Getting sloppy as the night goes on...

Subject: Getting sloppy as the night goes on...
From: Wesley S
Date: 06 Mar 07 - 01:20 PM

We played a longer gig than usual last Sunday night and I thought it showed a little bit toward the end of the night. Nothing major - no meltdowns or anything. I doubt the audience was aware of it - we ended up getting more than our usual share of compliments. But there were a few minor flubs, missed cues, ect. So in a group situation is there a good way to remain consistant and tight throughout the evening? Of course the obvious answer is practice, practice, practice. Any other suggestions?

Subject: RE: Getting sloppy as the night goes on...
From: the lemonade lady
Date: 06 Mar 07 - 01:23 PM

The later you play (and haven't been boo'd off) the more they are enjoying you and the drunker they, so does it really matter?
sal

Subject: RE: Getting sloppy as the night goes on...
From: Wesley S
Date: 06 Mar 07 - 01:24 PM

My other question would be how do you handle that situation. Just grin and bear it and go on?

Subject: RE: Getting sloppy as the night goes on...
From: wysiwyg
Date: 06 Mar 07 - 01:43 PM

It sounds like a break needed to have been taken. Talk to the guys and see when they'd have liked to place that break-- before the breakdown, obviously. We have some specific ways we're willing to structure our playing time that we offer to the person who booked us, and we don't let them take us out of the several comfort zones we know work for us.... if that isn;lt an option, though, you have to make a break out of a song! :~)

One way to handle it therefore would be to change up the set order, perhaps with the person in the best shape doing a piece on his own while the others catch a breath, or perhaps throwing a simple, slower song in that the group normally handles really well, to get back onto the same page before hitting it again.... step down the energy to allow the group to take a second trip toward a peak?

If you discuss that with yor guys I bet there is at least one go-to song you can all agree on that (no matter what conditions you're experiencing) just is goof-proof for your particular band. Save one of those for just such situations?

~Susan

Subject: RE: Getting sloppy as the night goes on...
From: Jim Lad
Date: 06 Mar 07 - 03:52 PM

I trust you have a "No Alcohol" policy?
What kind of gig was it?

Subject: RE: Getting sloppy as the night goes on...
From: Old Grizzly
Date: 06 Mar 07 - 05:20 PM

A no alcohol policy ? ... I thought the aim was to remain consistent and 'tight' :o)

I totally agree with Susan. It is good practise to keep a couple of good songs or tune sets in reserve ....

I always feel 'safer' if I have kept back a few bombproof 'bankers'by way of insurance.
Trouble is, such tunes.... you know, the ones you can play blind drunk while tightrope walking with a broken leg.... tend to be those absolute stonkers you most enjoy playing yourself and the temptation to use them up early is hard to resist.

Dave

Subject: RE: Getting sloppy as the night goes on...
From: Wesley S
Date: 06 Mar 07 - 05:31 PM

The gig was more of a concert setting. No alcohol on or off the stage.

Subject: RE: Getting sloppy as the night goes on...
From: cptsnapper
Date: 06 Mar 07 - 05:36 PM

Don't forget that when you play there are sometimes two performances, the one that you're giving & the one that's being heard by the audience. Very often they're different as was perhaps shown by the fact that you say that you were given more than the usual compliments even though you weren't particularly happy with what was happening. It doesn't mean that one can be complacent when things aren't ideal but there have been occasions when I've found a degree of consolation because of it when I've thought that I wasn't performing as well as I should have. In my opinion it's part of the fascination - and frustration - about performing!

Subject: RE: Getting sloppy as the night goes on...
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 06 Mar 07 - 05:40 PM

Sometimes, what sounds sloppy and tired to you, sounds relaxed and cohesive to the audience. I wouldn't worry too much about it, but if you're doing a long set, try not to have the familiar stuff too close to the beginning.

LTS

Subject: RE: Getting sloppy as the night goes on...
From: Jim Lad
Date: 06 Mar 07 - 06:15 PM

Thanks Wesley: Sounds like Liz & Cpt. Snapper hit it right on the head. I'd worry more for the ones who think they're doing better than they are.

Subject: RE: Getting sloppy as the night goes on...
From: Bernard
Date: 06 Mar 07 - 06:26 PM

I've lost count of the times when I've only been 'going through the motions' and someone has come up afterwards and told me it's the best set they've heard me do... and these are people who've seen me often.

Not sure whether that's a good thing or bad...?

