1four5 - Posted - 04/10/2010:  20:24:20

When I say I'm in a local band, I mean really local, small stuff. Parties and retirement communities and Church. We are very busy, but still, it's small potatoes and lots and lots of fun.

I hope you all don't mnd if I share my joys and thrills and terror. A few weeks ago we got a call to see if we wanted to open for a gospel quartet. Of course! we take anything we can get. So today is the day, and we are to report to the theater at 6 pm, and the show starts at 7:30. Cool. Well today I look up the headliners, and it's These Guys. I took off for the theater... just like I go to any place to play. Then the "firsts" started! It was the first time I've ever seen our band on the Marque... yikes! I went to the ally in the back... and there was a big tour bus back there with guys unloading stuff! The I went in, and it's the first time I've ever been on a stage taller than me! Then I saw that there were programs... and it's the first time my name's ever been in a program! YIKES!

By this time I'm starting to wonder what I'm doing here! We set up our stuff (dwarfed by their stuff), and the "stage lady" said to make sure and have everything behind the big red curtian line. Then we do sound checks... and the guy in the booth way up in the balcony is shining spotlights on us! Another first! Man... I'm shaking just doing sound checks. But it was all very exciting at the same time.

Then everything is ready and people start showing up... I'm looking for a bathroom, it's near the entrance... and I see people PAYING to get in! holy smokes another first. I've never played where people bought tickets. They payed $8 to see the show. Of course they didn't come to see us really, but you know, it was cool to think that.

Then it was time for terror like I haven't felt since the first time I played in a big Church 5 years ago. Only this time... there were curtians (another first) spotlights (first) and a paying crowd! just three liiiitle people on a BIIIIIIG stage and I couldn't feel my fingers and my knees were teetering, and the lights were blinding (note to self, don't look into them ever again) and it was too late to run for my life. Tom looked over at me and said "ready?" and I squeeked "yep" about 3 octives higher than usual. My saving grace was that the audience was really too dark to see well.

We kicked off the first song, and the rest is just a blurr! My fingers knew what to do, and the place came to sing and clap and we were in the groove by the end of the first verse of the first song. What a rush, and I didn't even blow my lead on Mountian Highway. And the people were clapping for breaks! (mostly for our awsome guitar player) and that's another first.

It was all over way too quick! It was cool to feel all those emotions again for the next level of "how did I ever get into this mess!" and want to run at first, but then can't wait to do it again. Then the stage lady handed us a nice check. That was cool too She said we did great and the people were having a good time.

We had 10 minutes to tear down and get off the stage and we made it! Then the act everyone came to see fired up there show. But for a few moments in time... I was doing something I never dreamed I could or would ever do. I've been floating on a cloud ever since.

panthersquall - Posted - 04/10/2010:  20:32:59

Wow, Dean, how cool was that!?! Way to go! Congratulations on your big adventure! You were very brave :-) I think I would've hurled... or just plain fainted dead away. Thanks for sharing the excitement!

Grumpy1 - Posted - 04/10/2010:  20:50:36

The mark of a true performer. You held it all together when it counts and had them tapping their toes. Good for you!

kwfolk1 - Posted - 04/10/2010:  21:04:30

Ah! You'e experienced what I refer to as a performance high. Savor it foar as long as you can.

Cuzzin Donny - Posted - 04/10/2010:  21:28:04

Congrats to the whole Gang.

Grum - Posted - 04/10/2010:  21:34:16

Great story. I got all anxious just reading it!

D.W. - Posted - 04/10/2010:  21:44:48

That's a very cool story. Thanks for sharing it.

rvrose - Posted - 04/10/2010:  22:27:56

What a cool story Dean! Sounds like the makin's of a bluegrass song. Maybe something to the tune of "Battle of New Orleans". I couldn't resist - here is the first verse and chorus:

In 2010 we took a little trip
Along with the band to a stage were we could pick
We took along the banjo and our name was on the sign
And we made em clap their hands to the four four time

Chorus:
We couldn’t feel our hands but we kept on a strummin
Our knees were a shak’n and lights were in our eyes
We played once a gain and they clapped on the breaks
Up on the tall stage jamming with the guys

scooter46 - Posted - 04/10/2010:  22:30:18

Dean, congrats on all the first, sounds like you really enjoyed yourself. Larry

bangee boy - Posted - 04/11/2010:  01:43:35

Great read...thanks for sharing...well written!

