Rough Night

Dan Klotz · From: Houston, Texas

Well Fellers,

I had a rough gig last night. I'm gonna go ahead and bare my soul on this one. I usually have a short memory when it comes to mistakes or a distraction, but this one got me a little bit and I think it's good to learn from it and move on. I'm not looking to make excuses. I'd just like to get some advice and chew the fat on the subject. Maybe someone else can learn from it too.

background:
I've been a guitar player for more than 30 years, but only played steel for about a year and a half. I read and write number charts and use them all the time, mostly on guitar. The gig last night was with a band that I've played with a handful of times on guitar, and I think this was the 3rd gig with them on steel. The last time was over a month ago. I do have to read charts on this gig. I know the tunes, but not well enough on steel to just go in and throw down. My motto for steel up this point has been "lay off the curve balls, but take a hard swing at at the fast balls" lol. I'm not trying to copy paul Franklin solos, I just try to play something that fits and sounds good, and catch as many signature licks as I can.

practice/preparation:
Since we're smack dab in the middle of the holidays, I didn't get to practice this material weeks ago. I had Monday, Tuesday, and some daytime hours to practice for the gig on Wednesday night. I practiced like a madman the last couple of days. I probably put in 12-15 hours in, just working out parts and solos, etc. I felt prepared and confident going into the gig. I don't have problems with stage fright or nervousness, I just like to have my material screwed down tight, especially being new to steel.

Well..... I was having major intonation problems. The guitar went sharp a couple of times, but I just couldn't get locked in. My intonation was off a lot. This band uses in ear monitors. My amp was right behind me but I couldn't hear it with only one ear monitor in. I was trying to keep the stage volume down and use the in ears. I even had my own control on my mix. I just never could get settled in to a happy place. Either my steel was too low to where I couldn't hear the lower volume licks, or I'd turn it up, and then I was too loud to hear the bass for pitch reference.

I also had some cool stuff worked up and botched the execution. I did nail some intros that I'd learned and had moments where it felt good.

Then the icing on the cake was my 3rd string broke (again).It was towards the end of the night, so I just finished out on guitar. That's the 3rd or 4th time that I've replaced it since I put that set of strings on. I have been using a 12 but I read that an 11 will break less. Has anyone found that to be true? I'm playing a Derby D10.

I learned a long time ago that the difference between my best gig and my worst was what was going on between my ears. I wasn't nervous at all, I just couldn't get settled. So, I'm not making excuses, but here's some take thoughts and questions, and Id like to hear your opinion:

1. Do you think there's such a thing as too much practice before a gig? I'm wondering if I overdid it. I didn't feel as coordinated and sharp. My left hand cramps up every now and then too.

2. In ear monitors/stage volume- I have used them on other gigs. I usually go one in/one out so I can hear my amp.I couldn't hear it all last night. I think I need to give my amp a little more head room so I can hear everything well, even it when the note is dying out.

3. reading charts- It is a lot harder to read charts and play steel! When I play guitar, I can look at the chart and only glance down a the guitar every now and then for a lick or solo. Steel is the opposite- I need to look at the steel all the time and I'm trying to glance up at chart. It's harder to keep your place. I find it hard to memorize tunes that I only play once a month.

What's your 2 cents?

Thanks in advance!

PS- At least I have another gig tomorrow with a different band. Gotta get back up on the horse, right?

Tom Gorr · From: Three Hills, Alberta

I've only gigged for the past year on steel...gigged guitar and bass for a very long time...but you may try winging it some day...trust yourself and your ear and improvise the entire night. You will tend to under play compared to a rehearsed set and that's not a bad thing. Let inspiration take over during the steel breaks.

Over time you will explore the pockets of each song and something natural to your taste will emerge as a foundation you can build on.

I tend to choke playing memorized lines...its gotta be natural and inuitive or I cant make it fly...maybe you.,'re the same way.

Jim Cohen · From: Philadelphia, PA

Most E9 steel guitar string sets use an 011 for the high G# string. I think it's pretty rare that players would use an 012 and you just re-discovered the reason. I suggest an 011 before you develop facial scars... Whoa!

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Gary Cooper · From: Atmore, Alabama

More practice is needed with all your equipment.
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GFI Ultra SD-10; Nashville 112; Hilton pedal, George L Cables; Pearse bar; Live Stings;Walker seat by Billy Knowles.

