Bedroom Syndrome!

Terry Edwards · Post by **Terry Edwards** » 31 Jan 2003 4:51 pm

The world will never know how good I am when I play steel guitar alone in my bedroom studio without the tape recorder running! Sometimes I am awesome and I'll never be able to prove it!! But as soon as someone comes into the room - WHAAMMM -- my brain turns to oatmeal and I forget everything. As soon as the tape player hits record -- CLINK--CLANK-- the godawfullest pick noise you ever heard!! There must be others out there that suffer as I do from this "bedroom syndrome" and I don't want to hear about other "bedroom syndromes" - that's for another topic!

Terry

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Terry Edwards
Fessy D-10; Nash 1000
Martin D-21; Flatiron F-5

Ray Montee (RIP) · Post by **Ray Montee (RIP)** » 31 Jan 2003 5:06 pm

Terry..........YOU ARE NOT alone!
Playing for 59 years now...live radio, tv, stage and/or recording studio. NO problem for me.
Put me in a room with a tape recorder, just myself and another musician, and the minute the recorder goes click, I'm FINISHED!
Put one or more persons in chairs anywhere NEAR ME, just sitting there and STARING at me, and I'm equally devestated.
If you find a pill for it, let me know.

Rick Aiello · Post by **Rick Aiello** » 31 Jan 2003 6:01 pm

I record EVERYTHING ... Its part of my "startup" routine ...

Amp on ... Hilton pedal plugged in .... quick tune up ... rhythm tracks on .... hit record .... play your guts out ...

Everytime ... Everyday ...

I also MAKE myself listen to everything that was recorded ...

Doesn't take long before its second nature .... doesn't take long to figure out what you like and don't .... plus when you are hot (notice I said YOU ... not me) ... its on record ...

If you have a computer based setup ... archieve to CD (mp3 or .wav) ... date it .... clear your hard drive ... ready for tomorrows set ...

Put together a "Best of" every year ... send it to your buddys, teacher, family ...
Get encouragement, suggestions, insults ... all great fun ...

Plus you get a free concert later that evening ....

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My Steel Shoes Site
[This message was edited by Rick Aiello on 31 January 2003 at 06:08 PM.]

Merle Record · Post by **Merle Record** » 31 Jan 2003 6:31 pm

Yup, been there done that. Knowing that even an accomplished musician like Ray Montee gets the jitters should make most realize that it is not uncommon. I think many times for those that havn't played out much, to all of a sudden have an audience, is just a distraction that they're not used to. Another problem early on players have is that they often play by memorizing a song. Since your mind may not be concentrating on the chord progression of the song and using logic to figure out where to go in the pattern and what to do when you get there your mind can wander and get thinking to much about the people listening and not enough about the music. I never had much luck playing by memorizing anyway, often part way into the song I'd have a brain cramp and then it would totally lock up on me.
Sometimes the best way to get over the horrors of playing in front of people is to simply play in front of people. Also realize that you're not the best player in the world so don't think you have to sound like you are to be appreciated. No matter what your playing ability is, someone is going to think you're awesome.
Merle

CrowBear Schmitt · Post by **CrowBear Schmitt** » 1 Feb 2003 12:51 am

To get rid of the jitters, or at least be at Peace w: them Terry, ya'just gotta get out of the bedroom and play every chance you can get !
i'm a monster too when i'm by myself in the comfort of my womb studio and i record most of what i mess around with.
Each time this overwhelming feeling grabs hold of me and tells me i gotta go out and play all this w: others.
Try it: it's as good to you, as it is for ya'

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Steel what?

David Weaver · Post by **David Weaver** » 1 Feb 2003 5:33 am

Dick Meis and I have been putting together local "Am-Jam" sessions where we get new players together for an afternoon and take turns playing with CD's in front of each other. I have a warehouse that we can play in on Sunday afternoons. It is the next step for me to try to relax in front of people. I think of it as one of those skills that you have to learn to be a complete player....like speedpicking or some C6th competency. And I think it requires just as much focus as any other skill.

