Some of the musical things I do are so regular, they could be called routine. I have weekly rehearsals, and there’s a twice-a-month gig that’s been part of my life for about 10 years now.
Like any routine, there are days when I don’t actually want to go. I’ll have a long hard day at work, and what I really want to do when I get home is plop on the couch in front of the TV. The prospect of loading gear into a vehicle and driving somewhere to play just doesn’t seem appealing.
So I drive home from work, grumbling at what lies in front of me and threatens my ever-so-valuable boob tube time. I’m not terribly annoyed, but it just seems like one more hassle after a day full of them.
But, people are counting on me – people I care about, so I scarf some dinner, and load up to go to whatever is on my schedule for the evening. And something magical happens.
When I arrive at the rehearsal studio, or the pub I’m playing at, I’m NOT so tired, I’m NOT so depressed. I do not long for my couch and TV. I cease to be worn out and discouraged, and I’m filled with an eager anticipation.
If it’s a rehearsal, what new stuff are we going to work on? What mistakes will we correct? Very little makes me feel better than going over something I flubbed at a recent gig and getting it smoothed out. The whole exercise becomes a welcome respite from the pressures of the day.
I really enjoy working with the other bandmates and sharing ideas to get things tightened up musically, with plenty of laughs along the way.
The same goes the “routine” semi-monthly gig. I may have a weak moment where I did not look forward to piling my stuff in the car, driving 20 miles and setting up a PA system, knowing I will not get home until after midnight when I have to get up early in the morning. But the pub’s counting on us, and the band’s counting on me.
Invariably, once I get there, though, there’s great comfort in the routine. And it’s not really routine – every gig is different. Will the band be “on”, or not? Will the audience be attentive or apathetic? Sometimes the evening starts out one way and ends another. It’s a lot of fun not knowing, and seeing how things unfold. We try to make sure we do a great show, but no guarantees in that noisy pub. What requests will we get and how will we pull them off.
Whether I’ve been to rehearsal or a gig, I never regret having done it, even on those rare occasions (and they are rare) when I didn’t necessarily look forward to it from the time I woke up in the morning! For it’s true – music has magic to heal wounds (and least the ones in my head) and lift a troubled (or maybe just irritated) heart.