Dan Klotz · From: Houston, Texas

Tom- Great advice! I do improvise quite a bit, usually by stringing ideas together from each pocket. (a lot of Jeff Newman licks) On other things I have ideas worked out. One of the things that I botched was a fancy new lick I had worked up:eek: ... I hit some and missed some.

Jim- It definitely makes me jump when it breaks!!! I guess I'll throw the 11 back on.

Gary- I practice with the same rig everyday that I use on the gigs. Can you elaborate on that?

Thanks for the input! Keep 'em comin'!

Mike Perlowin · From: Los Angeles CA

Alvin Douglas · From: Prince Edward Island

I wouldn't be too hard on yourself. It's all about being able to hear and if you could not near yourself, I'm not surprised that it threw you off. On stage mix is everything.
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John Booth · From: Columbus Ohio, USA

Intros and outros are important to learn and execute as well as possible in a live setting.
After that I recommend less stress by just playing and enjoying what you're doing in the middle.
This has worked for me for over 45 years now.
_________________
Jb in Ohio
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GFI S10 Ultra, Telecaster, a Hound Dog, and an Annoyed Wife
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Lane Gray · From: Topeka, KS

Bad days happen. And they just snowball while you're in them.
Forget it and move on.
_________________
2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects

Charlie McDonald · From: out of the blue

You can practice too much.
(I myself never have had that particular comfort zone when it comes time for the gig.
One can also practice too little.)

But when you're well-rehearsed and time comes to play and your pitch reference is the bass
due to stage volume and the earbuds, everything has changed,
and the acoustic environment is now in one ear....

Modern appliances create difficulties. Hard to know what to get comfortable with. It's a challenge.
'Be ready or be prepared,' a musician said. (Maybe he was saying I needed to practice more, or less--who knows.)

Maybe last night was practice and now you're ready.
It'd be fun to read the rest of the story tomorrow....
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Those that say don't know; those that know don't say.--Buddy Emmons

Markus Mayerhofer · From: Vienna, Austria

This situation sounds quite familiar to me - i started on E9-pedal steel in March 2013 and switched to U12 in May 2014 and played my first gig in July 2014. And when i remember back 6 years ago, when i switched from normal guitar to lap-steel and dobro it was the same like now on pedal-steel. Sometimes you feel like a king and sometimes you wanna quit playing right after the gig. I'm kind of flexible on the lap-steel and i'm able to handle different musical settings right now, but i miss that flexibility on the pedal-steel.
For sure the whole process will last a few years. A reasonable number of errors, failure and struggles will occur on gigs and hopefully all that small lifts will come, as well. In any case every experience will take you a step further.
I more a kind of improvisor rather than to play fully checked out breaks but i discovered it to be useful, to get get some opening sequences and licks for breaks that help you getting on the flight...I'm a kind of daredevil since i have a highly improvised rock-jazz background, but during my learning process on steel-guitar i really force myself in playing less notes doing sparse comping and fills.

Ken Campbell · From: Ferndale, Montana

Howard Steinberg · From: St. Petersburg, Florida , USA

It happens when you least expect it. Not good to dwell on it. Better to move on. Most of us have been there.

Using 1 in ear monitor is not a good idea. When I play with a band using these, I try to get a wedge placed to my right side. Unless the person running sound, or working an open board, knows what they are doing, in ear monitors can be a nightmare.

I do a lot of gigs where I have to read. I keep a stand with a light to my right side. If it's a chart with a lot of cues or just needs to be closely attended to, I highlight the cues and number each line. This way it's easy for me to get back to my place after I look down at the guitar.

I don't think you can practice too much. I do think that uncomfortable situations can court disaster on stage.
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Bob Hoffnar · From: Austin, Tx

I have bad nights pretty often also. Spend some time touring with a band that doesn't have the budget for its own soundman and you will get used to the SNAFU way of life on stage.

I do not think you can practice too much. Without that work on your part it might have been worse. Keep it up and you will have fewer and fewer rough nights as time goes by.

This is very important :

Do not use one ear at a time !

You will permanently damage your hearing. Also you are causing major problems for your pitch perception. Relying on the bass for pitch is a mistake in the first place. You need to listen to the overall pitch center of the band and decide how wide a pitch window you have to play along with. If things are all screwed up play off a fixed pitch instrument like a keyboard. If you have one ear in the frequencies of the instruments can be out of phase with each other causing some instruments to disappear and others to have weird tonal/pitch qualities. Think about it. You are hearing the bass from two very different sources. In one ear direct and dry. The other ear subject to all the resonant frequencies of the room. Plus the wave forms are getting to your ears at different times ! This is a sure way of causing yourself a major sonic disaster. You have in ears so use them correctly. You may miss the visceral qualities of the room, stage sound but that is a small momentary sacrifice compared to hearing loss and sucking on stage.

