This thread seems funny AND full of good information, but I'm going to focus on the "fallout" you're probably feeling from having fucked up the recording session. Ten to one you hate yourself right now AND you feel plenty embarassed.

Been there....it DOES suck!

One day (within the last year) I had a session booked to do a duet with one of the finest musicians in the universe. I stayed up the whole night writing a very complicated chart to the tune we were gonna play on. The next day I showed him the sights of Toronto, brought him home for lunch, went to the studio....and I completely screwed up! Couldn't do my guitar part to save my life. I was horribly upset, 'cause I usually expect to get things in one take. Didn't bother him a bit. He did his part and just said, "put your part on later". I did (first take) but the memory of not being prepared will always be there.

Just step back and get focused again. Chances are you wouldn't be recording if you didn't have skills. Do you have someone with you in the studio who REALLY knows what you're all about? Believe me, that helps. Are you POSITIVE you're doing the songs in the RIGHT keys...or is that something you've always just taken for granted. Are you relaxed? If not, why not? Suppose your project takes six sessions and you screw up two? It ain't the end of the world. I'm not sure if you're experienced in the studio or not, but believe me, what you hear as the end product, is NEVER the way it went down in the studio. Players laugh, cry, swear and HATE THEIR VOICES!

Believe me, it's nowhere near as bad as you think right now. Listen to the tape in a day or two and don't slash yourself to pieces...find the mistakes and parts you don't like....and FIX them. Believe me it CAN be done.

Perhaps a vibrator right now ain't a bad idea though!!

Good luck

Rick