Bravo and congratulations, Michael. Tip my hat to you for joining the club and stepping up to play at the show. Lots of fun and learning.
I lose track of who has played at a Community OM, but if you haven’t perhaps you should give that a go, build on the confidenmce gained playing for the live audience with other players.
Hello Michael,
Wow, that sounds really exciting 
. Congratulations for your first gig 
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That’s awesome. I’m sure, being relaxed helped a lot with concentrating on your playing and having fun 
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Great, that it was such a positive experience to you 
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@DavidP
Thanks David for the kind words.
I have not done any OM but have watched the recent recorded versions including the Christmas bash.
Don’t think my strumming is good enough which is why I working on Justin’s new course and I hope will pay dividends.
Joining an OM is a nice target to have, will it be in 2023, we shall see.
Michael
Nicole @NicoleKKB
Thanks for the comments.
I am not a teacher but have done a bit of lecturing to fellow professionals. Also my job meant I was often at meetings addressing people. So I was confident beforehand that I would be ok, but perhaps I was concentrating on what we were going to play I didn’t have time to think about it.
Michael
Having some experience in talking in front of others seems definitely to be of great value when it comes to performing .
On Christmas Eve I’ll play some songs in front of my family. I’m curious, whether I’ll be nervous or not 
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Wow Michael - that’s a fantastic step up. Kudos, good vibes and festive good greetings and wishes to you for your attitude and get-up-and go.
you’re not far from me … I could have attended haha! 
You do learn so much from playing with others and having to keep the song going no matter what.
I can’t help but have a cheeky giggle at the JOY sign hanging on the wall contrasted with the concentrated faces of the band! 
Onwards and upwards in 2023.
Richard @Richard_close2u
Thanks for the encouragement.
I could have sent you an invite, but would you want to come out on a very cold winters evening with all that white stuff on the ground. 
Justin’s and your mantra are ‘play songs’, I would add if you get a chance play song with a group in front of a live audience, although that can come with some challenges, when they highjack the song.
One of the songs we did was “Mary’s Boy Child” as a sing along, traditional type of song but when you check it out there many variations in the order of various verses and chorus. The chorus is really in two parts the first starts with “Hark now hear ……” and the second “Trumpets sound ….” When we had put the song together, we only did both choruses as the very last section. The audience had other ideas and when we had done the first verses and the first chorus, they went straight onto the second chorus, which was not what we planned. A bit quick catching up had to take place, we were fortunate that before the next verse we had planned to a do a four-bar instrumental, so it was relatively easy to go back the chords of the chorus. Not sure if the audience realised, but it does show in a live event like that you need to be prepared and as Justin says just keep going and they probably will not have noticed. You mentioned the JOY sign on the wall and the glum faces of the group in the photos. Possibly the photo was when the audience took over and we were trying to get back on track. All good fun.
Overall, I really enjoyed the experience but did have to put an awful lot of time practicing and learning new chords, as well as the songs.
Thanks again for your comments.
Michael😀
Michael, not to be overly encouraging to the point of pressurising (I can let my enthusiasm get the better of me), just remember that the OM is open to players at all levels. So to play a song, without singing, 4 down strums per bar, is quite fine. So take all the time you like to learn, practice and rehearse, knowing that your play-grade is not a factor in deciding whether or not to participate as a performer.
David @DavidP
You have not put me under any presume at all to perform at an OM, in fact it is a logical goal to have in mind.
I had intended to post a couple of songs on AVOYP that I did for a grade 1 pass, but practicing for the gig just took over but will get around to it in the new year.
Probably be in the audience for a few OM to get a feel for things and then dip my toe in the water.
Michael
Well what are you waiting for 
plenty of seats available.
https://community.justinguitar.com/t/jgc-open-mic-xiii-13-call-for-interest/161158/77
Then a bit of toe dipping in March maybe ??
Toby @TheMadman_tobyjenner
Thanks for the links and have got the dates for 2023. In terms of ‘toe dipping’ March might be a bit soon perhaps nearer the middle of the year is more realistic. Already started to think what song I might learn to do, not expecting it will be one that Justin has done a lesson on or on the app. So take that as positive response.
Michael 
Well here is the video evidence, short extracts from each of the songs we did.
Make of it what you will.
Merry Christmas and a happy New Year
Michael 
i
Hi Michael,
How nice that there is a video of your first Gig ,…great man and it sounded really nice…be proud 
Greetings,…
Great achievement ! A first concert is a good thing to add to your checklist. Be proud 
A great achievement Michael and some really good observations and lessons learnt. Given how long you’ve been playing it’s a big step up BUT no better place to do it than with a group of people like that. I’m sure your competence and confidence will come on leaps and bounds as you continue to perform with others.
Roger @roger_holland
Thanks for the comments and great from my point of view to have a record of the event.
Matthieu @math07
Yes definitely one off the ‘bucket’ list
Jason @Rossco01
Yes I learned an awful lot, especially what I need to work on. Playing with others is so different than strumming away at home by yourself.
Well done Michael, that was great.
I can’t believe you didn’t get stage fright. What is the secret?
Stefan @SgtColon
Unfortunately I don’t have the secret, but for me a few things came into play
I am in in my late sixties, if it had been in my twenties then it could have been different
I only really started to learn just over a year ago and realised early on that I wanted to put what I was learning to the test playing in front of people so it became an ambition and on my bucket list.
Of course I received great support from the members of the guitar club and was not playing alone. An OM might be different, something I am hoping to do this year.
I spent some of my career representing the organisations I worked for at meetings large and small. Also did some lecturing to fellow professionals so well used to standing up in front of people.
I practiced the songs, perhaps too much to the exclusion with getting on with Grade 2, so I was confident about that aspect and did have the chord sheets in front of me so it was not all from memory. The leader of our group also said if you get lost don’t worry just check the chord sheet and come back in, fortunately that didn’t happen. I think Justin’s advice also helped keep the rhythm going even if you play the wrong chord, most people won’t notice, I am sure I will have played the wrong chord in places.
So sorry don’t have the secret, but perhaps the one thing I would add is that I just wanted to do it.
Michael
Thanks for that Michael. I wonder if the representing the organisations in the past did help.
It’s not often I get up in front of any one and do something.
Stefan @SgtColon
I think you are right if you are used to standing in front of an audience of any kind before then it takes that concern away.
Michael😀