I went out to a session last night for the first time in forever and that old stress thing kicked in. I could hardly get through a tune without brain lock. Not fun…and it’s supposed to be right? Any ideas on how to curb that shit…maybe a higher proof whiskey? (shrug) I have an easier time of it playing solo on a stage…go figure.
Kevin Popejoy
I always play better at home than at a session. Infrequent sessioning usually means that I have to make an adjustment to differences in style, settings and the amount of swing in the music. That’ll throw my playing off a bit and make me feel a tad uncomfortable. I can play for hours at home, but when I walk into a session, it seems like I forget every tune I ever learned. Go figure!
I’ve learned to get to a session early to allow the pipes to adjust to the room and let the reeds settle in before the tunes start flying. And, if I can start a tune that’s a complete no brainer for me to play early on in the session, the whole session experience goes much better for me.
Is there someone at the session(a session bully?) who really irks you or stresses you out? Convince yourself that no one can throw you off just by being there. Even though he’s a great and patient guy, if I’m playing infront of my GHP teacher, I used to get nervous that he’s watching my fingers and they instantly tend to get balled up. The getting tipsy to loosen up thing may work for a while, but it’s a crutch and a good way to turn yourself into an alcoholic.
You just have to convince yourself that:
Ah…Now here’s a problem that affects a great many of us, myself included. I haven’t played at a session in ages (a matter of logistics, y’see), but I imagine when next I do go to one, the old anxiety will start creeping up on me.
I remember when I first started going to sessions, I would become a total nervous wreck–especially if it was a case of playing with a bunch of people and then going into another tune that people didn’t know and they all stopped and they just…listened to YOU. Arrggh!
There’s all kinds of ways for dealing with this stuff. Drugs, whether they tend to be of the prescription or illicit variety, are sometimes mentioned. I recently read an interview with jazz pianist Matthew Shipp in which he said that he got over his stage fright problems by seeing a hypnotist. Interesting idea, but perhaps not for everybody. Marcpipes’ little mantra is great advice.
The other thing is to just get out and play often. You may be uncomfortable at first, but the more you do it, the less problems you’ll have (and you may start sounding better to boot…results may vary). In the three months I spent over in Ireland, I was playing in sessions almost every night and by the end of it, I felt a lot less anxiety about playing in public with people whom I may or may not have known. It’s funny, but it seems like for me, anyways, playing with a small group of well-informed peers is far more stressful than playing before a large and in general, not so well-informed audience.
Wait. I take that back.
I just remembered this one time back when I was living in Portland. Paddy Keenan was doing a show and he invited me to come up and play a few tunes with him during the second half. So I got up there with my flute and started playing. At first, things seemed to go alright, but then he goes launching into “Bucks of Oranmore” at absolute “ludicrous speed” and I’m sitting there under the lights just barely able to hold on to the tune and I got really tensed up. Oh man, by the end of that, my nerves were totally shattered.
What marcpipes says about “session bullies” is also worth noting. It’s no fun when you’ve got some loudmouth hack who may or may not be a good player sitting there slagging you 'cause you’re new or you don’t know such and such a tune or whatever. Ugh…more bad Portland memories (which is odd, 'cause I love Portland)…playing with a certain well-known banjo player who shares the name of a certain other better known banjo player. I don’t mean to criticize the man publicly–I only played with him a couple of times and for all I know, he could be a perfectly nice guy once you get to know him, but all I’ll say is that I didn’t particularly enjoy playing music with him.
Apologies for rambling. I’m a little caffeine-addled at the moment.
Kevin, that you’re more comfortable solo on a stage suggests to me that you might think of session playing as just another type of performance, if that isn’t too much of a stretch. After all, it is! Some of the audience just happen to be playing music, too, is all.
Another thing that helps is to practice in all sorts of different environments. Practice in your house in all different places/chairs, go to the back yard, practice at your friend’s house, busk on the street, ask to play in a church.. Eventually you’ll feel much more comfortable playing just about anywhere.
Dionys
I agree, the more you play out in sessions the less nervous you get.
Go to a session regularly and get to know the people. Sometimes a person that seems like a “session bully” is really just a good natured slagger giving you a hard time because you are the new kid. And obviously, respect the etiquette of that particular session. Watch and figure out how things are done there. That will help you feel more comfortable, too.
Pitchfork: Not sure what happened with you and the banjo player, but I’d vouch that he’s a good guy when you get to know him. 
J.
Yeah, sorry for that. It was a bit uncalled for. I’m sure he’s a perfectly sound guy (once you get to know him). In all likelihood we had both had a bit too much to drink that evening…
Thanks for all the responses, I appreciate the input. Besides not really knowing anyone at the session, I think I generally just take myself way too seriously. Mustn’t sound bad and what’ll people think, and all that. That attitude just goes against the grain of making music I think. The more you worry about sounding good the worse you sound. I guess I just need to stop caring about how I sound. Easier said than done.
Kevin Popejoy
I used to get all anxious and have my playing go to hell at sessions. Then suddenly, I just felt more comfortable and also got a whole lot better overall. I knew things had changed when the guys on the payroll started getting pints for me when they went up! Now I’m considered an anchor person. That all happened in the last 6 months. They were always nice and friendly to everyone before, but now I’m definitely further up in the pecking order. I still hate starting tunes though, haven’t gotten over that! I think it’s just a matter of acclimatization. The more you go, you’ll soon just make the transition.
Corin