Journal: Gig 02/01/03: Bistro221

This was an interesting gig for me, as it was a solo. I like solo gigs. I can just play whatever I feel like, however I feel like playing it, and I can play requests without worrying if the rest of the band knows it.

I really like playing requests even if I haven't played the song for quite a while, or ever played it at all (if it's simple enough :-)

The trick to playing solo gigs is to have enough songs on a list to help out with ideas, since it seems that I can never think of a song if someone just comes up and says "Hey! Play something." I'll always come back with "So what's your favorite tune?" and they won't be able to think of anything either, so I'll ask their favorite artist, and that usually works.

I don't have trouble with song lists anymore since I got a palm m500 a few months ago. I just have a "memo" item with a list of songs. Whenever I think of a song I like I stick it on the list. So convenient, but hard to read on the gig :-).

Back to the gig. It was a bit slow in the restaurant and I wasn't getting much response. I had the mental conversation "I'm I sounding OK out there or really sucking?" but I persevered. Towards the end of the night, after the folks had finished their meals, they walked over to me to tell me how much they had enjoyed my music. That felt so good.

I'd like to do more solo gigs, but my calendar is pretty full with my other bands for the next few months, so I don't feel too motivated to go out and hustle.