Nervous Man, Nervous

[Joey the Saint]

Not the song. The player. Nervous as hell.

Tonight's the Seattle Weekly Music Showcase. 50 bands, 6 clubs. They sent their talent scouts out and picked 5 or 6 Rock/Punk/Soul/Blues/etc. bands in town and will put it to a public vote. We're one of the Blues Bands. Yay team.

It's just about time to jump in the shower, do a few chinups, go over my horn, what-have-you. I have a 6 PM check-in and an 8 PM downbeat. It's now 4:25.

This is a club that we play regularly. We kill 'em, there; the top draw in town. All the other bands are our friends. There's nothing at stake; the award will be given after a vote by the readers. This is just a showcase gig. One, 45- minute slot.

Why am I nervous?

Because as I've inched into the blues scene here, there have been certain people who have been very kind, patient, and guiding to a scrawny kid in leather pants who originally had the embouchure of a bloodhound on muscle relaxants.

These are the old pros around here, the 20-year veterans who've given me gigs, bought me drinks, and called me on my bull$#!+ when I deserved it. Most of them are in the other bands tonight. These are the people I've looked up to since I was a pup in this town, playing weeknight sub gigs. Tonight I'm lead tenor in a band that is expected to be a peer to the bands I've admired for years. Every musician that I don't want to screw up in front of will be there; we're on second out of six bands. And on top of it all, we're opening with a Prysock-influenced tenor feature because my bandleader wants to "show (me) off." The bastard.

Not asking for "Attaboys," though prayers would be nice. I've been reciting Gus Grissom's "Please, God, don't let me ---- up," all day.

I just wanted to let anyone reading this know that even the "pros" get the bejammers scared outta them sometimes. I don't get stagefright. I was twelve years old before I knew what stagefright was; it was a shock to me that other people didn't LIKE to show off. My hands have been shaking and I've been grinding my jaw all day. This gig scares the hell outta me.

Okay. Deep breath, and then into the breach. I'm sure I'll have a blast once I get up there. I'll keep you all posted.

- J.

(Incidentally, if you're in Seattle, we play at 8 PM at Doc Maynard's. Theres a $7 cover for every club in the square. First band starts at 7.)

[gary]

You'll do fine, Joey.

I've had similar experiences. Keep in mind that most of those in the audience already have heard you zillions of times and know what you can -and can't- do. If you have a bad night, you'll hate yourself for it but you'll also be your own worst critic. The other folks who know your playing will know it was just one of those things. They've been there too.

And if you do great, well then great!

When I get nervous, I try to take my ego out of the equation and concentrate on the music. That the music goes through me to the audience and that I am not the originator (hence having something to gain or lose) but a conduit of the music.

Good luck. Carb and water up before the gig. Don't do it on an empty stomach. Stay one drink behind the audience. Have fun. And let us know how it goes.

[retromom]

Not the song. The player. Nervous as hell.

(Incidentally, if you're in Seattle, we play at 8 PM at Doc Maynard's. Theres a $7 cover for every club in the square. First band starts at 7.)

Oh man I would absolutely LOVE to see something like this, I wish I could be there but I'm in Pa.
Good luck to you tonight, I don't even know you and I still
don't have a doubt in my mind
I really respect you for the feelings you have for your mentors.

[Bill Mecca]

be the horn, nananananananana...

relax Joe, up know those old vets that bought you drinks, called you on your Bul$**t, who got you gigs, you are a reflection of them. While they maybe in competition tonight, they are rooting for you as well. You're all in the same club, you're a musician, they are a musician, now if you were a dj, then you might be in trouble... but I know you're not.

You're gonna kill. I'm there in spirit my friend...

Keep Honkin'

[Bones]

I understand completely. There's nothing more nerve wracking than performing in front of your peers and those you have respected for years. Good luck!

[Joey the Saint]

It went moderately well. The P.A. was a piece of crap -- there was a 2-4K standing wave coming back at us that was like fog, one of the rental amps was blown, and the bass amp was set up bi-amped with the highs running into the cabinet and the lows running into the P.A. WTH? All that aside, I was scared as hell until about ten seconds into the first song, and then I was fine. No major disasters, the crowd loved us, everyone says we did well. Yay team. Thanks, all.

[Super 20 Player]

Still got the leather pants?

[Joey the Saint]

Sadly, no.

That is one SWEEEEET emoticon, though.

[JL]

I was scared as hell until about ten seconds into the first song, and then I was fine.

Hey man, glad it went well, in spite of the P.A. Stagefright is a funny thing. I never really have it either, since, like you, I can't understand why people don't like getting up there and playing in front of a crowd. But on occasion I get nervous prior to a gig, and I don't always know why. But the minute I get up on stage, all the nervousness disappears. I'm thankful for that.

By the way, I dislike these kinds of competitions---which band is "better." To me music is not about which band or player is best. That's a lot of BS in my opinion, unless it's done in fun. And I get the sense that was the case here. I do think music is about playing and sounding good, but comparisons, especially between good bands and players, are not what's happening.