What is reasonable?

[Rob & Nancy DOWNIE]

When I started gigging on bass 10 years ago, I looked forward to the day when my occasional mistakes would stop and I would play the gig flawlessly.  That day has not yet come and, since I am now 66, I suspect it never will.  I get distracted by something going on out in the audience, or I start thinking too specifically or critically about what I am doing instead of just letting it flow, and yes, sometimes on the real familiar stuff I find myself daydreaming.  Sooner or later, a screwup is bound to occur.  I'm back on in a beat-- or two at the most-- and with luck the audience doesn't notice, but a screwup nonetheless.

 

So, you wise old masters of bass, what do you consider to be a workmanlike performance?  Can an otherwise competent bass player commit a few miscues and still feel like he has had a good night?  What is reasonable to expect?

 

Rob Downie

Tualatin, Oregon

[Taylor, William L.]

I am going on 30 years and have the same issues. I am curious to see what some of the guys like Tom and Missy have to say. One thing I tell myself is a mistake on a live show is a passing moment in time and is gone forever unless someome is recording the show.

Bill

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[Jim Hand]

Everybody makes mistakes, even the professionals. I was at a fest over the summer and a well known national touring group was there and the fiddle player kicked off the wrong song, it happens.

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From: downi...@msn.com
To: bassfi...@googlegroups.com

Subject: [bassfiddle-L] What is reasonable?

Date: Sat, 12 Oct 2013 21:06:17 -0700

[Dave Dillman]

When you have the spirit and drive of the music overall, the
occasional mistake isn't a great problem. Remember it's better to have
the wrong note on the right beat than the right note on the wrong beat.
One great danger is to focus on any problems you have and let them get
you off your game. Shake it off, what you do in one tune shouldn't have
an effect on the next one.

[mikem...@juno.com]

      Someone told me a long time ago that if you play a wrong note, play it again the next time that line repeats, as if you MEANT to play it that way the first time!!   ;-]

      If someone notices a bad note (often another band member) I tell him I was just working on my jazz licks!! In other words it's not a big deal so don't let it bother you.

 

Mike Marceau     
"Don’t slam D.C. for the shutdown, America: You sent these wackos here."
http://tinyurl.com/lwsof3t

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[Missy Raines]

Dear folks,
  I know this is late- but I guess better late than never.

  It's an interesting subject.  I think the longer I play the more I realize that it's not about the absence of mistakes but how you handle them when they happen.  The first layer of that statement has the more obvious meaning of "let it roll off you", don't flinch or otherwise allow the audience to know you aren't happy with what just occurred.
It is true that 90% of your audience didn't hear it or didn't hear it as a bad mistake.  And even if they do hear it, they won't remember it but they will remember any uncomfortable looks or body language from you.

Another element of this is why you made the mistake and what kind of mistake was it?  If you make a mistake because your mind is wandering, well that's just an entirely different (non-musical) issue.  And, you need to let that go.  Try to keep your mind clear and focused. 

If you make a mistake because you are trying to play something exactly as you have practiced it, that's usually just 'time-spent'.  more time in the mines as they say.  But, if you make a mistake because you were inspired to try something new and went for it (but it didn't work), is that really a bad thing?  There are arguments for both sides.  And I see them both- but I always like to hear someone who is going for something, even if they don't quite make it, then in some cases, hear something completely perfect and executed with precision-  Both of course can be great, I'm just saying there's an element of excitement that should be there with music. 

For me, I do strive always for perfection.  Still hasn't happened.  But it doesn't taint or otherwise discount my joy after a show. Ok, that's a lie.  Sometimes I've been known to spend days dying the same death again and again over one missed note.  But, when I don't miss a note or make an obvious mistake, I still never feel like I did it perfectly because it's such a moving target. The minute you start getting better you already know where you aren't....again.  It's perpetual.  And that's exactly what keeps us going, as artists.

  I've always said if you need instant gratification become a house painter... not a musician.  Because even though an audience (if you're lucky) will applaud for you every 3-4 minutes, YOU will never be fully happy with where you are musically.

-missy

-- 
Thanks!
Missy 

Missy Raines and The New Hip
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Academy of Bluegrass School of Bass
www.missyrainesbass.com

[mikem...@juno.com]

      Ain't that the truth, Missy!! We obsess so much over the one note (or in my case the handful!) we missed that we forget about 10000 notes that were in tune, on time, and in the right place during the song.
      For a long time I've run a jam for the DC Bluegrass union. I always tell the other pickers that whenever you've performing in public there are many people looking at you and thinking "I wish I could do that." We should learn to appreciate our skills and the opportunity we have to use them for bringing joy to others, and as Missy says, to ourselves as well.
      As for being perfect - a very wise man once said to me "Throughout history there have only been TWO perfect people. The first one was Jesus; the second was the man my wife COULD have married."   ;-]

 

 

Mike Marceau     
"Don’t slam D.C. for the shutdown, America: You sent these wackos here."
http://tinyurl.com/lwsof3t

 
---------- Original Message ----------
From: Missy Raines <mi...@missyraines.com>
      For me, I do strive always for perfection.  Still hasn't happened.  But it doesn't taint or otherwise discount my joy after a show. Ok, that's a lie.  Sometimes I've been known to spend days dying the same death again and again over one missed note.  ut.

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