[DISCUSSION] 3.5 years after picking up a guitar, today I played and sang my first gig with a band.

I did lead vocals and guitar. The group asked me to play two months ago so we practiced every weekend since. The gig was a small hippie music festival in my hometown. Everyone in the crowd had a great time. A little group formed in front of the stage and started dancing. Lots of cheering between songs. Near the end of the set my adrenaline was pumping hard and I had a few rowdy heart palpitations haha…but I didn’t drop dead on the spot so we finished nice and strong.

Some things I learned: I fucked up the lyrics a few times but kept going and picked up a with the proper words. Nobody noticed or cared. Minor issues with sound or little equipment malfunctions weren’t noticed. I spent most of my solo time in the major or minor pentatonic with pretty intermediate licks and I got a lot of positive feedback..so I guess I don’t have to be Eric Johnson for people to enjoy the tunes lol. I took all of your advice from previous threads and spent a solid half hour warming up my fingers and voice before the gig. That definitely helped.

All in all it went really well. The experience of playing ensemble music on a stage, with a band was exhilarating. We might make the group a permanent thing. Ive said this before but thanks to all of you fine folks for your advice and guidance. I wouldn’t have gotten to this awesome day without r/guitar.