1four5 - Posted - 04/11/2010:  02:04:51

Thanks you all! Got up this morning... yep, still floating Great Song Rick!... Now I've got that tune running through my head... at least we didn't run through the brambles...!

barbbanjo - Posted - 04/11/2010:  03:30:00

What a great story, Dean, and what a super song, Rick! It's 3:30 AM here in WA state and this thread was just what I needed to give me a boost. Thanks for sharing and congrats on all your staying power. There was an old WWII motto that went "Stay strong and keep going" and you guys did it!

scaggs7 - Posted - 04/11/2010:  03:34:45

Dean, Looks like you should get rvroae to write you some more songs.

steve davis - Posted - 04/11/2010:  03:51:04

Great story,Dean.Makes you want to do it again,I bet.

RatLer - Posted - 04/11/2010:  04:32:36

That's great, Dean! Hope that's just the first of many more great performances....congratulations!! Can't wait to hear about ya'll's first road trip and maybe even that first bus...cool...

Grinnin&Pickin - Posted - 04/11/2010:  06:01:38

Thanks for sharing your story. It's a good "carrot" for us newbies to use for inspiration in playing for ourselves and others.

youdye - Posted - 04/11/2010:  06:36:42

GREAT GOING DEAN!!! I am proud of you!! Wish I could have been there to see you play!

3fingers - Posted - 04/11/2010:  11:16:33

Dean I laughed and smiled all the way through your story I'v been there myself and know just just how your feel and congratulations on keeping it together cause you start second guessing yourself and think well should I just keep the break simple so I wont goof it up and get so far out on a limb that I cant get back or do I do it the way I normally do and make it sound good. My wife is real good about that she starts thinking about all the things that can go wrong and makes herself extra nervous Shes starts in and I just tell her now stop it, lets go out there and have a goodtime. I had a good day yesterday too. We played a all BG Gospel show with the Rarely Herd and 3 other bands and one of the groups asked me if I would start doing some shows with them when Borrowed Tyme wasnt booked so I'm kinda lookin forward to playin with them. They dont play as much as Borrowed Tyme does but they normally play bigger venues when they do play so 'm kinda psyched.
Good luck Dean and keep at it

Craig

1four5 - Posted - 04/11/2010:  13:33:12

Thanks again everyone I definately was doing some second guessing, but then I kept telling myself I've played the songs a million times. once again I learned that the nerves leading up to the the first note are way worse than when you start playing (knowing that really helps). Anyone who knows me (or read my blog) knows that all this is certianly not me! I kind of got drawn into all this by friends. But it sure is fun!

rendesvous1840 - Posted - 04/11/2010:  16:23:49

Wow! That's just too cool for words! Now write a note to the nice stage lady and tell her thanks for having your band at their show, and make sure she knows you would like to come back any time she has an opening. Feed that buzz, so it grows. Congratulations on a fine performance, Dean.
Paul

mike gregory - Posted - 04/11/2010:  19:19:24

OK, you're now one of the kids who the Coach thinks is tough enough to scrimmage with the Varsity.

Congrads all over you & your band.

swirlypillow - Posted - 04/23/2010:  09:38:58

Dude, that's awesome! I know just the feeling you're talking about before going on. Happens every time before I play a live show and I've played more live shows (on bass guitar anyway) than I can remember. It's like, you're nervous and you think you're gonna wreck the whole thing, and then your fingers take over and work some magic. I've even caught myself zoning out while playing a live show and watching a football game that was on a TV hanging over the bar, and not paying attention to my fingers. I knew if I focused too hard on what they were doing I'd stumble over a bass line and wreck the whole thing. Congrats man!