It is devistating in a way, to practice and practice and be ready to show your skill, only to fall apart with the shakes when you get a small audience.

I put it on my agenda to try to get friends or wife into the room to hear me play any time they can tolerate it. It is just another part of enjoying the instrument that sooner or later needs to be addressed.

HowardR · Post by **HowardR** » 1 Feb 2003 5:35 am

Terry, ya'just gotta get out of the bedroom

I think he's sleeping with his new Fessenden!

ray qualls · Post by **ray qualls** » 1 Feb 2003 6:01 am

Well personally, I'm a leg man and a steel has four of them where as a woman only has two. Twice the pleasure!

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Ray Qualls

Terry Edwards · Post by **Terry Edwards** » 1 Feb 2003 11:40 am

HowardR, You weren't supossed to tell!!

Well, I have played in front of people my whole life but not with the steel. I'm still a relatively new player and I don't think I get the jitters as much as I play new songs from memory and I try to recall the licks verbatem. When I just relax and play from the heart and not memory I do real well of course then I don't play all the hot licks I learned for the song. Does this make sense to anyone? I just came back from listening to Hal Rugg and Mike Smith at the Southwest Steel Guitar Association Jam last weekend and I just want to be that good in a short time! I know...Iknow...patience and practise!!

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Terry Edwards
Fessy D-10; Nash 1000
Martin D-21; Flatiron F-5

Roy Ayres · Post by **Roy Ayres** » 1 Feb 2003 3:02 pm

Terry:

I play the old Sierra D10 in the presence of my wife and my Pomeranian all the time; doesn't make me nervous at all. (That may not be true when I learn my second song.)

How is the new axe working out?

Terry Edwards · Post by **Terry Edwards** » 1 Feb 2003 5:08 pm

Roy, Good to hear from you. The Fessy is sounding great. It actually sounds better than I play! You must have finally got your tuning (copedent) worked out on the Sierra. You should have more than two songs though. I left at least three songs on the Sierra when I sold it to you! That stingy HowardR didn't leave any songs on the Fessy when he sold it to me!!

Terry

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Terry Edwards
Fessy D-10; Nash 1000
Martin D-21; Flatiron F-5

Roy Ayres · Post by **Roy Ayres** » 1 Feb 2003 7:31 pm

Terry:

Yes, I got my E6/9 tuning on the front neck using three pedals and 4 knees. I'm saving pedals 4 through 8 for my old version of C6 on the back neck. Having a lot of fun trying to get back in practice after more than 40 years away from steel. (I still remember all of my hot licks; I just can't get there in time.)

Regards to you and the wife.

Bill Llewellyn · Post by **Bill Llewellyn** » 2 Feb 2003 5:26 pm

I usually hate to hear myself recorded. When I hear myself as I am playing the PSG, I'm too distracted by the details of picks, pedals, and levers to pick up on all my musical (or rather unmusical) goof ups. When I hear a recording of my playing, all my attention is available to discern my foibles. Ugh!

I also seem to have three different approaches to playing when:

1. practicing with headphones on,
2. playing in front of others, or
3. being recorded.

The list is in order of increasing level of anticipated scrutiny by others so my paranoia factor follows suit.

Alan Kirk · Post by **Alan Kirk** » 3 Feb 2003 7:48 am

Terry,

What works for me is I try to focus on having fun with the process rather than thinking about the end result. If I'm playing and my mind is focused on the simple joy of playing, I get a lot better result than if my mind is focused on how well I'm playing and what the track is going to sound like. I give myself permission to be imperfect. You can always record the track again, or punch in to fix a little glitch.

The attitude of "I'm having fun, and this isn't the most important thing in the world." helps me get a better result when recording (or when playing live, for that matter).

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Bob Carlson · Post by **Bob Carlson** » 3 Feb 2003 8:15 pm

I think Bill L answered your question. Tape don't lie and It's a good way to check your progress. You'll notice when you start sounding better, then you can really start learning.

Bob.