When it all goes wrong

[Glenn]

Living in the real world it often happens that when playing for friends, family or even in public, things go wrong.
What are your mechanisms for coping with this (highly unlikely ) event?

 

[JerryPH]

Give us an example of how things went wrong for you, please?

Once a long time ago we were in Pennsylvania playing an Octoberfest event. We were in a semi-outdoor environment, a big place with no walls but a high ceiling. It had been raining off and on all day and in the course of a couple of songs while we were performing, it got dark and stormy.

Out of the blue a bolt of lightening hit somewhere nearby and knocked out all power and all electronic amplification and electric instruments went out leaving only the accordion, trumpet, sax and drums being audible. We didn't stop, playing through the song for about a minute when the power came back. The people just started applauding, we finished off the evening without further interruptions. The only change I made was move from supporting instrument to main melody and played as loud as I could, when the organist regained power she took up the melody and I switched back to being harmony.

In that case, we just pushed through it and moved on, that is about all that could be done. I suppose it depends a lot on what happens and you deal with it the best you can. Basically unless it is a catastrophic event, "the show must go on".

This is the nice thing about music, at it's worst, if something happens, no one is hurt and no one dies. The music stops, and if it is possible, it begins again, perhaps after a short break to sort things out, restart things or do what is needed to get things going again.

Another time I was called in to provide some background music for a dinner function. I was very tired, having had a super hard week, and I just blanked out in the middle of a song that I was playing. I just restarted the song intending to push through, crapped out in the exact same place. I smiled, laughed, and moved on to another song. Inside I was mortified and wanted to die, but the world kept moving irrespective and nothing bad happened other than the music stopping twice.

Wow, I had totally forgotten about both of these events, thanks for bringing them back for me!

 

[debra]

Living in the real world it often happens that when playing for friends, family or even in public, things go wrong.
What are your mechanisms for coping with this (highly unlikely ) event?

What can possibly go wrong?
Here are some of the things I encountered:
<LIST type=decimal>

1. 
   Before the start of a concert (with orchestra) we all stood up to greet the conductor. I had actually stepped on the cable for the microphone of my bass accordion and the cable was pulled out of its plug (broken). How to cope: I quickly reached for a (regular) backup microphone, placed it on my music stand and was ready before the first piece of the concert started.
2. 
   During a concert (with orchestra) a pallet from a base note (bass side) fell off (the glue that held the felt of the pallet in place had not been strong enough). I stopped playing my part and after the song ended we injected a 10 minute break into the program to glue the pallet-felt back on. We had more such small incidents like the air-vent button getting stuck (thats an easier repair), a bass button getting stuck (typically because it is bent during transport, so it can be straightened with small pliers)...
3. 
   During a concert (with orchestra) between two songs one player fell down from the podium, with chair and accordion. It was about a 2 foot drop. All three were unhurt (player, accordion and chair) so came back up and we continued.
4. 
   During the preparation for a concert (with orchestra) someone stepped on the a plug of the bass accordion microphone and it broke. I took out my backup cable (with plug) and the concert took place without a problem. (Unfortunately this was on a trip away from home and the next morning someone broke the backup cable before a small informal play-along, so no amplification there.)
5. 
   One day I got a phone call from a friend that their orchestra was setting up for a concert (about 20 minutes from where I live) and the bass amplification did not work. I rushed out to the venue with a repair kit (including soldering iron, spare cables, 9V battery...) and after replacing the battery in the bass accordion (they didnt even know there was a battery inside...) and cable everything worked out and the concert started on time. I stayed to enjoy the concert but unfortunately it was not my style.
6. 
   Another day we were playing outside and it was getting very very cold. Our fingers were giving up and some reeds as well. We moved inside and continued the performance there.

You see, many things can go wrong, but when you anticipate it and bring backup gear and repair kits a true disaster will become very rare.

Of course the other thing that can go wrong is mistakes due to nervousness. But that is easier to overcome: first of all practice, practice, practice. Make sure you know the pieces for 200%, not 100%. Make sure you can play everything 10 to 20% faster than you will perform it. Even when using sheet music, try to learn the music by heart as well as possible. And should you make a mistake after all these precautions, just pretend it didnt happen. Chances are the audience will not even notice.

 

[george garside]

Some things go wrong from within and some from without -so to speak.

Things like power failure or amplification packing up are difficult to deal with in a concert setting other than by carrying on and perhaps increasing volume if this can be done without ruining the dynamics etc. On the other hand there were bands and orchestras long before amplification so perhaps best to just carry on and let the buggers relearn the art of listening!

In a dance band situation with sound system failure I have taken the band into the middle of the dance floor which has worked very well.

The most common going wrong when solo or in small group with 1 or 2 playing melody and the rest accompanyment. In this situation the essential trick is to carry on and treat the mistake as a new arrangement! The punters will probably not notice but if all else fails use a big handful of bass to cover the mistake.

