I scuffed it up, big time!

 Yesterday I did a gig that I'd practised for months for months - music month double bass and violin solo gig at Johnsonville library.

The library is quite a big space, so I took amps, wiring, transmitters, etc. I TOOK A LOT OF GEAR.

I would have much preferred to play acoustically. 

It was hot in the library. When it was time to play, I was sweaty and thirsty. A lot of thought went into plugging everything in and making sure it was working.

Gig time:

The bass felt sticky - the space must have been heated. Playing felt uncomfortable, I'd also somehow managed to get the bass amp settings a bit wrong. Playing was hard and I made quite a few mistakes that were not little ones. I played three double bass pieces and then hoped to redeem myself on the violin. 

The violin sounded scratchy. I played pretty well but the tone wasn't there. I played up high and the amp made some unusual sounds. I broke a few bow hairs. Then, near the end of my last piece I noticed my mistake.

I'd forgotten to tighten the bow hair!

I had been so busy wiring things up that I'm hadn't tightened my bow hair! 

I was playing on the stick!

When the bow is not in use,
violinists loosen the hair so
that it is not under pressure
all the time.

The people there were very kind with their words BUT I knew that I had scuffed up big time, and after all that work!

On Saturday I get to play the same repertoire again in Tawa. At least I won't be plugged in and, I can assure you, I won't overlook tightening my bow hair!

Ciao tutti.