Gig dreams where everything goes wrong

Subject: Gig dreams where everything goes wrong
From: Will Fly
Date: 17 Jul 13 - 04:17 AM

I get one of these about twice a year - always different, always vivid - usually if I'm in a busy gig period.

Last night's dream was particularly clear. I was in a trio, booked to play rock'n roll at a working men's club in Croydon one afternoon. The interminable raffle came to an end, a display by children in costume brandishing sticks with ribbons came to an end - late - and we were supposed to start to play. It was then I discovered I'd forgotten my case of leads, cables and mics.

There was a mound of audio-visual gear in the corner of the club and I thought I'd borrow some of these - to no avail as not one of them fitted. Panic. Eventurally the clubs secretary came over to see what was going on and I had to say that we'd have to leave and forego the cash...

Weird, because I've never in 45+ years of playing forgotten a lead or a cable! All these dreams are different in several ways, but all with one theme - setting up and playing is frustrated by various circumstances.

Subject: RE: Gig dreams where everything goes wrong
From: Roger the Skiffler
Date: 17 Jul 13 - 06:28 AM

In my dreams I can play an instrument and sing in tune... it's when I wake up I have problems, stuck with the voice that talent forgot and the washboard of mass destruction!

RtS

Subject: RE: Gig dreams where everything goes wrong
From: GUEST,Whistle Stop
Date: 17 Jul 13 - 08:01 AM

Will, I have those dreams fairly frequently. They're stress dreams; basically the equivalent of those dreams many of us had as kids about showing up at school without our pants on, or some such thing. As you say, it's always a different problem -- a missing piece of essential gear, a guitar that won't hold a pitch, or any one of a thousand other things. When I tell my wife the next morning that I had a "gig dream," she knows that's the kind of dream I'm talking about.

So either you're perfectly normal, or we just suffer from the same dysfunction.

Subject: RE: Gig dreams where everything goes wrong
From: Phil Cooper
Date: 17 Jul 13 - 09:01 AM

I've had those dreams, too. Either someone in the band isn't where they're supposed to be, or there's another complication before we can play.

Subject: RE: Gig dreams where everything goes wrong
From: Little Hawk
Date: 17 Jul 13 - 11:12 AM

Oh, yeah, I've had those. I think it's usually symbolic of things not working out as one would like in one's general life path...and that the gig serves as a symbol of the life path. I've had similar stress dreams many times about being in a school or a university, about to write an exam, and realizing that I haven't studied up properly on the course material and I have no chance of doing well on the exam. It's a horrible feeling.

Subject: RE: Gig dreams where everything goes wrong
From: Phil Cooper
Date: 17 Jul 13 - 11:31 AM

In the school dreams, it's usually high school for me. Usually I get a voice going on in my head at some point saying that I've already got my college degree and don't need to worry about.

I had a friend who said he dreamt of being ready to go on stage to a packed house. Just before going on, someone comes up and tells him, he's been found out as a fraud and can't go out there. That had something to do with self-esteem, I think.

Subject: RE: Gig dreams where everything goes wrong
From: Little Hawk
Date: 17 Jul 13 - 12:29 PM

Sounds about right to me.

Subject: RE: Gig dreams where everything goes wrong
From: GUEST
Date: 17 Jul 13 - 12:40 PM

I have a friend who is a jazz guitarist who had a gig at a nudist colony in Norfolk. he was also expected to undress for the occasion although the jazz guitar provided suitable cover compared with a concertina or penny whistle. he needed the gig but has had nightmares ever since that he will have to repeatit.

Subject: RE: Gig dreams where everything goes wrong
From: Larry The Radio Guy
Date: 17 Jul 13 - 01:18 PM

I can't think of any 'gig' dreams right now.......I must have had some. But Little Hawk's school dream rings a bell (so to speak)...it usually involves highschool or university and a physics class (I could never get physics in highschool), consistently forgetting to show up for class....and when I try, I can't find the room.

Now I bet that tonight I'll dream of a gig, and I won't be able to find the venue.

Subject: RE: Gig dreams where everything goes wrong
From: Little Hawk
Date: 17 Jul 13 - 05:46 PM

My anxiety dreams usually involve high school too. It's probably because I haven't yet made it to University level, spiritually speaking. ;-) As for gig dreams, had a few of those and they usually are good ones where things work out okay.

The jazz gig at the nudist colony...LOL! That would be an experience to remember. However, I find that in situations where everyone is nude (meaning a large number of people), it isn't really that much of a problem, because it's not erotic in the least under those conditions as far as I'm concerned.

Subject: RE: Gig dreams where everything goes wrong
From: Mark Ross
Date: 17 Jul 13 - 06:18 PM

My nightmare is that I am late for the gig and my guitar has mysteriously disappeared. I have that dream, with slightly different situations at least once a month.

Mark Ross

Subject: RE: Gig dreams where everything goes wrong
From: Rumncoke
Date: 17 Jul 13 - 07:00 PM

I wonder if there are just two types of musician, the ones who have the bad dreams and the others, like me, who enjoy the opposite experience.

Subject: RE: Gig dreams where everything goes wrong
From: GUEST
Date: 18 Jul 13 - 04:12 AM

Bad gigs compilation http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2011/aug/04/musicians-worst-gigs

Subject: RE: Gig dreams where everything goes wrong
From: Brian Peters
Date: 18 Jul 13 - 04:50 AM

I'm glad I'm not the only one. I've had very similar ones to Will and Mark Ross, and I've recognized them as a variation on the old 'naked on a bus' or 'missed the exam' anxiety dreams.

Mine always start with things looking really good. There's a packed house, simmering with excitement at my forthcoming performance, then something or other starts to go awry and the whole thing unravels hideously. Quite often it's a lost instrument (usually the concertina), or the PA doesn't work, or I can't find my way to the stage - like that scene in Spinal Tap. Quite often the supportive crowd then turns ugly, and begins jeering or slow handclapping (only in the dreams, I should stress).

Subject: RE: Gig dreams where everything goes wrong
From: GUEST,Grishka
Date: 18 Jul 13 - 07:49 AM

My own amateur psychology tells me that realistic dreams about failures are a very healthy thing: they make us careful and thus save us some bad experiences in real life. I do not see any symbolism in messages like "I must not forget my sheet music" or "I must check my clothing."

The opposite, dreams about unrealistic power and success, are normal for youngsters. Adults should be aware, even in their dreams, that genuine success must be earned, particularly in music.

Subject: RE: Gig dreams where everything goes wrong
From: Phil Cooper
Date: 18 Jul 13 - 08:37 AM

When I was just out of college I was playing with one of my high school friends, who was a good guitar player. We both liked to hit the beer and some "herbs" while rehearsing. He got into it way more than I did. I had a dream where we were doing a gig and nothing was going right. I told him about it and he said, "Oh you're afraid I'll show up too drunk to play." That was true. When he and his then wife moved, and I started finding other music partners I got more serious about focusing on the music.

Subject: RE: Gig dreams where everything goes wrong
From: Mo the caller
Date: 18 Jul 13 - 10:52 AM

Yes, I get the 'calling at a club, can't find the music, haven't brought the instruction card or memorised them in advace, bumble about panicking till it's too late anyway' dream.
Of course I'm always perfectly prepared in real life :) I hope.