Embarrassing Performing Moments

My most embarrassing moment, which turned into a great laugh for all and a healthy "ice breaker" was simply a brain freeze.

I started playing a song that we were intro'ing with my rhythm playing before the rest jumped in.  I'm playing away, waiting for the rest of the band to jump in, but nothing happened.  I look out at the congregation (this happened at church) and they seem to have a puzzled look on their faces.  I look around at the band, while still playing and waiting, and they're all just standing there looking at me with equally puzzled looks on their faces.  LOL.

Luckily, my brain finally started to work and I realized that for some odd reason, I had started playing a song that was not even in the set.  Must have had it on my mind for some reason.

Anyways, I just stopped, made a bit of weird face and said, "Oh, um, woops!  It would probably help if I played the song I'm supposed to be playing eh?  Sorry bout that, my brain doesn't fire on all cylinders on the best of days.  Let's try this for real this time."

Everybody laughed and the next song went better than ever!

Sometimes, screwing up and just owning it with a smile can ramp up the fun and the good time had by all.  Not that I would want this to happen all the time, but I think people love it when you show that we're all human and nobody's perfect. 

I think I've talked about this before... perhaps on old site.

Back in the 60s when I was young and knew everthing (about the time of my sitar pic), I used to perform folk music in a 1 night a week  folk café. It was in Moose Hall and was run by two Irish brothers who did LOTS of Clancy Bro's. tunes. My friend in the sitar picture usually came with me. We were all under 18 and drank rum and vodka at a buck  a shot. Very liberal club )

About that time Cohen's Susanne came out. He also had a book of poetry out at that time. I, with great hubris, decided to set a few to music.  (what can go wrong)

After I did my 3 tunes and sat down with my friends, they said Cohen just left. I thought they were pulling my leg. 

A month later Cohen's album came out. With the poems I had butchered.
I felt  very embarrassed. Never did my versions again. It was the last time I performed solo. But what is worse and still haunts me, is what if my friends were being truthful and Cohen had witnessed my fiasco? What must he have thought?

Nothing embarrasses me more than forgetting the lyrics to my own songs!

It personally mortifies me ... but I've gradually come to the realization that those listening don't notice these things unless I make a big deal out of it with negative facial expressions or apologies, etc.

I've learned just to play on as if nothing has happened.  Because in reality, unless I point out the mistake, nothing HAS happened.

I look forward to the day when people will be so familiar with my stuff that they would notice a goof, but at my age, I'm not counting on it.