[TPIN] A question about rehearsing on the same day as a gig

[Vaxtrpts at aol.com]

In a message dated 11/4/2007 6:43:41 P.M. Pacific Standard Time,  
kbrblinder at comcast.net writes:

For the  most part, as an amateur player, on the day of a performance I  don't
practice at all, and I have a limited warm-up before I start to  play.  I can
usually play up to a 2-hour gig before my lip feels like  it is starting to
go, if I start fresh.

However, next month I have a  problem -- I'm playing with a jazz group and
we've not been able to get  together much, so we have a rehearsal scheduled
at 2:00 PM (probably  lasting for an hour and a half) on the same day we will
be performing later  at 7:00 PM.  Of course I'll take it very easy and play
lightly, but  I'm still concerned that I'll play enough at the practice that
I might run  out of gas during the actual performance later on.



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For those of us who were around when gigs were plentiful, in the "good old  
days" of say 20-30 years ago, this question might seem a little weird to us, 
but  I do know that times have changed, and you are an amateur player who 
doesn't  have the time to keep your chops up like we were pretty much forced to  
back then.
In those days of many show gigs, the normal schedule was to always rehearse  
the day of the show (or the first day of a series of shows.)  It made  more 
sense to the promoters and producers, because then they didn't have to pay  for 
a whole extra day just for rehearsing.  Boy, I can remember some chop  
slamming shows, where we were made to play the whole show in rehearsal, take an  hour 
or two off for dinner, and then play the full show again - for  "real."  
Also, on the road bands, since we rarely got a day off, when there  was new music 
to try we just rehearsed all afternoon and then played the gig  that night.   
At least once in a while, I think it is a good thing to try playing  the book 
(or simulating the playing you would need to do in a show) in the  afternoon 
and then again that night, on just a regular practice day.  That  old Boy 
Scout motto "be prepared" is a great one.  The more you can do to  emulate what 
you "have" to do on a gig, the better off you are, I believe.
I guess, also being from the "old school," I just don't consider a day with  
a concert or some other type of gig at night any different than any other  
days.  I don't treat myself differently on a gig day, then I do on a non  gig 
day.  I always try to get a good warm up in, regardless.
Hope this helps at least a little, and gives you a little insight into the  
"world of those who had no choice" back then, about taking and playing every 
gig  we could, just to (hopefully) feed the family.
Mike Vax
 



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