First gig jitters

Justin Griffith · Post by **Justin Griffith** » 22 Jul 2006 10:10 am

Tonight I will be playing my first "real" gig. As most of you know I had a bad car wreck a year ago and am just now starting to get around a little. My right foot is what is damaged the worst so pedals should be ok. I also will be using a new amp that I am not very used to. I guess I will use my Sho-Bud Professional with 7A matchbox to L-120 to RV-3 to Dual Showman Reverb coupled to a Black widdow.
I "kinda" know the guys im gonna play with and told them not to expect too much. I also told them $ was not a concern. There will be bass, drums, Keys, and a 6 stringer.
The tunes will be mostly traditional country. I understand not stepping on others etc. But I am worried about what to play when they want me to take a ride. I have been tought by Bill Dearmore, Jody Cameron, Don Sowersby, And Neil Flanz.
I have been "noodling" with psg for about 5 years but only recently devoted time and effort to playing. After my wreck I have had lots of free time so I have been practicing a bunch.
Jody and Don feel like I am "ripe" and need to move on and play. I dont feel ready but everyone agrees this sould be the next step.
I would really like some advice from everyone because each of you have been in my situation at one time. My "normal" music job is running sound and driving band busses so I know what I should do I'm just not sure if I can. So please fire away and dont hold back anything in fear of hurting my feelings.
If anyone is gonna be in the Georgetown, Tx area please drop by with your picks and bail me out.

Thanks in advance,
Justin

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Justin Griffith
D-10 Sho-Bud Professional,Blanton SD-10 4X2,Fender Steel King,Nashville 400,Matchbox 7-A,Hilton Dig Sustain,Goodrich L-120's,Emmons seat.

Marlin Smoot · Post by **Marlin Smoot** » 22 Jul 2006 11:04 am

I think we're in the entertainment field for many reasons and one reason is because its fun. Go play and have fun. Later, when the jobs get more serious....you can have some serious fun.

I had my pedal steel about one week before I went to the band stand with it (nearly 30 years ago) I didn't get paid...and needless to say, I didn't know how to do much except go from pedals down major chord then slide to pedals off major chord. I was very limited (still am) but I had such a great time.

The band let me come back several weekends, anytime I could (for free of course) but I enjoyed it and I felt like a 'steel player'...what a great feeling still today.

Go play, have fun.

Justin Griffith · Post by **Justin Griffith** » 22 Jul 2006 11:23 am

Thanks

Chris LeDrew · Post by **Chris LeDrew** » 22 Jul 2006 11:34 am

Have a blast!

Gary Lee Gimble · Post by **Gary Lee Gimble** » 22 Jul 2006 1:23 pm

Justin, just play it simple stupid, the melody. You can't go wrong with that and thanks again for your hospitality last week.
gary

Ray Minich · Post by **Ray Minich** » 22 Jul 2006 1:41 pm

Go Man Go! Don't hold nothing back, give it all ya got![This message was edited by Ray Minich on 22 July 2006 at 02:42 PM.]

Pat Carlson · Post by **Pat Carlson** » 22 Jul 2006 3:44 pm

Justin, I just played my first gig this month! Take a small flaslight so you can see the cords plugs and the like in your rack, Also a small towel to wipe the sweat off your brow.It is exhilerating when you get through it!

Papa Joe Pollick · Post by **Papa Joe Pollick** » 22 Jul 2006 4:27 pm

Go fer it Justin..Remember, almost every one there will be wishing that they could be doin what what you will be doin..And the main rule,K.I.S.S.
PJ

Mike Ester · Post by **Mike Ester** » 22 Jul 2006 5:13 pm

I'm probably a little late with this, but you'll be just fine.

I remember my first gig ever playing banjo with a bluegrass band (sorry, b0b). I stepped up to the mike to take a solo and the mike fell out of the clip.

I doubt you'll have anything as traumatic as that happen.

Chip Fossa · Post by **Chip Fossa** » 22 Jul 2006 10:35 pm

Justin...

"JUST"go"IN" play.

Relax.

"Don't worry" "Be happy"

Getting up in front of people and playing is probably the best practice or learning curve you will find. There is no substitute. All the scales, licks, theory, and full songs you've worked on, and are still working on, mean nothing until you get up and do it. You have to do it. There is no short cut here.

If all goes well [and even if it doesn't] you will walk away a much better musician than you were 4-5 hours before the gig.

Playing in front of an audience just tightens you up. It's the best thing. Look forward to it. Embrace it. Putting your whole essence on the line, in front of the "world" is a big deal, I think.

Actually, even if you mess up a little, so what? Only great things will come to you for this daring adventure.

Good Luck![This message was edited by CHIP FOSSA on 22 July 2006 at 11:37 PM.]

