An Unexpected Problem That Almost Ruined My Gig ...

Everything Went Wrong Before the Gig... Here's How We Saved It

No matter how many years you've been performing, there's one truth every musician eventually learns:

Eventually, something will go wrong.

You can prepare for days, weeks, months, even years. Your gear can be tested. Your set lists can be organized. Everyone can know exactly where they're supposed to do.

And then, just hours before the performance, everything changes.

That's exactly what happened to me recently...

A Professional Band's Worst Nightmare

The primary band I perform with specializes in weddings and corporate events.

These aren't casual bar gigs where a few technical hiccups go unnoticed. Our clients invest significant money into creating unforgettable experiences, and they expect professionalism from beginning to end.

On this particular Saturday, our group had three different versions of the band performing at three separate weddings at the same time.

Everything was scheduled.

Everything was organized.

Everyone was ready and headed to their perspective gigs.

Then I got a phone call on the way to my gig.

Our sound engineer scheduled for my event had unexpectedly been admitted to the hospital.

Suddenly my gig had:

• No sound system
• No lighting
• No backup available
• Less than 3 hours until guests arrived

It was one of those moments where your stomach drops.

The Difference Between Panic and Professionalism

When situations like this happen, you really only have two choices.

You can panic (which I fully admit that I did a little).

Or...

You can solve problems.

Luckily, our band has built many strong relationships with people over the years.

One sound engineer who we have regularly worked with just happened to be attending that wedding as a guest. Once we asked him, he was able to secure a sound system and run the sound for us that night.

Lighting was another issue entirely. We had no access to a backup system that day.

Thankfully, an old bandmate was not performing that evening and personally delivered lighting equipment to the venue.

Little by little...

Problem by problem...

Everything started coming together.

The Audience Never Knew

By the time the guests arrived, everything ended up running remarkably smoothly.

The bride and groom had an amazing evening.

People danced.

The groom danced even though we were told he's not the "dancing type."

People celebrated.

People laughed.

The father of the bride gave a great speech.

And no one watching had any idea what had happened just a couple of hours earlier.

Afterwards, I jokingly described the evening to our bandleader as a "successful train wreck."

Everything that could have gone wrong... in a way, it actually did.

Yet somehow, the experience still became exactly what the client hoped for.

This Wasn't Our First Challenge

Thinking back over the years, I realized this wasn't an isolated incident.

We've experienced:

• A keyboard failure that turned out to be a disconnected cable.
• A saxophone player accidentally double-booking himself.
• A mixing console literally smoking during setup.
• Last-minute personnel substitutions with musicians we'd never worked with before.
• And probably a dozen other minor "surprises!"

Each situation was different.

The solution was always the same.

Stay calm.

Work together.

Solve the problem.

Three Lessons Every Performer Should Remember

1. Slow Down & Breathe

The first reaction to unexpected problems is usually panic.

Instead, STOP.

Take one deep breath.

Assess what's actually happening before you start making decisions.

Clear thinking almost always beats fast thinking.

2. Lean On Your Team

One of the biggest advantages of performing with great people is that you don't have to solve every problem yourself.

Talk with your bandmates.

Ask for help.

Sometimes someone else sees a solution you haven't even considered.

On this particular day, my friend Tony helped keep everyone focused on solving problems instead of dwelling on them.

That mindset made all the difference.

3. Attack the Problem

Eventually there comes a point where discussion has to end.

Problems rarely solve themselves.

Take action.

Get to work.

One phone call leads to another.

One solution creates another opportunity.

Momentum matters.

It Always Comes Back To The Audience Experience

One thing I talk about often is that audiences don't simply remember the songs you played.

They remember how you made them feel.

That includes how you handle adversity.

Professional performers don't become professionals because nothing ever goes wrong.

They become professionals because they've learned how to respond when it does.

The audience rarely remembers the problem.

They remember the experience.

Final Thought

If you're out performing regularly, your difficult day will eventually come.

Equipment will fail.

Someone will get sick.

Weather will change.

Schedules will shift.

Don't let those moments define your performance.

Take a breath.

Lean on your team.

Then get to work.

Your audience deserves the best experience you can give them, even when everything behind the scenes feels like chaos.

Be The Performer You're Meant To Be.

Sometimes, becoming that performer means learning how to stay calm when everything else is falling apart.

Best of luck!