microphones (we need 4, and they only had 3), they had to plug in Dave's acoustic guitar. Sound disaster ensued.

They plugged his guitar in and mic'd my banjo. You can imagine...

For the first 3 songs all I could hear from the speaker directly next to my ear was either the guitar or feedback. I couldn't hear what I was playing at all! I played 3 whole songs without being able to hear a note.

It was so annoying I almost stopped a couple times. The guy who was doing the sound was directly behind me and moving around us the whole time. At one point, there were 2 people, one pulling the mic so close to my banjo that my hand had no room to move, they had to move it back. Oh it was just horrible! And completely unexpected.

But they got it right by the last 2 songs and we just played away, having a really good time! We both agreed it was definitely the best we've ever played in public. In spite of the sound guy.

So these issues come up time and time again: pre-performance anxiety; with its attending physical symptoms, and self-doubt; questioning what I'm doing/why I'm doing it and thinking of quitting. And trouble with the sound!

It is a really long, long way from pickin' in your living room to pickin' in front of people. It opens up this whole big other can of worms. Who knew?

2 Comments
	rendesvous1840 says: 7/27/2011 10:17:28 AM Sound guys can vary a lot. I used to attent two open mic's at the same coffee shop, with different hosts. The Wednesday host is a professional musician, a very good acoustic guitarist. My guitar always sounded weak and tinny with him doing the sound. Of Fridays, the sound was rich and full, with a bus driver running the sound. Turns out the pro set everything flat and never adjusted it at all. The bus driver attended the Wednesday sessions too, and had the same situation. The pro always had a gig on Fridays, so he never saw the difference. He may have thought it was our guitars, or room acoustics at fault.
	David M says: 7/27/2011 1:31:43 PM I can relate to your experience Laurie..!! It all makes you wonder what the heck you were thinking putting youself forward to perform eh..!! After you've finished there's that little elation and self satisfaction feeling streaming through you. I wish my club had a mic setup, it would help my bare finger picking no end. Glad it got sorted for you for two whole songs and you ended up enjoying yourselves.. ;-) Best wishes.....David
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