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Topic: Stage Fright? |
Ray Montee
From:
Portland, Oregon (deceased)
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Posted 6 Oct 2009 9:55 pm |
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NOT including television shows, what was the largest crowd that you've ever played in front of?
For me, it was the 14,000 seat Memorial Coliseum backing a bunch of Grand Ole Opry stars......
Was it a thrill or fright? |
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Charles Davidson
From:
Phenix City Alabama, USA
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Posted 7 Oct 2009 12:07 am
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Have played outdoor gigs with eight or ten thousand in the crowd. The ONLY time I got a little nervous was one time was playing a Hank Sr. show in Montgomery[think it was his 80'th. birthday. The band was playing nothing but Hanks tunes.I was making a very poor attempt at playing Mr. Dons licks on my C6th neck. The bandleader leaned over and said Don is sitting in the first row. I whispered back[why the hell did'nt you wait untill our set was over] to tell me that.But I survived. YOU BETCHA, DYK?BC.
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Hard headed, opinionated old geezer. BAMA CHARLIE. GOD BLESS AMERICA. ANIMAL RIGHTS ACTIVIST. SUPPORT LIVE MUSIC ! |
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James Marlowe
From:
Florida, USA
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Posted 7 Oct 2009 3:15 am
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I was in on a benefit for "Uncle Josh" Graves at the Station Inn a few years ago. I was playing bass fiddle in our bluegrass Gospel band. I didn't know it at the time but the show was being broadcast live over a local AM radio station, plus it was going out over the internet. No telling how many was in the listening audience. Glad I wasn't aware of it while playing. I was nervous enough as it was, playing on that famous stage.
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J.R. Marlowe
Life has many choices. Eternity has TWO. I choose Heaven.
Black '95 Zumsteel SD10, 4+5;Black Mullen RP SD10, 4+5
NRA Life member |
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Steve Broatch
From:
Newcastle, England
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Posted 7 Oct 2009 8:51 am
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First couple of times I played in a pub was to a grand total of about 20 people. I didn't think I was that nervous but my right leg was involuntarily shaking a little causing me to pump the volume pedal really quickly and only fractionally. It sounded like I was doing some cool tremelo effect! 
I can't recreate it when I try now. Perhaps I should get someone to threaten me just before I play a gig so I'm suitably bricking it when I start playing. |
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Steve Benson
From:
Massachusetts, USA
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Posted 7 Oct 2009 9:39 am dixie chicken
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One time I had stage fright, but not from the crowd:
I was doing an opening set for Little Feat. in a club in Vermont. It was the songwriter, and me on mandolins and lap steel (did not own a PSG at the time). We had a ripping set and the crowd was in a frenzy. Still screaming at us as we tried to get off stage quick. This group of older guys was on stage right blocking our way off. I said "beg your pardon fellas little feat needs to get on here", They said "we are little feat and you are not going anyware son, you are gonna sit it with us." 
That raised my hackels a fair share.
"If you be my Dixie chicken, I'll be your Tennessee lamb"
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Carter-Magnum S10. Georgeboards S-8 Stealth. Chandler Lap. Peavey Powerslide. Bunch of mandolins. Sitar. Oud. All that and a bag of chips. |
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Jonathan Cullifer
From:
Gallatin, TN
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Posted 7 Oct 2009 10:20 am
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Played a fireworks show this summer for an estimated 80,000 people. Not sure how accurate the number was, but it was a bunch. Not nervous at all, quite fun actually. We played for 3 hours.
The most nervous I have ever been was doing a duet with a guitar player at my church in front of 6000 people (2000 people each service). Nobody to hide behind there! |
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Micky Byrne
From:
United Kingdom (deceased)
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Posted 9 Oct 2009 1:55 pm Re: Stage Fright?
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18,000 in the grounds of a Castle in Wales about 3 years ago. Was a huge Country music festival.
Micky Byrne United Kingdom
www.micky-byrne.co.uk |
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Tommy Shown
From:
Denham Springs, La.
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Posted 12 Oct 2009 3:14 pm
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The biggest outdoor crowd was around 1700,for the March of Dimes. Around 400 at a couple of big clubs in the area where I live.Never had a problem with stage fright. But if had to play over a couple of thousand. I might have some problem with it.
Tommy Shown
SMFTBL |
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Fish
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Posted 12 Oct 2009 6:00 pm
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| Steve Broatch wrote: |
First couple of times I played in a pub was to a grand total of about 20 people. I didn't think I was that nervous but my right leg was involuntarily shaking a little causing me to pump the volume pedal really quickly and only fractionally. It sounded like I was doing some cool tremelo effect!
I can't recreate it when I try now. Perhaps I should get someone to threaten me just before I play a gig so I'm suitably bricking it when I start playing. |
Steve---The same thing happened to me. Our band called Wild River was hired to back up Bobby Bare in 1973 in Oxnard at the Stallion Club. I had been playing only eight months at the time. When Bobby threw the first solo my way the ole volume pedal "tremolo" shakes kicked in due to my "rookie nerves."
The largest crowd I played for was 160,000 people when I toured with Commander Cody. We opened -- along with several other bands -- for Led Zeppelin at the Knebworth Festival outside of London in 1979. I was more excited than nervous....it was absolutely exhilirating! |
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Jeff Hyman
From:
West Virginia, USA
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Posted 12 Oct 2009 6:46 pm
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| Preakness Infield... back when beer was allowed inside the race track. |
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