What to do when you lose the plot
About songs in production and reviewing performances
I played a show on Saturday. While I still did not feel I was performing at my best, I was comfortable enough and felt I delivered an adequate performance. Additionally, some good things happened:
A $12 ad I ran on Facebook brought four groups of people who had never heard of me before.
One of those new listeners was shopping me for an event where they wanted to hire a performer… I was told the gig is mine if I want it.
While I was mixing in covers and originals, to a person, those in attendance asked me to play more of my own music.
I include a performance review below.
But… I’ve Lost The Plot
The next morning, I assessed the things I plan to improve by my next performance, which is: July 6th.
Coffee in hand, a little bleary-eyed from lack of sleep, I opened my set list and a spreadsheet where I keep a list of all of my songs.
The color-coding on the left indicates whether it is a song I can currently play/perform. The red “4” indicates I may not even remember how the song goes.
On that same spreadsheet, I have another tab titled, “Productions”.
It list, you guessed it, songs I am producing. And that is where I have lost the plot.
I have three songs that I’ve promised I would release - promised here on Substack and promised myself.
Marie
The Coward and The Fool
Whiskey, Kill This Dream
Sure, we’ve been out of town a few weekends, been caught up in some home improvement projects, had work obligations and those damned sundries.
But, really, the problem is far simpler.
I’ve started three new productions prior to finishing the above. Nothing in-depth, mostly just laying down some acoustic guitar ideas.
Yesterday afternoon, after a nap, I opened up Marie to see what was going on with it. I haven’t opened the project in nearly two months.
It sounds nice! I made a few notes, adjusted some levels, turned up my speakers, and closed my eyes and listened.
There are two things I want to fix but damn!!! This song is ready.
So, here is how I think about finding the plot again.
Three simple steps to find.. er re-write the plot:
Push the self-loathing voice to the side. Let it serve as motivation, not as an identity.
Make a list of “good enough” changes/additions.
Create a schedule - a doable schedule.
Complete one project before starting the next.
The last item is important for me.
Marie has two things I want to fix/re-record. That’s it. It is likely only two to three hours of work.
That’s the plot!
Performance Review
Overall Performance: 6.5/10:
I am probably 70-75% of where I feel I need to be but a bit further away from where I want to be.
Musicality: 7/10:
I'm pretty comfortable with my playing but a few gaps I want to close up.
Vocal delivery: 6.5/10:
I was very comfortable for the first set. I need to strengthen my vocals and improve my technique to preserve myself for longer sets. Playing a couple hours stretched me and I started to lose my upper register in the 2nd set.
Stage presence: 7.5/10:
I was/am super comfortable, engaged with those in attendance. Improve my musicality and this will rise as well.
I sent this to my youngest. She’s protective of me and suggested I was probably too hard on myself. I don’t believe so and I am not unhappy with the progress I’ve made and the above assessment.
Steve Martin, one of my favorite performers, has suggested for years, “Be so good they can’t ignore you.”
This means, not good enough, not better than most people performing at a restaurant somewhere, not better than you were last week…
Years ago I had the opportunity to work with Steven Memel, a well-known performance coach in Los Angeles. He said something interesting, something that I need to remember. It dovetails nicely with Steve Martin’s quote above.
This is a paraphrase:
You don’t start performing like a superstar when you are a superstar. You start performing like a superstar in order to become a superstar! When you perform a show and the only person there is the bartender, you need to make sure the bartender is so impressed they invite people to your next performance!
I’m not suggesting I’m going to be the next superstar. But, for me to truly deliver a performance that forces those in attendance to take notice, I need to keep Steve Martin’s and Steven Memel’s advice in mind.
With Love and Gratitude,
Matthew Moran
June 24, 2024
Congratulations on the progress you're making.! It's motivating me to work harder on my own stuff :-). We were in San Clemente Saturday, meeting up with one of my oldest friends who I've known for fity years. We trained together at USC. He and his family live in San Diego, where he works as docent at the Zoo after retiring from GI. We had a wonderful time, reminding me how precious friendship truly is.
Be well,
J