Bobby Bowman · Post by **Bobby Bowman** » 22 Jul 2006 11:39 pm

Go get 'em Justin. Think of that guitar as a washing machine or a dryer and you'll tear it up.

! Good luck and may God bless,
BB

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If you play 'em, play 'em good!
If you build 'em, build 'em good!
http://www.bobbybowman.com

Jim Eaton · Post by **Jim Eaton** » 22 Jul 2006 11:53 pm

Put a fresh 3rd & 5th string on you guitar before the gig, then just play what your sure of and remember to look up and smile at the folks and enjoy yourself. You only get one chance at your "first gig", so have fun!
JE:-)>

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Emmons D10PP 8/4 -75'
Emmons SD-12PP 3/4
Zum SD-12 5/5 - 91'
76'Session 400
86'Nashville 400
06'Nashville 112 x 2

Justin Griffith · Post by **Justin Griffith** » 23 Jul 2006 7:42 am

Thanks for all the help gang. I made it through ok. I stayed nervous through the whole gig. All of my equipment worked fine. (No amp trouble,broken strings etc.)
I did have a lot of trouble with my right foot. Its the one that got torn up in the wreck. Knees on right leg were impossible after the first set. I need to get my Dr to address this.
Everyone was nice and I got a lot of complements on my tone etc. I have been invited back but I feel like there are some things I need to work on first. So its back to the old woodshed a while.
Everyone was right about playing live vs playing at home. I learned a lot of things and have a better idea of what I need to work on now. Thanks again for all the help y'all are the best.
Justin[This message was edited by Justin Griffith on 23 July 2006 at 08:44 AM.]

James Morehead · Post by **James Morehead** » 23 Jul 2006 7:17 pm

Hey Justin, Good for you, you got that first one under your belt, and now that you have momentum, get back on stage as fast as you can (unless Doc says to slow up!

). Don't let alot of time lapse. You will clean up alot of your mistakes that way, by staying frequent with live performance, by becoming aware of them. Hard to describe it, but this momentum can really work in your favor if you will take advantage of it, it helps you aquire a certain kind of focus. Remember, we as musicians are 100 times harder on our selves than anybody else.

Yes go ahead and woodshed, but do it in between gigs, and keep yourself gigging as often as possible.
Nothing like on the job training. Have fun.

Rick Garrett · Post by **Rick Garrett** » 24 Jul 2006 3:38 am

Glad it went well Justin. Hope you get to feeling better soon too.

Rick

Paul Wade · Post by **Paul Wade** » 24 Jul 2006 4:00 am

justin,
glad you fun . just listen to everthing the band, c.d's . i know been there done it
good luck. hey, how about posting some pix's

p.w

mundelein,ill

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 24 Jul 2006 12:39 pm

Congratulations! Just keep at it, it gets easier all the time. (That is, until you're my age!

)

Mike Ester · Post by **Mike Ester** » 24 Jul 2006 5:20 pm

See, Justin? It didn't even sting, did it?

Don Powalka · Post by **Don Powalka** » 26 Jul 2006 7:03 pm

I had to reply to this, even though it is "after the fact". I've found thoughout the years of my playing there's always some sort of "first". Solos and Ensembles in high school were my first hair raising event--you and a piano player in a room full of strangers and a judge scrutinizing every note, to be repeated annually with a harder selection each year. Then, the first year our high school had a jazz band and I was guitar player. The first time I had a paying job out of my home town. The guy who taught me how to play got us a gig for the Fourth of July in a neighboring town. All of us kids got scared to death and froze up!!!! Paul yelled at us to snap us out of it. We still laugh about that one. The first time I played at a country pick off I was about ready to die too. One that I played at I got so nervous that I accidently started the wrong song-didn't matter too much, we still ended up with second place.Last spring when I played at my first steel guitar player's jam nite, I was shaking in my boots and managed to have the time of my life.Same thing when just a month after I got my Dobro for Christmas last year, I took a gig with a friend of mine who was previously doing a one man folk act. We found a grove and loved it.I'd love to do it again, but my friend has passed on. Point is, as long as you perform, you are going to be nervous. Roll with it and enjoy the ride. I always used to worry about my sound until a guy told me to sound like Don Powalka. Go out there and be yourself. Good luck to you !!!

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Fender Strat Fender Tele Gibson Les Paul ShoBud U12 Genuine Dobro Washburn B16 banjo for aggravation[This message was edited by Don Powalka on 26 July 2006 at 08:05 PM.]

Steve Stallings · Post by **Steve Stallings** » 30 Jul 2006 9:20 am

Justin,
I'm sorry I missed this. If you ever want to head over to Bremond, give me a holler. Of course, with the list of folks who have helped you learn, I may not be much help

The Ballad of Jake Masters

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Steve Stallings
The Songs