continued…
There was some sort of award presentation afterward. I was oblivious; mentally planning the next stage invasion. We won nothing, of course. No matter.
The next day at school, my drummer, bass player and singer walked around school with their new girlfriends. They enjoyed basking in their new and higher level of cool-status. People kept telling me I did a really good job. It was…nice? Nice to have the compliments I suppose but it really was kind of a let down. After a while it started to get irritating. All that was nothing compared to standing on that stage with the full throttle roar of a thundering rhythm section behind you while your Stratocaster triumphantly blasts above and through it all, sharply, incisively. While they were all reeling in the chicks I was plotting the next show, writing a new song, organizing a set list.
Eventually, I learned you can get paid money for doing this sort of thing. Yikes. So, it wasn’t too many more years before I was in every place that would pay me. Me and whatever friends I had at the time I called a band.
When the gigging money was bleak there was always another way to raise cash: teaching guitar. I literally stumbled into several of these jobs. The normal pattern was to walk into a music store pick up a guitar and start playing loud, fast, complicated things that you would rarely ever have the chance to play in an actual song. This immediately draws the attention of the owner/manager and any salespersons present. They will ask you to leave, to turn down or if all else fails to please at least buy something. They will get Irritated With You. Pay them no mind; keep shredding. Eventually the other guitarists in the store will find their way over to you; drawn to the incredible, jaw-dropping, swashbuckling runs you are blasting out in blatant disregard to the wishes of the music store owner and employees. The moths are drawn to the candle like a law of nature. The shy ones will just gape in amazement from a distance of about 6 feet having formed a semi-circle around you. The bolder ones will pick up a guitar and say, “Wow, dude! That’s an awesome lick! Can you show me that one?!”
THIS is what you have been waiting for.
It is very important to handle this carefully. You definitely want to show them something; but not everything. Here are 2 approaches to try:
1. Keep their interest by playing a very fast lick very, very slowly several times so they can see what is involved. Then without warning play it lightning fast. Do not give them time to go through in between tempos in order to gradually build speed. This is what you will be paid to do later.
2. Play a very fast lick just slightly faster than they can play it. As soon as they seem to be catching on, change to another lick in order to stay just ahead of them.