16 Aug, 2009 Soothes The Pain !
The recent back (+ leg pain) that I experienced during shows was definitely irritating. But thankfully there exists a few things that helped it reduce.First is the natural adrenalin that comes with performing for an audience, it is a natural painkiller, and it is the presence and energy of the audience who provide it through their obvious goodwill and encouragement!
Second is the sense of responsibility we have towards the audience who have invested financially and perhaps even more emotionally. On any given night some of them will have traveled hundreds of miles to see us. Equally many look forward for months on end, hoping so much for a great gig, perhaps in doing so experiencing something that could help them forget a little of their own everyday problems for a while or so. That as much as anything is what being entertained is all about, is it not?
Third is a feeling of fear. Fear of failure that is, and the result that comes with it. For example, maybe last night we played in front of 20,00 people. Being so I can easily imagine that over the next few days they will individually tell at least six friends/colleagues about the experience.
That means potentially well over 100,000 people – or more – are going to hear that “Simple Minds were so disappointing!”
Or perhaps alternately! “Simple Minds are one of the really great live bands!”
Anyway, I know which one of those reviews is acceptable to me and which one is not.
Plus we all know that while unlike with marketing/advertising/media reviews etc – that harp on and on breathlessly telling us that everything under the sun is the greatest new thing – when it so rarely is.
We do usually on the other hand take on board the opinions of our good and trusted friends, and in doing so resolve to check the nub of their enthusiasm for ourselves. Uh, I think that is called “word of mouth”, actually! Whatever it is, it’s the single most potent of all ways to sell your band, and usually anything else for that matter.
And so it is for all these reasons considered that it is possible fro me to put a perspective on most physical pain when it occurs – rise above it – and make sure that we still give all each and every single show if at all possible.
The fourth thing is that we have to get such a great reaction, and one that immediately alerts the watching promoters to the fact that they really have to invite us back again in the future. In doing so we secure a future that no gatekeepers can mess with.
One of the big successes of these summer gigs is that in most cases the promoters have come up to us afterwards and said that our show was (among) the best reaction they had seen this year. Funnily enough they hate doing that, as it usually means we will ask them for more money next time! Which inevitably we do, and why not, since it means more ice cream for all J, plus we worked damned hard for it!
Lastly! I love to move around the stage as is evident. It is central to my performance. The last few weeks I have not been able to do so to the same degree and that has been frustrating.
The upside however has meant that with being less mobile, I concentrated on singing more and was pleasantly surprised with the results, particularly so in some of the last few gigs! All of this has given me something to think about for the future!
Jim Kerr