Last Thursday I went to an open mic hosted by close friend and music director of my choir Scott Pietrangelo. It was at a popular music bar with a regular open mic so the standard of performance was really high.
There were lots of great voices, lots of familiar faces, and there was me with my fiddle!
I went on stage and played our slow jam song in D. Played it 2 times, the first time was to play it through for Scott and Jamie (on percussion), and the second time was for the jam.
I learned a lot: I learned that I have to trust myself. I know the music, but other people most likely are hearing it for the first time in their lives. It's down to me to keep the beat, keep it predictable (in terms of roadmap and tempo), and keep the musical line going. It's not enough to play the notes, the music is in the pulsing and in how I engage with my supports (Scott and Jamie), and how I react to the sounds in the room.
It worked out really well in the end and I hear people clapping, stomping, cheering. I enjoyed the experience very much, and hope to do it again.
After my set, Scott said, "Hey it's like a kitchen party in here!" and he launched into the Great Big Sea Medley... "I've got a smile on my face, and I've got four walls around me ..."