Have you ever wondered how it is like to go from practice to performance?
Here is a short sneak peak into the eyes of a musician through their journey.
The Call-Up
My phone buzzed 2 times in my right pocket.
I placed the spoon that I was holding on to down on my plate and reached into the pocket. It rang once more while I slid it out.
There was a message from a friend whom I have stayed close with after graduating from high school. We were once a part of a music group, where aspiring musicians come together to make music and perform.
“Do you want to join us? :)”, the message read.
Getting curious, I unlocked the phone and opened up the group chat. There were several messages before.
“Hi”
“We are thinking of getting a band and performing for the A Studio gig”
“Wanna to join us? :)”
I looked up to my computer monitor in front of me and contemplated for a while, recounting the days when we jammed our hearts out and performed on stages for crowds to adore us.
The nostalgia overwhelmed me and a growing excitement birthed.
“Sure!” i replied hastily.
“Alright, I will add you to a group with the rest”
We had a typical 5-man setup, with Drums, Bass, Guitar, Singer, and myself on the Keys.
There, we waited for the band leader, who was a senior in the group and inititated the idea of performing, to update us on the details of the performance.
The gig is in 1 month’s time, and we were given a 20-minute set, which allows for 4 songs. We quickly got to discussing what songs we should perform, everyone was eagerly contributing to the discussion.
Some of the songs proposed were personal favourites and have been wanting to perform it for a long time. I too had preferences and suggested classic songs such as “What’s Up” by The 4 Blondes.
We eventually settled on 6 songs that everyone was agreeable to, having 2 moer so that we can have some options.
Next, we proceeded to collect everyone’s availabilities for the next 4 weeks so that we can find a time to practice as a band. Thankfully, there were some days that accommodated the whole band.
Locking in the dates, out band leader promised to create scoresheets for the band and distribute to us when he is done.
Everyone was looking forward to the first practice session and performance as some of us have been away from one another as well as music for some time.
Being overly ecstatic, I couldn’t wait for the scoresheets to be done.
Instead, I looked up the chords for the 6 songs on Ultimate Guitar, which is a well-known website for housing chord sheets for different songs, curated by members of its online community.
With the resources in front of me, I switched on my keyboard that was sitting right beneath the table, and began fiddling with the chords.
I worked on one song, listening to the original on Youtube familiarizing myself with the structure of the song. There were many elements that I can cover as a Keyboardist.
Buttons pressed, knobs turned. I found a similar-sounding patch in my instrument’s library of sounds.
Then I got to the next song, and the next, and the next, until I was tired and decided to take a break.
The First Practise
My keyboard was packed nicely into its bag, taking into account what I had to bring and what was provided at the studio.
The studio that we will be practising in is called Never Studios, and they already provide a keyboard stand, relieving me of the need to bring one.
“See you guys later”
One last check on my items, and I headed out to the location.
—
There was 2 minutes to spare upon arriving at the studio. The studio required us to take off our shoes. It was freezing cold inside, and I felt the icy touch of the wood=en flooring as I made my way to the room we will be using.
As I opened the door, I was greeted by our band leader and singer who had arrived moments before me. They have already started setting up their stations, with my band leader taking out his Guitar and singer plugging in her microphone.
The studio stuff also helped us with the sound, ensuring that it was projected through the speakers that was littered around the room.
This studio was special, as they offered a personal monitoring speaker for each band member, where they can adjust the volumes of the other members to decide what they want to hear.
I went to the Keyboard station and there was the studio’s keyboard sitting on the keyboard stand. The staff asked if I will be using it, which I promptly declined. They swiftly took the keyboard out and gave space for mine.
I proceeded to get things in order, powering the keyboard, connecting the foot pedal, and bringing out my tablet to refer to scoresheets.
Just then, our 2 other members arrived, the drummer and bassist. We exchanged greetings and they went to their stations.
While everyone was setting up, we also discussed about the songs, figuring which song we should do first. There was a lot of chatter, talking about self-practice, and updating each other about our lives.
