You Never Know Who's Listening
by Sheryl Bailey
 

Thriving in the NYC scene has taught me many priceless lessons about live performance and building a career. One of the most important skills that I've learned is to always play your best because you never know who is listening. This is important no matter where your scene is, because you're reputation is only as good as your last performance, really. It doesn't matter how great you sound in your practice room, or how great your gig was two nights ago, or even how great you sounded on the last set; it's what is going on at the moment that audiences remember you for, so wake up and seize the opportunity to do your best and participate in the music that's happening now.

Every significant gig that I've gotten actually came to me; that is, I didn't pursue them, per se. I was playing somewhere, maybe even thinking to myself that no one was even listening, no one even cared- when I found out later that someone very important was actually listening.

Bassist Richard Bona called me to be a member of his band because he was often listening from the corner of the 55 Bar; on many occasions while I was playing my heart out, having all of these thoughts about no one listening- Richard was there. I was indeed attempting to play my best, thankfully, despite my feelings that no one was really paying attention. It always seemed like a crowd of ill-mannered tourists were crowding the bar, indifferent to the music being presented to them, or the room might seem completely empty. Was I the tree falling in the forest with no one to hear my message? Either way, I always continued to play with passion and intensity, overcoming my thoughts of the noisy tourists "getting it" or if only the four walls were digging the music. In the end, all of that neurosis was for nothing, and I got a really important gig out of it.

On many nights through my association with Richard, I would peer out to see guitar heroes like George Benson, Pat Metheny, or Mike Stern in the audience. This happens often in NYC and presents a great opportunity, if you treat it as such. You can look out and see someone you admire and start shaking in your boots, or you can take a deep breath, smile and start swinging, grooving and letting your heart sing.

I'll share a moment where that opportunity turned into at least a week's worth of self-abuse: One night years ago when I was playing in Baltimore with a fusion band, the bassist told me that he had invited the famous drum virtuoso Dennis Chambers down to see the show. I was psyched, because I felt really "on" that night, like I was the baddest cat around. I was "in the zone". It turned out that Dennis hadn't shown up yet.

I was walking outside of the club before our last set when, who should walk right into me but the man himself- Dennis Chambers.

I said, "Hey, what brings you down here tonight?" and he replied, "To check you out." Well, let's say I didn't cherish the moment, or celebrate the opportunity. I became self-conscious and I was scattered; I played the worst that I ever could have, destroying myself with nerves. I couldn't concentrate on the music, I couldn't breathe, the music was going by and I wasn't a part of it. Luckily, several years later, I got a chance to be a part of a record date with Dennis; I felt much better about the whole situation, having put it in the perspective of being a young cat paying my dues.

Looking back, what seemed like a disaster was actually a great learning experience, one that taught me the power of the mind. The mind is often our worst enemy, until you learn to use its power to develop focus and concentration. The music that is happening right now at this moment is the most important thing to be experiencing, not thinking about who may or may not be there, not fixating on your neurotic obsessions or judging yourself. When you are immersed in the music and paying attention to what it is asking of you every second, you will be playing your best.

Making each note count is what is important, and connecting those notes with your heart - that's what opens doors to great opportunities. The ability to open yourself up 100% to the music is what creates a great performance and brings the audience to you. When you begin to play with the feeling that you've got nothing to lose and nothing to gain, you enter into a state of pure creativity; that is where things really begin to happen and you start to "always play your best."

The moral of the story is that you never know where opportunities will come from, so be prepared at all times and expect the unexpected. Most importantly, be there for the music and the rest will take care of itself.

Peace,

Sheryl Bailey