Again if working from memory rather than the dots it is not unknown to play the verse ( A part) of one tune followed by the chorus (B part) of a different tune. If this happens simply repeat the "mistake'' next timethrough

and whatever happens don't panic!

george

 

[Glenn]

Wow, I was more thinking of a bass run going wrong or your music falling from your stand not being struck by lightening whilst hot - gluing an accordion repair on a rickety stage. :lol:

 

[debra]

Wow, I was more thinking if a bass run going wrong or your music falling from your stand not being struck by lightening whilst hot - gluing an accordion repair on a rickety stage. [FACE WITH TEARS OF JOY]

Well, Murphys law dictates that anything thats possible will happen...
Yes, music falling from its stand is something many of us have experienced. A music stand breaking and hitting an accordion is another thing we experienced. More common is starting to play from sheet music and then realizing you only have page 1 and there is also a page 2... (been there, done that, and actually experienced I could play page 2 by heart). Traveling with the accordion laying flat in the booth/trunk of the car and then hitting a bump... I have seen (and in one case had to fix) that happen as well... there are just so many problems waiting to happen. Im sure I have not even experienced half of what is possible.

 

[Matt Butcher]

(I've probably told you this before but) I pulled a smallish Hohner bass accordion in two during the final note of a competition piece. There was a big crack and the pins gave way and so did some of the wood. Since we are also looking for solutions, well, it was lucky it was the last note, a local carpenter glued the Hohner together and I got a new bass accordion.

We were playing at a school fete. We were heading towards the end of a piece of music with lots of sections when the DJ further down the playground decided it was time to start his set and dropped Usher's "In the Club". What could we do but play along?

On the other hand, when I hit the button next to the one I should have hit, I try and put in a little run to the right note - it's got to the point where it's sometimes automatic, but it still sounds wrong.

And don't put your chair on mud or you will sink into it.

 

[george garside]

Wow, I ...

More common is starting to play from sheet music and then realizing you only have page 1 and there is also a page 2... (been there, done that, and actually experienced I could play page 2 by heart).


AKA as 'playing by ear'!

george

 

[Pianoman1]

I started performing as a singer about 45 years ago so lots of mishaps

Never forgot my music always well rehearsed

Doing a gig in my local town Walthamstow the lights went out in the theatre - the pianist played on and kept singing - eventually they came back on and the crowd applauded One night the pianist flipped the music onto the floor and kept playing one handed while I kept singing picked up the music and normal service resumed

Serious one this - one day singing at a club my ulcer went bang while singing Granada with a high b flat finish Felt it go on the top not took a bow and was violently sick backstage bringing up blood Spent two weeks in hospital for that one

It happens just go with it

 

[JeffJetton]

Sometimes you get a bad page-turner:

 

[acordiansam]

Well it depends on the flop!

I had an instructor tell me once when you make a mistake repeat it the second time through and everyone will think you did it on purpose.

Also, most people in the audience never really pick up the small ones unless you give it away. Like some sort of funny face or frown when you've been smiling big.

Above all never stop!

 

[debra]

Well it depends on the flop!
...

We (Accordion Quintet ARTE) have a new piece I arranged. It is a medley of Irish songs. In the medley we have a number of places where one of us deliberately mixes in something from a different song and then the others give him or her an angry face... We have performed this piece once so far and the audience thought these were honest mistakes and some told us afterwards that when it goes wrong we should pretend nothing happened. We then explained that the act was all on purpose.
We are still thinking how to repeat the act at a next performance such that it becomes clearer that it is intended as a funny act, not as us messing up...

 

[acordiansam]

After playing in one band for 15 years. We had one song that the fiddle player would play a note out of tune. Then we would go back and forth making sower notes for a while. When he played the correct note then off we went again.

Solos where we put different songs in the slot that went along with the cord progression. Lots of fun and makes you think. We're always trying to surprise each other with a new song that fit in. Every thing from nursery rhymes to the lick of a popular song.

 

[JerryPH]

We are still thinking how to repeat the act at a next performance such that it becomes clearer that it is intended as a funny act, not as us messing up...

Its all in the expression and pose of the body. At the very least, have everyone stop suddenly, turn directly in his direction and give him a dirty look. Have a lady or two (if you have any), stand up and place their hands on their hips or throw their hands up in the air, or maybe even have one look like she is complaining to herself, theyll get it then... lol

Whenever the band that I was in played the chicken dance, I would purposely play it in the wrong key, and when they changed to match me... I changed again (of course this was all planned out, we all laughed and the people danced on)... lol

 

[debra]

Its all in the expression and pose of the body. At the very least, have everyone stop suddenly, turn directly in his direction and give him a dirty look. Have a lady or two (if you have any), stand up and place their hands on their hips or throw their hands up in the air, or maybe even have one look like she is complaining to herself, theyll get it then... lol

Whenever the band that I was in played the chicken dance, I would purposely play it in the wrong key, and when they changed to match me... I changed again (of course this was all planned out, we all laughed and the people danced on)... lol

Very good suggestions. We need to really turn it into what is much more clearly an act. I will see what we can do at our next performance...

 

[acordiansam]

Maybe if you have been playing and acting serious all night. A little vocal set up before you start the tune might help?

 

[smdc66]

Of course the other thing that can go wrong is mistakes due to nervousness.............first of all practice, practice, practice. ...............Make sure you can play everything 10 to 20% faster than you will perform it.....

is it worthwhile practice to also be able to play the piece slower as well as faster :? :?:

 

[smdc66]

Of course the other thing that can go wrong is mistakes due to nervousness.............first of all practice, practice, practice. ...............Make sure you can play everything 10 to 20% faster than you will perform it.....

is it worthwhile practice to also be able to play the piece slower as well as faster :? :?:[/quote]

actually i have just noticed and think most / all the answers to my question are covered in the

Re: How do they do that?

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