Well, I'm taking the plunge - my first gig.

ack1961 · November 10, 2015, 04:36:20 AM

Long story short: A few weeks back, I was asked by my two sons (22 & 17) to open a gig with them here in Raleigh this Thursday night.
I'm almost 55 - I've never really been on stage before, and I'm certainly no musician, but "no, thanks" was not an option. It's a once in a lifetime opportunity.

It'll be just the 3 of us - all new originals (prog rock-ish) that my eldest is writing (yes, present tense). There are some weird time signature changes in some of these songs, but I'm really happy that he thinks I can do it without oversimplifying the music. I'm struggling trying to learn these songs as he writes them, but the absolute truth is that the time crunch has helped quell the nerves.

What little rehearsal time we've been able to scrounge out has been a great deal of fun, and we now have 2 full days to finish writing, transcribing and practice. I've been video recording our rehearsals and watching them constantly. I know there will be some mistakes, but I'm really looking forward to it.
I may need a push to get up there, but I'm hoping the nerves will burn away quickly...

Steve

gearHed289 · November 10, 2015, 08:28:40 AM

Awesome man! Hope you're having a great time with the project. Good luck with the gig!

Basvarken · November 10, 2015, 09:30:33 AM

Have fun! That's the most important part.

Pilgrim · November 10, 2015, 09:41:05 AM

Have fun and remember that you will notice any mistakes more than anyone else does. It's going to be fun!

uwe · November 10, 2015, 10:17:08 AM

Or in this case: PROGS together!

TBird1958 · November 10, 2015, 10:33:06 AM

You'll have a great time! So cool that you're playing with your sons

slinkp · November 10, 2015, 10:48:00 AM

This is awesome. I love when people overcome a decades-long "I'm not a musician" misapprehension. If you are doing music, you are a musician

You don't have to be a prodigy or a genius, you just have to have fun!

Dave W · November 10, 2015, 12:02:54 PM

Best of luck, and don't sweat it, you'll be fine.

ack1961 · November 10, 2015, 12:37:30 PM

Thanks all...the kind words are very much appreciated.
I'm really looking forward to this.

gweimer · November 10, 2015, 02:01:04 PM

Go for it! Enjoy it. My old drummer in Cincy, although he had played his whole life, hadn't really done a band thing until later on. He's now drumming for Scotty Anderson.

Father Gino · November 10, 2015, 02:59:35 PM

Why once in a lifetime? You may find playing in front of an audience addictive

patman · November 10, 2015, 04:42:39 PM

Scotty is a national treasure...your friend must be a good player.

Highlander · November 10, 2015, 05:44:10 PM

Have fun...!

Nocturnal · November 11, 2015, 08:31:42 PM

Relax and enjoy it. You will do great!!

Pilgrim · November 12, 2015, 08:44:33 AM

A bit of advice:

Spare cables
Spare batteries
AC extension with octopus outlet
Screwdrivers and any other tools that might come in handy
Gaffer tape
Backup bass. Strings can break. Drops can happen.
AND - take a stable guitar stand along! Never lean an instrument against a cab.

Also - never leave any equipment unattended, even for a few seconds. At load-in and load-out, split your troops so that someone is watching everything, every moment.