Ever been intimidated or nervous about someone in the crowd?

baimun

baimun

Funkasaurus Rex
Last Friday's gig was at a pretty swanky downtown club... and I was happy/excited/nervous/scared shitless that one of my long time friends (and among the most talented guitarists I've ever met) came to see us play.

I should preface that this guy went to college for music, has played in dozens of regional bands ranging from Jazz Fusion, to pop, and heavy metal. He's very low key but with hands like giant spiders... very Eric Johnson-esque.
I've sang with him many many times but having him there in the front row while I'm banging out my songs and singing definitely had me overthinking a few times.

It made me feel a little better when talking to another really talented local guy (plays in one of the top bands in the area) brought up my friend's name and said to someone standing there "That guy? Oh yeah, pound for pound probably the best guitarist in our area."

I told him abut him sitting in the front row of my show the previous week and he responded "Oooh shit... I wouldn't want him anywhere in the crowd at one of my shows. Front row? Shiiit."

Made me laugh and thought I'd share it here. :helper:
 
baimun said:
We'll, I've got me playing, so I've got the "less than stellar" thing covered. :helper:
Click to expand...

LOL I play in church often, and one Sunday we had a very talented young woman singing and playing for us. Someone suggested that the two of us should play together sometime. I told him that it wouldn't be fair to her.
 
This morning I texted him "I have to be honest, you made me extremely nervous sitting there in the front row... but I'm really glad you came out. Hope you had a good time"

Just got his response: "Haha I had no idea, u hid it well! Had a great time. Doing an acoustic project myself, I have a lot more appreciation for how hard it is & I don't even sing lol!"

:grin:
 
Not in that sense and the only examples I can think of is one gig an old originals band did where some girl we kind of knew took quite a shine to my brother pre gig and spent our set in an alcohol induced slump over my monitor which put her in prime position to spew all over my pedal board.

Apart from that, when DJing: the million daft high heeled drunk ditzes that don't seem to realise that swaying around hovering a large pinot grigio thousands of quid worth of gear to ask for some Pitbull song isn't my idea of a good time.
 
I am lucky in that I just go out and do the best I can, and have fun doing it. I know there are far more talented folks than me out there, and that's okay. I'm the best "me" there is.
 
I played in some seedy places where a few of the bar rats were giving me looks like they were going to knife me on the way to the parking lot. That's kind of intimidating.
 
Yeah. Opening for Local H did that to me. I'd had a guitar for a couple years when I first heard them, but it was that first record of theirs I bought that made me want to really play the fucking thing.

Having him scowling at us from the VIP balcony was a bit unnerving, to be sure.
 
Oh yeah. There have been times where there have been some pretty well known musicians (or local guys I respect) in the audience. That's when I bring my best game. :)
It only serves as great inspiration for me, I don't really get nervous when it happens. All about having faith in your ability imo. :)
 
Only when I'm trying to impress a girl. :embarrassed:

Which reminds me, one of my ex-gfs is coming to our next show. panic0
 
creepy-indian-guy-o.gif
 
Even though I replied before, I was thinking about the worst nerves I have had recently. It was at the blues jams that I attend regularly knowing that Allan Holdsworth was in the audience. Now that I have become a friend of his, it is no big deal but the first time was like.....DDDDDDDOOOOOOODDDDDDDEEEEEEEEE.......
 
Only when a person who can provide the band with a new opportunity is in the crowd. Other than that, we're in a really supportive music community.
 
MicWalt came to my show yesyetday, talk about intimidating!

That dude has mad skillz

Sent from my LG-LS720 using Tapatalk
 
Yeah when i was younger it used to happen.As I've gotten older i really just dont care about impressing another musician.I tend to worry more about if thesound is balanced, if the crowd is dancing and if they are buying enough Alcohol to get us re booked
 
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