When a Concert Day Arrives..

in #hive-1928063 years ago

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Wondering what a musician's day looks like when she/he has a performance that night??

You may not be wondering, but I am in good mood now, so I decided that I would definitely share that experience with you, whether you wanted it or not.

The concert day came. Yesterday. This post is coming now too.

Readers? Well, we will see if any is interested in the topic.

Not that I know how other musicians spend the day of the performance and do they have some special rituals. No, I don't know that. {Though if you are a musician and have your own established habits, you can share that with us. Maybe write an entire post on the subject?}

Different feeling

So, I can speak just for myself, how do I spend a day that is not the same as the other days.
The gigs don't count for me as special days, I am used to them and I could play a gig without even rising up my adrenaline levels. I stay calm and accept it as my work. You know that kind of work you already do almost eyes closed (ok, don't attempt to drive and play the piano with closed eyes, it's not recommendable, just saying). Even if there are a lot of people in the venue, I play that repertoire with a lot of confidence, to be honest, I don't even think anymore while I play.

For a classical music concert, playing for the same number of people in the audience (but to be honest, it is usually for more people) the feeling is completely different. I have a lot of expectations from myself. Others have a lot of expectations from me. We all have to work together to give our best, so I really don't want to mess up. It has to be perfect in several ways. First of all, I want to play without mistakes, without any finger slipping from the keys and producing dissonance. Secondly, perfection is needed in the terms of expression. It doesn't count to play just to make a sound from the piano. The sound has to communicate some higher level of a message, to wake up feelings in the other co-musicians and the audience.

Rest

Knowing all that, I anticipate that image, being there and wanting to give the best. That makes my day already different, but to have energy and be calm I like to have a good rest and sleep longer. However, the morning was something like this: I want to sleep, but an invisible force is not letting me do that. I couldn't sleep, so I gave up trying with that activity and did a bit of curation on hive, practised the piano and repeated once again the activities. I knew the piece by heart. I knew it so well that I could even forget to take with me the scores, but that is when I play it at home. Being on the stage is a different thing.

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Outfit

Being on the stage indeed is different. Those expectations... And, everyone is watching you (and the other musicians). The physical appearance also has to be pleasant. We usually wear black, as that colour shows elegance. So, the female members of the choir mainly wear black long dresses and men, suits. I have a very nice black dress, worn it a few times but it is too elegant for some normal occasions. I would wear it maybe with a cloak, also black, so I decided to try it in the morning. Cool, I liked it.

However, the devil never sleeps, the zipper on the back stuck, and I could not move it up, nor down. I almost needed to call the firefighters to help me out of the situation lol. Ok, my husband's help was enough, we somehow managed to free me from the dress!

The dress will pay a visit to a seamstress. At the end of my trying out dress session, I decided to wear the most modest black shirt and black trousers. Black shoes, with not very high heels. Free falling hair mode. Minimal amount of make-up. I was ready.

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Visualisation and getting familiar with the environment

This is an important part of the concert day. To get familiar with the scene, the room, to have that space mapped in your mind. Also, meet the piano. Every piano is different, and we pianists have to work with an instrument we are given. Luckily, this grand piano in the Cultural Centre is already well known to me. And it is a good piano. It listens to my orders, basically, the sound I want to achieve is easy to produce in it. All dynamics and details can be shaped on it. Not all the pianos offer this pleasure, so we have to accommodate to all those different pianos.

Additional rehearsal

Although we had rehearsals during the previous weeks, a last, additional ( but in shortened version) rehearsal is always done before a concert. The sound also has to be checked, we were wired :D So the microphones and the sound balance is an important feature that has to be checked. When I don't have to play, and the other soloist have the spotlight, I play hide and seek with the curtains 😂 (ok, maybe don't take too seriously this statement).

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Audience coming in - time to get serious

When you see the audience coming in, you know there is not much time left for having fun around all the stuff mentioned before. It is time to get prepared. If you are self-confident and have no fear that rules you, no problems and you enjoy seeing some familiar faces that came to listen to. Also, many unknown people will listen to you for the first time, so I don't know what I prefer more, people I know or not for the listeners. This photo was taken some 30 minutes before the concert started. At 8 P.M. it was full, there was not even one unoccupied seat.

