fun recording session, yet stressful

Where there’s no mutual respect, there’s trouble!
—jazz trumpeter, Dizzy Gillespie

I had the opportunity to do a recording session in a prominent local recording studio in San Diego. Overall, it was a lot of fun, but hard work and it was also stressful for me.

Well, I really wished I could do more studio work. I really feel I have the potential to be a good session musician. But I need more opportunities to gain experience.

It was supposed to be a reading session where I would have a chart in front of me and I would sightread some music. But, there were no actually drum charts to work off of and I ended up asking for a piano chart so I could at least read the form of the song. And I made some notes from that.

I just hope I did well. But I wonder… although the lady said we did great and she seemed pleased with the recording (which will be used for a new musical). I just have these sixth-sense feelings that I might not get called back because there were problems with the recording.

There was talk that the bassist was continually out of tune. Whenever that happens I wonder if someone will be talking negatively about me. Still, given the circumstances, I think I did a reasonably good job. So, we’ll see how it goes….

The thing about being a working musician, is that you really have to be exceptional, so the pressure’s on. And there’s no room for failure in many situations. So, you get work depending on how well you play and your reputation. Also, it’s hard to perform when there are people who don’t respect you. It’s almost as if, one has to have people who really believe in you so that you can do your best…