Most folks have a fear of making mistakes, yet it’s common knowledge that mistakes are an unavoidable part of the human experience.
So how do some musicians react when mistakes pop up during a performance? That depends largely on the performer’s training and confidence level. Thankfully, there are mental practices that can help you recover from a musical mistake.
Photo by Michelle Phillips on Unsplash
Lost Lines and Slipped Speeches
As a non-musical example, I have a handful of great memories of well-done improv from intermittently working with community actors over the years. Playing in various pit orchestras or performing one year at the Maryland Renaissance Festival, I was able to learn the actor’s lines by rote, hearing them repeatedly throughout rehearsals and shows.
Once I knew what line or action was coming, it was always interesting to see what an actor would do if they had a brain fart and forgot a line, another actor didn’t meet their mark on stage at the right time, or a prop simply didn’t work. Depending on the reaction, those could be some of the most beautiful or hilarious moments of the entire show.
Although some folks don’t think of public speakers as performers, they are. Similar to actors, speakers must stand in front of multitudes of people and make an impact on their audience, usually with prepared notes and a charismatic delivery. If a speaker makes a mistake, they will most likely apologize for the slip, make the correction, and move on.
Stay on Target
However, for performers who must follow a pre-determined rhythm and musical notes, there are more limitations. You need to stay on the beat and keep the piece musical, even if you trip along the way. What do you do when the inevitable human mistake insinuates itself into your well-rehearsed, perfectly timed masterpiece? In the “heat of battle,” you have no time to be distracted or annoyed, and you certainly can’t stop the piece for another try.
The simple line above, from the original 1977 “Star Wars,” is a great reminder to focus.
Near the end of the film, the gold team of Y-wings are running the gauntlet toward the Death Star reactor port, with Darth Vader and his cronies in hot pursuit. Members of the gold team are getting nervous, but over the radio Gold 5 keeps repeating “Stay on target!”
Okay, so musicians probably don’t have a sith lord breathing down their necks at a gig. But sometimes it feels that way.
If you’re playing jazz, Dixieland, or some other genre that traditionally includes improvisation, you could go that route if you have the skills. But other music styles (such as Classical, Baroque, or marches) are not as forgiving, so you must mentally brush off that pesky mistake and continue playing.
Some folks are good at ignoring these mental bumps in the road. Others, not so much. I’ve seen plenty of folks frown, curse, scrunch up their face, slap their leg, roll their eyes, or otherwise naturally act in a way that broadcasts their boo-boo to the entire auditorium.
Have you done any of these?
Be Cool
One part of any good performer’s mindset—whether you’re a professional or an amateur—is the ability to just let your audience think that mistake was supposed to happen. “I meant to do that.”
You know it was a mistake, but they don’t have to know it.
And even if it was obvious, it’s already done. You can’t turn back the clock, so why beat yourself up over it? Gracefully move on to the next phrase.
A good friend of mine keeps playing after a mistake, but slowly shrugs one shoulder. Over the years I’ve trained myself to limit my reaction to an annoyed blink as I continue playing. If we can do it, you can do it.
Over time, you can minimize or remove any negative reaction. Immediately putting the mistake out of your mind means less embarrassment for you and less chance for the audience to notice. This is part of behaving like a professional.
Change Your Habits
So the next time you make a mistake and can’t go back to fix it, just let it go. Keep playing. Don’t stomp your foot or dramatically sigh. Life is too short to expect perfection. Immediately look ahead to the next section and above all, keep moving forward.
If it was a glaring error that was obvious to the audience, you might just smile or laugh along with them. Then move on. Always move on.
A Musical U podcast sums it up well: “Live music is meant to be imperfect – that’s what people are there for!”