This concert where I played yesterday was the first day of the International Choir Festival. Every year the money gathered from the tickets is given to different charity organisations. This time, it was an organization called AFEM (Association of Families and People with Mental Illness).

AFEM is a nonprofit organization that offers rehabilitation for patients with diverse mental illnesses, support to their families, and professional support from a team of psychologists. They offer different programs to people with some mental issues to reduce their dependence on their families, gain back normal life, work, or have leisure activities (like hiking, crafts, sports, excursions, cultural events etc...). They have a whole program of activities and support they give, much wider than I wrote here. These were just a few things I learned while talking to a few of those volunteers after the concert.

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Already empty hall

Empty and silent. So different to see now this photo after seeing it full of people, applauses, music and emotions. The concert went very well, there were choirs from three towns, and we played the last. My adrenaline went up a bit, I heard my heartbeats in one moment and my thoughts. Mainly they were saying to me that everything goes well, I started very well, with no mistakes, a good connection, and we were enjoying the performance. Before my solo part, one annoying thought came and was trying to convince me that I will make a mistake. I was fighting with it, but I also had to take care of the jumps in the left hand, the chords in the right hand, the forte I had to play and expression, so my defence was weakened, and that error indeed came in one moment. Luckily, it was not very noticeable, or the people later lied to me when they congratulated us.

Anyway, those fingers that slipped were not the main protagonist. The most important was the expression and "delivery" - how our conductor usually says. Delivery of emotions. No time to think about the mistake!

Btw, do you know why the hall is empty in this photo? Yes? Oh, yes, as after the concert we had an eat and drink part, where everyone, even the audience could join and enjoy the offered tapas and wine. I had just a fizzy drink, and this was weird even for me. The good feeling after a successful performance was prevailing, and I didn't need any glass of wine to enhance that state (oh, and also my migraine would not like that wine thing, definitely)!

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If you made until here, congratulations! And thank you! :))

Also, I am interested in what your concert day looks like. Do you have some rituals you like? What are your habits? Are you nervous, relaxed, do you choose the dress, do you like to prepare yourself... Tell us more in the comment section, or why not make a separate post on the topic?

You know, the Q-inspired team will gladly read your story.

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Oh how I hated concert days! :D
That of course is just from a student perspective. All the holidays and special occasion we had to play in front of audience (families and friends). Hated it.
And no matter how well I knew the piece I was supposed to play and how much I would practice before, the stress was there, sweating hands and all that.

Oh no, sweating hands are the worst I think. Interestingly, it was more present in those student days. And cold fingers, oh, I so didn't like that.

Your stress... maybe the elbow thing had to do also something with it 😁

Now, no sweating hands but I just hear my heart and the voice in the head discouraging me hahaha 😂

Hahaha the elbow thing will always haunt me 😂

Yep, I guess it will 😂

i bet it went swimmingly well .... congrats. what did you play? ok, let me guess... black sabbath's paranoid? no? okay stings fields of golds ?

never mind me... i just talking piffle.

hope all is well with you and your loved ones.

Actually, I played some songs by The Doors ;))

Thank you for stopping by @themagus , I hope all the adventures are going well and you enjoy the new life tempo :D

thank you kindly and i am sure you made jim morrison smile down at you from heaven {thinks} 'hmmmmm, jim morrison....heaven???'

perhaps not!

😂😂

No pre-performance rituals eh? No cracking the knuckles or anything?

If the dress is the only thing that went wrong that's not too bad - since you were able to un-trap yourself. Lol.

Performers should be given at least one small slip for free on performance day.

No rituals like rituals, but just in global how I am spending a concert day. :)

since you were able to un-trap yourself. Lol.

un-trap myself 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

Well, thank you. Free slips are generously given hahaha

Ooh, that was super interesting!

We went to an open Mic today, no comparison to what you do, of course, but it was great fun.
All in the garden of a pub and lovely people drinking and listening to us.
You got me thinking, that I should start posting about these events...

Our swing band plays for some dancers tomorrow...
Maybe I can note down our rituals!