The audience definitely don't hear the gig from your point of view, which is probably a good thing!!

The same applies to recordings - you can hear that it's 'not right', but your public may disagree...

Subject: RE: Getting sloppy as the night goes on...
From: Jim Lad
Date: 06 Mar 07 - 06:33 PM

I remember somebody told me once .... but that was long ago.
Sigh!

Insert sympathy for Jim Lad here. (.....)

Subject: RE: Getting sloppy as the night goes on...
From: Bernard
Date: 06 Mar 07 - 06:50 PM

1 - 2 - 3 - aaaaaaaaaaaah!

Subject: RE: Getting sloppy as the night goes on...
From: Jim Lad
Date: 06 Mar 07 - 07:24 PM

Thanks Bernard. Now, back to business.

Subject: RE: Getting sloppy as the night goes on...
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 06 Mar 07 - 07:26 PM

Just grin and beer it....

... while you go thru the emotions....

Subject: RE: Getting sloppy as the night goes on...
From: Jim Lad
Date: 06 Mar 07 - 07:39 PM

Hey! We're in a time warp!

Subject: RE: Getting sloppy as the night goes on...
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 06 Mar 07 - 07:48 PM

Just a step to the left right
Then a jump to the right...

Subject: RE: Getting sloppy as the night goes on...
From: Scrump
Date: 07 Mar 07 - 09:07 AM

I agree with the comments that often when we know we've made a slight mistake, the audience don't seem to notice. The secret is to carry on regardless and not stop or draw attention to any mistakes - try to act like it was part of the plan! :-)

As for taking breaks, I prefer to have a short break if it's a long set, but sometimes, if the audience are getting into the swing of it, we like to keep going (I'm thinking more of pub gigs here, rather than concert type venues). As well as the ensemble numbers, we do a lot of solo or duo type spots within the band. This means that if you're not involved you can usually nip out to the bog or whatever, for a few minutes. Unfortunately I tend to be involved in most things, so I usually have to wait for a solo a capella song from one of the others, and we don't tend to do many of those in pub gigs :-(

Subject: RE: Getting sloppy as the night goes on...
From: Scrump
Date: 07 Mar 07 - 09:11 AM

Of course, if you start off sloppy, you don't need to worry :-)

Subject: RE: Getting sloppy as the night goes on...
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 07 Mar 07 - 09:24 AM

"The secret is to carry on regardless and not stop or draw attention to any mistakes"

One trick I learned early on - and how I sometimes managed to 'fake' my way as a child into a 'special prize' at Eisteddfords.... :-)

My dad and I were once playing at an old folks home, doing some old piano/violin duet thing that had some Scottish tunes with 'violin bagpipes' bits, when I lost my place, so 'vamped' until the top of the next page... afterwards he was confused as to whether to be mad at me about 'playing the wrong notes' or praise me for keeping strict rhythm and staying up with him....

:-)

A while ago, I accidentally grabbed the wrong bunch of Bass keys on the piano accordion - didn't get far when I realised that the noise was even worse than usual :-) - so just stopped and said "Well, I certainly stuffed THAT up, now how about I just start again with the RIGHT notes this time?" ... :-) and started again...

They still applauded at the end of my routine - not sure whether it was for that, or just the fact that I was leaving the stage....

Subject: RE: Getting sloppy as the night goes on...
From: Scrump
Date: 07 Mar 07 - 10:26 AM

Yes, if you start wrongly then it's OK to make light of it and start again. But if you make a mistake in the middle, it's best to carry on as if nowt has happened - but I guess there must be limits as to what you can get away with.

I mentioned in another thread, that in a gig last Saturday, I misunderstood what we were going to play next (it was a tune), and thinking it was a reel, I started playing the chords at a fairly fast speed. It was only when the fiddlers started that I realised I was playing the chords for a different tune (normally played more slowly, but fortunately in the same key and same time sig i.e. 4/4). So I just played the right chords, but by then, faster than usual, while the fiddlers played faster to match the speed I had started at. It sounded fine, and we all had a laugh about it while playing, and I don't think anyone else there realised there'd been an error.

Subject: RE: Getting sloppy as the night goes on...
From: Bernard
Date: 07 Mar 07 - 11:34 AM

I was always told 'If you make a mistake, repeat it - then everyone thinks it was planned!'...

Either that, or apologise on behalf of the twit who rubbed out the chalk marks!