Worst ever performance experience

[bruno]

Though this would be interesting - mine is easy.

Many moons ago, my eldest daughter was learning the violin. Her teacher was very 'jolly-hockey-sticks' and very good at getting people to do things. She ran a music group - and when she found out that I could play roped me in. The group was mainly made up of early learners, with some additional advanced players providing support. She wanted the group to join in a community xmas concert at a local village hall, and selected a piece that was way to hard for the group. It was called 'so let us be merry', and was a rather complex arrangement, full of syncopated beats and strange time signatures - it was very hard to play! We practiced and practiced - and could just about pull it off with the teacher providing a very strong lead - but it was touch and go. On the day of the concert, she had flu, so couldn't attend - so she sent her friend along with a tape recorder to see how well we did. We had a full audience - all expecting fantastic things from this string group. Mrs B was in the audience. We started, and within 2 bars every one was lost, 15 players all playing different things at the same time - I got the giggles cos it was sooooo bad, random christmas tunes all at the same time, all out of time - and out of tune. Mrs B had to leave the hall, partly because of embarrassment, partly to laugh. On finishing this most hideous piece, the compare came out and thanked us for a most 'interesting rendition' of this piece. Then out came out the bag-pipes - I was in the line of fire - what a concert!

Never heard the tape - and nothing was ever said.

That's my story!

B.

[Ferryman_1957]

Sounds pretty bad/fun in equal doses.

One of the most off putting gigs I did was in about 1980 when my punk/power pop band was booked to play a gig somewhere on the South Coast, our "manager" said it would be a great venue. Turned up and the place was full of about 200 skinheads (and we did not play ska!). Nearly sh*t myself (as did the rest of the band). The gig actually turned out quite well, so the performance was good fun, but I probably felt the most scared I have ever been when we turned up at the venue!

Cheers,

Nigel 

[bruno]

Nigel - that's sound scary - it reminds me of the Blue Brothers playing Raw Hide behind chicken wire, an experience that I would wish to avoid ....  

[64Guitars]

15 players all playing different things at the same time

I think that's called "Jazz". 


Here are a couple of my worst experiences:

https://songcrafters.org/community/index.php?topic=4764.msg58354#msg58354

Another was when I performed at an outdoor festival as part of a rock trio. We were the first act and the monitors weren't working. The stage was a long, flat-bed trailer. I was stage left, the drummer in the middle, and the bass player stage right. With no monitors, we couldn't hear each other at all! I have no idea what it sounded like to the audience but we muddled through our set somehow. They got the monitors working before the next act came on.

[bruno]

From you referenced post - hah yeah - I hated when the band was counting in 1-2-3-4, and you've got to remember how the songs go before 4! Utter terror!
Playing violin from a young age - I was used to performing, so standing up and playing has never been a problem (I never sang though, just played) - however, when I playing in the band, before a gig, I'd always get a really cold left hand, it was really annoying - so I had to warm it up. Funny how the brain plays these kind of tricks on you. I think with classical, its all about discipline and practice - so the time you play - you're on auto pilot.