As the set-up is nearing completion, the band leader called out the first song that will should do. Unfortunately, “What’s Up” did not make the list.
It was “Livin’ On A Prayer” by Bon Jovi.
The Keyboard starts first
I took to my tablet and swiped until I got the correct scoresheet. Once I am ready, I place my hands on the keyboard as practised, right hand hovering over the first chord, and left hand gripping the volume knob.
“Y’all ready?” The rest nodded.
With a deep breath, I pushed down my right hand into the chord and slowly faded in a synth sound, turning the volume knob with my left hand ever so slightly.
I could see everyone getting into their battle stance, visibly counting the bars in their heads and waiting for their own cues.
4 seconds later, the drummer starting stepping on the hi-hat pedal to give the band the right tempo. 4 taps later, the bassist entered with the iconic bass line.
And then the drummer proceeds to play the full kit.
The 3 of us kept the music going until the guitarist and singer finally entered, giving us the momentum to carry on to the finish line.
—
“Phew, not bad”, our band leader called out as he bent down to adjust some settings on his pedalboard.
Not bad, but not perfect either. We fumbled our way through the first run of the song, with some major and minor mistakes, so I won’t be complacent with it.
“I think I came in too early”, I voiced out. “Yeah me too during Verse 2”, the drummer said.
We started to chat about the many mistakes we have committed during the song, and what could be done better. But it was short-lived as we moved on to attempt the 2nd song, and then the 3rd, and finally the last.
Some songs ended in cheers, while others ended with awkward smiles between us.
It was great to be back doing music.
“I think we should work on ‘Dancing Queen’ first since that is the best”.
We all agreed, and began our 2nd attempt at the song.
Once the final note was struck, our band leader started to give suggestions about what can be improved. I was definitely not excempted from that as he felt that I was overplaying during the choruses.
He commented that the bassist should play with more swing, and asked if the key is too high for the singer.
At the same time, we also gave our own comments about which parts of the song sounded uncoordinated.
After some disccusion, we started with the most glaring part of the song, which was the choruses. The drummer gave us a 4-hit count -in on the hi-hat, and we proceeded to loop the segment until we feel that it sounds better.
There was a lot of starting and stopping, back-and-forth discussion, and roadblocks along the way.
—
“See you guys next week!”
We bid one another farewell as we headed home, my keyboard slinging from one shoulder as I paced myself to the train station.
It was quite the productive session, getting the songs down and mistakes sorted. We managed to do a full practice for all songs, even though the last song was slightly rushed due to the lack of time.
“I will send the videos when I get home”, our singer texted in the group.
I whipped out my earbuds and started listening to a Youtube video. It feels great to be listening to something that is not any of the 4 songs we practised, as I had enough for the day.
Reaching the platform, my eyes started to feel droopy from the depleting energy in my body. It was a lot of fun, but it was also tiring to come up with ideas and critic our own playing.
The trained soon arrived at the station. I stepped on board the semi-filled carriage and managed to find a handgrip. My shoulder was relieved of the heavy weight as I placed it on the floor and carressed it between my legs.
Soon, I began to wander off into my thoughts about the session, with the Youtube video playing in the background.
The Soundcheck
It was 5pm in the afternoon. Soundcheck is at 6.30pm and show starts at 7pm.
Once again, I packed my instrument and double checked my bearings. For some reason, the bag feels heavier today. Maybe it was the anxiety creeping up against me.
I looked up at the mirror and saw myself clad in a nice denim jacket (with an inner tee) and beige cargo pants.
“Oops!”, I said to myself while I zipped up my pants.
Nothing else seems to be out of place. I gave myself one more pat-down to ensure that my belongings are with me, and I headed out to the venue.
A Studio.
—
It was 5.45pm when I arrived. There were already some figures loitering outside the studio when I reached the 2nd floor of the mall that the studio was situated in.
It was an old mall, housing shops that stood against time ever since the mall opened years ago. Many of the units have since been converted into clubs and bars to attract more patrons.