Thanks for sharing yours! Enjoyed reading,and, yes, till the end.. 😀

Btw, what does Q-inspired stand for?
I'm still baffled by some of the topic names etc..

Gigs and open mic is fun, for sure. Classical music is my genre, so that is why it is special for me.

You got me thinking, that I should start posting about these events...

Our swing band plays for some dancers tomorrow...
Maybe I can note down our rituals!

Yes, you should. You see, we are trying to get people to do similar to these reports hehe, so please, go for it!

And you asked what Q stands for. Well, initially it was Q and later Q-sounds as for quality sounds. From January this year, it became Q-inspired, as it is not just sounds, but stories around music. A writing corner around music where we try to inspire each other.

The description of the community is the following:

Q-Inspired is a small writing corner for Music Inspired contributions, where we express our thoughts, memories, experiences, inspirations, knowledge or even dreams. At Q-Inspired it goes without saying that we add the Personal touch.
Q-Inspired members like to make an Effort and have a deep Respect for Everything and Everyone in/on and outside our planet Earth.

Then, we sometimes have writing challenges, as it was the Neighbour's point of view, or the party, events or concert reports. The post about habits on the concert day came today :))

That would be cool to read your story and the rituals you have on a performance day :)
Or go just with a free music topic, up to you, if you want to join us 😇

Ooh, I sure will!
That sounds really inspiring! 😀
Will read through the posts first for a while!
Thank you! 👍

Maybe I had to do some recollection of the entries to those prompts... well, I am sure you will find the posts I am talking about, but anyway, if you like to join also the neighbour challenge, you are welcome ( just skip the part were the deadline as mentioned hahaha)

Yes, I remember that post! That's an interesting subject and food for thought!
I suppose posts on learning an instrument are the sort of thing for q-inspired?
Stages to get a song to its final performance? I'm learning the keyboard, so that would be nice to share and get some feedback even..

Sure, it can come!
We will gladly read your piano learning journey :))

Lovely! Thank you! 😊

I think my own opinion won't be for the comment section and I am going to write a full post about it

👍 looking forward

Yes boss

Maybe the dress wasn't meant to be, I can't even imagine the feeling; some might have taken it as a sign

Also, this whole process feels so stressful, never played in a concert before, I have sung in church though; I don't know if that counts but I almost fainted 😆.

The dress was anyway too elegant... maybe I would not wear it, who knows. But it was the curiosity to try those clothes that I usually wear just for concerts :))

never played in a concert before, I have sung in church though; I don't know if that counts but I almost fainted 😆

oh, no. Because of the stress and fear? Hope you stayed well and sang perfectly 😇

It's understandable to be curious but I'm sure you would have looked amazing in the gown.

It was due to stage fright, I have really intense anxiety most days so it didn't help.

It's interesting to see things from the 'other side', not that I go to many concerts.

It may sound like a dumb question, but why is playing at a gig different from a concert? Is it because the different audience?

Not a dumb question. Let's see. While playing at a gig, people usually have a drink or eat something, talk among them, or watch me but not all the time, some are humming the tune while I play 😂 so it is all more relaxed to me. There is no that pressure. Also, the repertoire I play is "easy" for me. People come and say they liked it (or not hahaha)

In a classical concert - you are on the stage and everyone is looking at you. Silence. No drinks, food or chit-chatting, the eyes are on you and it already makes a huge difference. No place for mistakes or errors. The pieces are more complex, with more details, and dynamics, and technically they are more demanding. More expression and connection with other musicians (if not a solo concert) is essential. Oh, the lights. Usually, there are reflectors and I don't like strong light. I am speaking in general, as also there are classical concerts held in a bit of different way, more relaxed for me too.

es un dia maravilloso estar esperando ese momento y cuando llega estan emocionante me imagino ese dia para ti es bonito todo lo que se ve por aqui en tus fotos, que recuerdos me trae ver este escenario con ese piano, es increible como debe sonar todo alli saludos y exitos

Gracias @betzaelcorvo por leer esta publicación. Sí, ha sido de verdad muy emociaonante. Las actuaciones en vivo nos ofrecen una experiencia inolvidable :)
Saludos igualmente y gracias a ti por pasar 😇

Really nice to read your experience. I'm so glad you had a substitute for your dress. Can't imagine how disastrous it would have been if you didn't have an alternative.

