Bad Night

[LukeS]

It happens! Usually as soon as the record button is pressed things start to go wrong for me...

Hilarious and unfortunately very true for me as well.

 

[catonml]

My buddies and I have a bit of a theory on this topic. We've noticed that our opinions of our own performances rarely match the perceptions of others. There seems to be an inverse relationship.
More often than not, if I come off stage disappointed with my performance, the other musicians will comment on how I nailed it, and that I've never sounded better.
Unfortunately, the reverse is also true. If I ever come off stage thinking I played well, I'll get a raised eyebrow, a joking comment about how they 'liked what I tried to do up there', or just silence from the kind people whose mothers told them 'If you can't find something nice to say....''.

So if you walk off stage depressed about how badly you just stunk up the stage, wondering whether you should sell your drums or just toss them out of the truck on the way home, you probably just had the best night of your life.

I totally found this true as well. As I played more gigs I found that most people listening to you aren't listening for mistakes. They are responding to how much fun you're having and how good the music feels. If you're messing up a bit but having a great time they still will have fun. This includes your band members.

 

[Sinclair]

It happens! Usually as soon as the record button is pressed things start to go wrong for me...

This is 100% a mental issue that every musician that has ever been in a studio has had to come to terms with. You need to find a way to remove the doubt, be in the moment and allow your best playing to appear... have confidence in how you play, flaws and all, while supporting others and having a really good time. All covered in my new self-help video course. (This concludes our session for today. See you next week. Please see the cashier on your way out. The incense is complimentary)

 

[Core Creek]

My buddies and I have a bit of a theory on this topic. We've noticed that our opinions of our own performances rarely match the perceptions of others. There seems to be an inverse relationship.
More often than not, if I come off stage disappointed with my performance, the other musicians will comment on how I nailed it, and that I've never sounded better.
Unfortunately, the reverse is also true. If I ever come off stage thinking I played well, I'll get a raised eyebrow, a joking comment about how they 'liked what I tried to do up there', or just silence from the kind people whose mothers told them 'If you can't find something nice to say....''.

So if you walk off stage depressed about how badly you just stunk up the stage, wondering whether you should sell your drums or just toss them out of the truck on the way home, you probably just had the best night of your life.

This tends to be true a lot of the time.

After 35 years as primarily a drummer I started gigging far more on guitar and bass (and just started keys), and so my perception of how a gig went is like starting from scratch. To overcome any questions I have about a gig I always record them….

Case in point, I did a gig this past Friday at a casino with a relatively new band playing 70% guitar 30% keys. My impression was it was the best we’ve sounded, comsidering it was only my fourth gig with them. My perception was right based on the video.

The next night I played a gig on guitar - 4 piece rock band I’ve been with for a year - so I’m pulling a lot of weight. I was tired from the night before, didn’t feel connected to the audience, and wrote the show off as a dud. Turns out I was wrong. I played far better than I thought, nailed almost every solo I did, and the chemistry between the four of us was as good as ever….

So take your impressions with a grain of salt, and if possible, record yourself every chance you get. I have a couple of Zoom cameras that I connect up to a USB battery pack and always try to place the camera somewhere to capture decent sound. A wonderful bi-product… I have tons of samples of my playing easily accessible online….

https://www.youtube.com/@corecreekproductions6533

 

[Skeet6]

Ya know what's funny? Over the years, I have recorded (in some form or another) almost all of my shows. I have found that the shows I felt least comfortable with (that I thought were horrible for whatever reason!) sound just fine. Sometimes MORE than fine, as feeling out of sorts put me in a different place musically. Don't sweat it, we all feel it from time to time.
Record yourself as often as possible.
Mike B

 

[Michael M.]

You ever had a bad night where you feel like you’re just dragging and the feel is off? Was not at all happy with my performance tonight and had a few brain farts I never have… Bandmates all enjoyed the gig but it’s one of those nights where I want to lock myself in the woodshed for a few days…

Tomorrow night I play some guitar and sing a little though, give the ole drum set a break for a change!

Happy gigging folks!!

Yeah I've been there a few times. It was a looong time ago, was in my early 20's . It took a while for the self loathing to go away. I loaded up and went camping with my dog for about a month. It was one of the best months of my life. Met a cool chick that was getting over being fired from a crappy job, and spent the month together and a couple years after that. I highly recommend camping.

 

[Wishoot]

Nothing more fun than when someone in the band goes out of synch with the click track. The confused look on the audiences faces is priceless.

It's hard to shake off, but you do and you move on to the next song.

 

[IVER]

Absolutely. I’ve had a few nights like this through the years. I try to get as much rest as possible but I work a full time sales job and usually play 2-3 times most weeks. I gave it up for a while but it’s in my blood and I’m fortunate to be with a great group. I attributed last night to lack of sleep and a poor diet. I’m really trying to get back on track with eating clean, I’m also diabetic which doesn’t help.

It’s also worth noting this particular room just always sounds so different to me. I wear in-ears and the engineer is fantastic but the ear mix is always blah and uninspiring. It’s like the stage sucks the life out of the drums. I always have trouble really getting into it when we play there but I’m usually able to push through and most times make it through. As stated my band mates felt good about it but I know when I’m not on the a game.

You mentioned you're diabetic, as am I (Type 1). I had a gig last night and purposely took less insulin than I would if I wasn't performing hours later. I did have an incident on the very first gig with a new jazz sextet, and the bassist, a long-time friend, recognized it and got me something to eat/drink on the break. That's the only time it ever happened, because since then I restrict insulin intake.

 

[contract73]

If any of us haven't, we are lying................ or not human

 

[spaeth]

I knew there was at least another one out there!

I’m with you guys. My big party night is I get soda water with lime.

 

[shuffle]

I had a problem for about 6 gigs where I pulled up short on a few tunes,all instrumentals,
We'd get close to the end of the tune,I just start playing the outro about 4 bars too soon! Leaving everyone hanging!
Why? It's a mystery to me! Lol

 

[RJC-DRUMS]

This is 100% a mental issue that every musician that has ever been in a studio has had to come to terms with. You need to find a way to remove the doubt, be in the moment and allow your best playing to appear... have confidence in how you play, flaws and all, while supporting others and having a really good time. All covered in my new self-help video course. (This concludes our session for today. See you next week. Please see the cashier on your way out. The incense is complimentary)

Completely agree! It's very frustrating - I usually sit and play it through 'perfectly' 5 times before tracking and then struggle when it matters.
Weirdly, it's usually kick patterns that I start to struggle with - overthink everything and it all becomes a lot more difficult!

 

[Sinclair]

- overthink everything and it all becomes a lot more difficult!

I can only speak for myself but overthinking is always counter productive and something I try to avoid (drummer joke here) when recording. First instincts are usually the best... if you trust them. It's no coincidence that first or second takes are as well.

 

[VirgoStorm]

The older I get the less I know.

(Close internet, penultimate wisdom dropped).

 

[Ludwigboy]

I came in early on the intro of Take it Easy once among other mistakes at times...this is life~

 

[Steech]

I had the worst gig of my life several years ago when I was subbing for a drummer in a friend’s band. Absolutely amazing rehearsals and I really nailed the parts so was excited for the gig. At the gig the audio was horrible and my mind just went blank. I played the first song great and then completely fell apart. The guys in the band were trying to be supportive and gave me hints but no dice. The worst part was when the drummer for the next band brought his kit on to the stage and completely snubbed me. Oh well.