You can practice pitch perception and intonation. With a bit of work you can improve quite a bit. But that is for another thread.
_________________
Bob

Jim Pitman · From: Waterbury Ctr. VT 05677 USA

Dito Bob H.
I made the mistake of tracking at a studio with only bass and drums in the playback. It sounded fine during and after the two hour session to both me and the recording engineer......until we brought up the rest of the band. I was terribly flat. A guitar or human voice are a better reference.

At the risk of being politically incorrect:
Might I recommend one shot of whiskey before the performance to either elevate your confidence or make you not care such that your insecurities don't assassinate your performance.

Charlie McDonald · From: out of the blue

James Wolf · From: Georgia

If I practice too much right before a job I have tendency to get burned out and lose focus.

As far as hearing goes you may want to invest in an amp stand. That way your amp will be pointed at your head instead of your legs. I have difficulty with volume when my amp is pointed at my legs.

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/accessories/musicians-gear-deluxe-amp-stand

John Booth · From: Columbus Ohio, USA

There is a strange Doppler effect when you use a monitor in one ear.
This will always deceive you. I recommend using no in-ear monitor
and listen to everyone and find the middle.
_________________
Jb in Ohio
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GFI S10 Ultra, Telecaster, a Hound Dog, and an Annoyed Wife
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Bobby D. Jones · From: West Virginia, USA

There is gigs a person is not in the ZONE. Seems nothing goes right no matter how hard one tries. If there is any kind of delay in the electronics going into your ear monitor, And you hearing in REAL time into the other ear, Which sound would you time with? I like to set my amp on a chair or stand so it is up nearer to my ear and behind me so I can hear. When I played in a band I would adjust my amp. to stage volume, Mike my amp. or patch straight to the board and let the sound man set my volume to the crowd. Good Luck and Happy Steelin.

Dan Robinson · From: Colorado, USA

Hi Dan,

It might help to reposition your amp. Angle it back, raise it off the floor, move it closer to your ear. It's free!

Maybe you're putting too much pressure on yourself. I admire your motivation and drive to improve. But play note-for note perfect, only you will really notice. Remember, you are playing the steel for money, therefore you are a professional pedal steel guitar player. There ain't that many of us. Learn your intros/fills, follow the song, watch your singer, FEEL the band, everyone will smile.

Feeling "in-the-zone" vs. playing better is a chicken-and-egg situation, but it doesn't matter which comes first. Have fun, relax, enjoy being in the band, and the rest will follow. I've got a feeling that you're doing great! Learn to laugh at your mistakes, they make the best "band-stories" when you're having breakfast at 2:00 A.M.

Lane Gray · From: Topeka, KS

The biggest step is to learn to laugh at your clams. You're the only one who'll remember them in the morning.
Relax and enjoy it, no matter what happens. Gallows humor laughs just like joy.
_________________
2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects

Charlie McDonald · From: out of the blue

Dan Klotz · From: Houston, Texas

Thanks for all of the great input. I played a gig on steel last night with a different band, and I felt great from the get go. (no in ear monitors!!)

I've been playing professionally for a long time on guitar and I have learned not lose sleep over any of this. With gig mentioned in the initial post, it wasn't as much about lamenting over it, as much as it was trying to figure out what the heck happened. I supposed the mental game did factor in some part of it though. I licked my wounds the next morning and it's forgotten. I felt loose and ready to roll last night.

One thing I forgot to mention earlier, is that the guitar player and bass player both run direct. Anything I want to hear from them has to be in the monitor. So I guess my 2 choices are to use both ear buds, or just bring a powered monitor... .and I did have the guitar and bass in my mix, but I guess I always thought of the bass and the ground zero for intonation. Maybe I'll balance the guitar and bass out a little more next time?... At any rate, I still did find it hard to find the happy place of being able to hear everything I played vs being too loud in my mix where I can't hear the reference.

As far as practice goes, I would agree that you can't practice too much (generally speaking) but I think it's not a good idea FOR ME to practice too much the day of a gig. I really just wasn't as sharp.

Thanks again!!!
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