Sounds like this was an awesome concert. I like how you take time to explain in details and to our understanding how the entire feeling and process was like from your end.

Although I don't play the gigs, I'll take your advice seriously on never to play the piano with my eyes closed😂 (Just Incase I wish to play in future).

Though I haven't really been to many concerts or performed in one, I'll write my experience on each of the moments I had to lead the choir during a church function.

Though I haven't really been to many concerts or performed in one, I'll write my experience on each of the moments I had to lead the choir during a church function.

This would be nice to read!

Hahahaha, driving and playing the piano with eyes closed - It was of course just a joke, the driving part for sure don't attempt, ever. Playing teh piano - it can be done with our eyes closed :)

So interesting to witness the backstage of a concert day through your eyes!
I really suffer in front of audience, even if I just have to say yes or no, I have heartbeats that I can hear them all over my head and body, extra reason to admire everyone that goes out on a stage :)

Glad you shared all your feelings! Reminds us all that fears are common for all of us and this is liberating. The invisible force that does not let us sleep, that zipper that will stuck, and this annoying thought that will (or not) make you lose your focus.

The sound has to communicate some higher level of a message, to wake up feelings in the other co-musicians and the audience.

Of course! Your work is magic!
Thank you for sharing!

Suffering in front of the audience. Hm, yes, it can be uncomfortable, but the more we are on stage, the easier it is. But still, sometimes we do have that fear that tries to control us. All can be practised and worked on to eliminate the "stage fear"

Thank you for stopping by @traisto , I would need a photographer like you or @fotostef to document better these events while I am playing :D

Oh yes, repetition is the key. Luckily, I can avoid it and only suffer occasionally, haha! But it would feel great to get over with it, maybe it's time :)

Would be great if we could do it! Come and capture your moments on stage! I am sure @fotostef agrees on that :))

Despite the years and the fact that you say that concerts are very normal for you, it's good to see that there are moments when at least your heart skips a little bit, that means that the passion is still there and that you still like what you do, of course, you have never said that you don't like it, but it's true that it's becoming more and more normal.

And well, it's normal that the dresses crave to spoil at the wrong time, it's almost a cliché haha. In the photos I could see that it is a nice setting, very intimate and comfortable.

It's a pity you can't enjoy the wine, you deserve it after a good concert, I would drink what I can to celebrate.

Yeah, the heart is still doing its thing. At least I know that I am alive :D And I think I will never get bored from that feeling. If too easy and every time the same, then yes, I would get bored 😂

The dress - I have already an appointment for tomorrow with the seamstress, the zipper will hopefully be fixed!

I was ok today, so I had some cider at home this evening. It is a very weak drink, but at least some celebration had to come 🥂

Thank you guys for checking out this concert day 😇🤗

This is a systematic flow of how singers or instrumentalists should or get when they have a concert..It was about perfection..I cannot even imagine you playing a sound that isn't supposed to be played..I agree rest barely comes probably because the mind is pre-occupied with alot of things..I sit down and admire the choir in my church observing procession..the timely stepping out and singing in harmony with a serious face not to make a mistake.. Proceeding to the choir sits and the organist making no mistake in delivering the songs while the choir members sing in harmony..It is great to watch but alot of activities go on before the main performance so we can be satisfied..Great to see..I listened to some beautiful songs from the choir yesterday in church, took some recordings and photos of the lovely songs I enjoy so much..I think this post would be a catalyst for me to talk about it..

I think this post would be a catalyst for me to talk about it.

Great 👍 I am glad you heard the call and your contribution will arrive.

@mipiano another suggestion..can we have like a community logo so we can insert in our post..it would help promoting our great community

The quality of a post is the best promotion of a community, but let me check with the admin about the logo and if there is need for it, ok?

Yes the quality is certainly the best..Just for identity I think

We have discussed the topic, and we don't see the need for using an additional logo for the community.

When you post in the Q-inspired community (or any other one) it is already stated where it is published, so that is enough :))

Alright then.. that's cool and okay