TromboneChat

I took over a big band about two months/four rehearsals ago.  I have been playing tbone for over 40 years, over ten years in this band, but have had ZERO experience conducting/leading a band until two months ago. The founder finally sold his horn and is gone, which is a mixed blessing - it is now my band entirely, not a shared endeavor.  My crutch is gone.

Tonight is a maybe gig/maybe rehearsal.  A VFW has been letting us rehearse once a month since September.  Tonight was supposed to be a fundraising dinner for them, but it fell apart on their part.  No dinner, no fundraiser, but they said have been putting the word out and we should have an audience.  How big, how many will be at the bar with their backs to us and how many will be listening to us, who knows.  I have a set list ready, all charts we have played well in the past. 

No pay gig, no big deal audience, familiar music.  Why am I so nervous?????

'Cos the first time is always scariest. 

How'd it go? Any train wrecks? Any anxiety about the NEXT maybe gig/maybe rehearsal?

Gotta block them betas.

Quote from: LowrBrass on Dec 04, 2017, 07:32PM'Cos the first time is always scariest. 

How'd it go? Any train wrecks? Any anxiety about the NEXT maybe gig/maybe rehearsal?

Like my wife predicted, a non-event.  Not many people there, all at the bar.  We played some charts better than ever!  The drummer was a sub I had never met, but turns out he has a master's degree in music and taught jazz improv.  He wants to come backm which I took as a compliment.    Sight read Curnow's arrangement of Here's That Rainy Day, sound good, will put it in the book.

Gotta say that knowing there were people on this forum who were reading my post and could understand my flop sweat helped me mentally. Thanks to everybody! 

There is a first time for everything.

/Tom

I'm late...
Channel the nervous energy into forward-propelling excitement and focus

I'm late...
Channel the nervous energy into forward-propelling excitement and focus