First Rehearsal Tomorrow...

Let me count how long it's been since I've even just played with someone - other than that one time when we were both bloody drunk five years ago... Ah, right - 15 years!
 
But my wife and I have our first formal rehearsal tomorrow. :\
 
When we talked about gigging, I thought: alright, the more people on stage, the better - I'll just stand behind amps and keys somewhere on the stage, turn the volume on my amp down, and act as a musical director, pulling the strings...
 
Because that's the only thing I'm sure of, in all humility - how it must sound.
 
So far, the future band members I've met could wipe the floor with me.
Back and forth. Really.  
 
All I have on them is that I'm bigger than they are and married with the singer. That's it.
 
The bass player is like the equivalent of John Paul Jones - multi-instrumentist, proficient in a wide variety of genres, a very capable engineer and producer, who's played professionally for years. And the sweetest guy ever. I'm sure he can play guitar better than I can... In his sleep.
 
Man, I feel like a fraud. I know we all do - my wife tells me she did for most of her career. Hans Zimmer still feels like a fraud. But I AM a fraud. lol
 
Plus, I'm not sure I've ever been on a stage sober - not after the music school Christmas concert disaster, anyway.
 
In Logic and Pro Tools, I know I am good. I am confident. It can be learned. Onstage? Forget it. I used to smash my guitars to take the focus off of me and hide my discomfort.
 
What's even more awesome is that the first live performance should be just the 2 of us. :/
No hiding for me, there...
 

Relax and have fun I say. Don't focus on yourself but on the moment and the surroundings. Make yourself smile a big smile  It's all in the attitude. Tell yourself "This is going to be good !"
 
 I am very comfortable live. I play way better in front of an audience. I miss it

How cool must it be to play in a band where the other players are all so much better that you feel they could "wipe the stage" with you?   Look at this as a HUGE opportunity. The only way to really get better is to play with musicians who can teach you new things...and it looks like that's the exact situation you are entering into.
 
Put it this way Rain..... if you were as big of a fraud as you seem to think you are, the other players would have said something about your playing. I don't care how good your wife is, they would have said something about your playing if it was really that average.
 
Now, I have seen and heard the players that are employed as musicians with Cirque.....and if these guys are the ones you're talking about..... hell yeah, I'd be a bit intimidated to play with them as well...... but, depending on the music....with rehearsal time, you can handle it I'm sure.  I would not have any qualms about walking on stage with just about any of the country bands at the pro levels.... a few hours of rehearsal and I'd be ready to go.... The Cirque players...different story.... I'd be seriously intimidated. But they are 2 completely different styles and genre's of music. Most of the "pros" I've met have been really nice folks and very accommodating.
 
So..... about the rehearsal.... go, and be sober. Nothing will blow that opp like showing up intoxicated. Have fun and play some music.....enjoy the jam. Who knows what might come from that jam session/rehearsal.
 
Do keep us posted.

Most people don't think they're as good as they are--except for a few who think they're better than everyone else.  Have fun and learn from them. 

Rain
All I have on them is that I'm bigger than they are and married with the singer. That's it.

 
Sounds like enough to me. 
 
(You couldn't possibly be worse than Linda McCartney was!  )

I'm jealous. There's nothing I like better than to be the one trying to catch up with better players.
 
Hey, if the gig pays well I could come down and do keys for you so you wouldn't feel like the biggest faker in the band.

Other than having to use a capo, things went fine I guess. :)
 
 

In the past, I've pretty much always been pushed in the spotlight by default.
 
 
Last night though, I remembered when I played with those old geezers in a traditional jazz band. That wasn't so bad, I could back away, move to the side of the stage. I can't say I remember much - not that I was drunk or anything, but maybe just that these weren't as emotionally demanding as being the frontman. I focused on the charts in the real book and tried my best to figure how I'd play those odd chord voicings as they came. lol
 
That's the nice thing playing with my wife - she's got enough stage presence and charisma to hold the center of the stage at Radio City Music Hall, so chances are people won't even notice I'm there. :P

Show and tell was a nightmare for me, starting in high school.
 
In college, I kept the best possible grades all year long (between 95%-98%) but ended up just passing (60%) because I didn't show up for it. I simply refused to do it - systematically, year after year. My teachers were usually appalled by my decision...