The air was musty, but pleasing to my sense of smell. I have always liked the smell of old shopping malls.
As I approached the studio, the clash of a crash cymbal emanated from behind the soundproofed walls. The drums started to play.
My hand reached for the door handle and yanked it open. The drums suddenly sounded 20 time louder than what I heard before.
I quickly stepped in and closed the door behind me to prevent any more noise pollution from leaking to the rest of the building.
It was another band doing their soundcheck. The soundman was carefully tweaking the EQ of the drums with the drummer while the rest of the band waited.
I recognized the singer and gave her a small wave, to which she returned the gesture with gleaming eyes, as if to say “Oh, you’re here too!”
At the corner of the studio, I saw the rest of my band, except for our band leader.
“Where is he?”, I asked concernly.
The rest told me that he will be arriving in 5 minutes. Thank god no one is late.
And so we waited for the band to finish their soundcheck. They had many punk rock songs lined up in their setlist and they honestly sounded quite tight during their runs.
I heard that there will be 6 bands performing that day, and we will be the last. I am praying that we are able to end of the show with a bang.
I caught the door open at the corner of my eye and saw our band leader stride in like a hero who arrived at the battlefield. I raised my hand t signal that we are at that corner, and he hurried over to our side.
“Anyone hungry?”, he asked with a sheepish grin.
We all looked at one another and had the same thought
—
At the table, we indulged in some Thai food while having a few laughs over what occurred during the rehearsals leading up to this day.
Suddenly, I realized that I forgot to bring my tablet, and left it at home while I was working on another project.
While I anticipated a barrage of feisty comments from my band, they instead came up with a few suggestions on how to resolve the issue. Our singer offered to lend her tablet to me while she uses her phone for lyrics.
I let out a huge sigh of relief, not only because we found a good solution but also because in that moment, I was glad to have them as band members.
Our singer pulled out her tablet and opened the scoresheet that our band leader has sent, then she passed it to me.
Once I had checked that the scoresheet was correct, we had our final discussion before leaving, making sure that everyone is on the same page of the changes that were made in the most recent practice session.
Then we stood up, returned our plates to the store, and carried our filled stomachs back to the studio.
While we were outside, we could hear the band doing their final run of the set, with the last chorus of their last song reaching the climax.
Our bassist opened the door and the music this time was 20 times louder.
—
“Thanks, guys. You can take a break. Can I have the next band up?” The soundman asked while looking around for us.
Our band leader gave him a thumbs-up and the soundman went back to his audio mixer, preparing for our band’s soundcheck.
We picked up our instruments and proceeed to our stations. I took off to the right of the drummer where the keyboard stand was placed.
I adjusted the keyboard stand to a good height where I can comfortably play while standing. A stage crew came over to my side to assist me while I took out my instrument and accessories.
“Do you need a music stand?”, the stage crew asked politely.
I nodded and he proceeded to adjust the one that was standing right in front of the keyboard stand.
I continued to set up the rest, plugging the power adaptor into the nearest power cord, and the sustain pedal into the correct jack.
The 1/4-inch cable was provided by the studio and communicated through the tech rider before, which I promptly grabbed and connected to my keyboard.
I prepared my singer’s tablet. Once in a while, I would glance at my band to see how far they have set up.
Everyone was hard at work.
I looked at my surroundings and processed the view. “This is how it will look like later”, I thought to myself, knowing that it will be filled with audiences in a bit.
“Drums, can I get you to kick?” The soundman instructed. Our drummer began to give a steady pulse that coarsed through my body every time it resounded.
“Can you hit the snare?”. Our drummer obliged.
This went on for the rest of the drumkit, our bassist, and our guitarist while he fiddled with the settings on the audio mixer.
Then it was my turn.
“What patches do you have?” I gave them the 10 patches that I will be using. Yes, keyboardists are always loaded with patches.
Then finally, our singer was given her mic. A reverb effect filled the air as she sang the chorus of our first song as a check.
“Can I have the full band now?”
“Let’s do Livin’ On A Prayer”, our band leader yelled across the stage.
I hastily brought up all relevant patches, switched to the correct scoresheet on the tablet, and placed my hands on my keyboard as I did before.
The Show
A huge crowd started to swarm in to the room. I counted at least 50 people packed into this tiny space. It was amazing how such a compact studio could house so many people.
Everyone was standing shoulder to shoulder. Everyone was in high spirits and chattered loudly, waiting for the rest of the rom to be filled.
The audience was a combination of friends, enthusiasts, and band members, cooking up a brilliant storm for a high-energy performance.
The room settled and the noise died down a little after the last few people entered.
I saw the soundman signalling the first band up on stage. As they took their walk of fame, the room erupted with cheers and applause. The band was smilling from ear to ear as they waved at the audience.
We saw them taking up position and getting comfortable with their instruments. Because they were the first band, they had the luxury of leaving their instruments prepared on stage, while we had to hold on to ours.
The drummer clicked his drumsticks together 4 times, and the song began. It was a strong start to the performance, and the crowd cheered once more.
The band grooved to the music, and no one was standing there like a statue. The audience moved along with the band, creating a symphony of music and dance.
There was few slip-ups coming from the keyboardist and bassist. The singer even stuttered for a bit during the bridge. But they pushed through the first song and ended it with both feet on the ground.
The crowd was going crazy.
Then the 2nd song came.
Our band was listening to the music and chatting amongst ourselves. Before long, the first band was done, and they seemed proud of themselves for nailing the performance.
The next band was given a 10 minute turnover time, and some audiences left for the washroom.
The bands that came after had the same effect.
Some songs ended in cheers, while others ended with awkward smiles between us.
Until it finally came to our turn. We slowly trudged our way onto the stage while 50 odd people applauded for us and 50 pairs of eyes glued to us, glistening under the lighting, wondering how we will do.
I also wonder how we will do.
The room’s energy was definitely way lower than what it was at the start, which plays to our disadvantage.
Some audiences had already left with their friends in the previous bands, and others were just tired and wanted to go home.
Nevertheless, proceeded to setup the instruments while the room broke into some chatter again.
Time passed slowly for me while I set up my instrument, secretly hoping that the time for performance will never come, yet knowing the fact that it will eventually arrive.
“Hi everyone, how are you guys doing so far?”, our singer said into the mic, buying some time and interacting with the audience to get the energy going.
She is a good crowd pleaser, and she managed to get some rousing applauses which also brought our spirits up.
“Are you guys ready?!” she yelled out, and the crowd rose to the same level of energy as the start.
I placed my hands on the keyboard and recalled everything we have went through, and in a leap of faith, I pushed the chord down on my right hand and turned the knob on my left.
The music slowly came alive, and the rest was history.
My mind was hyper-focused for the next 20 minutes, being dead-set on hitting the right notes every single time. My eyes left the keyboard a few times and darted at the audiences as a habit of stage presence.
The pressure backfired as it made my hands sweaty, which caused me to slip a few times. But I reminded myself that it is a good amount of stress to keep me going.
Adrenaline continued to build inside of me and my heart raced a million miles.
In the blink of an eye, the first song was done. I hardly noticed my surroundings as I was too deep into the music, but in the rest we had between songs, I realized the audience was raving and forming a mosh-pit.
It was a sight to behold for a musician, to know that your music can move crowds.
The next 3 songs were a blast as well, and when the time comes to play our final chorus, the crowd was flying around the room, jumping up and down to the beat of the song, and singing along to the tune at the top of their lungs.
We landed on our last note, and the audience went wild. I don’t know what made them so energetic; maybe it was already late and everyone was on adrenaline; maybe they were getting delirious from exhaustion; or maybe we really did play well.
But one thing is for sure, we survived the ordeal.
My band looked at one another and smilled.
“We did it”, our face translated with pride.