Thanks to DAD3353.
You make really valid points…..and I'm certainly not offended. re the relaxing thing, i think you're bang on. I've put myself out of my comfort zone (I'm a sax/reed musician for the last 40 years) and have been playing bass for 2 years. The one thing I really know is that by playing with good musicians it 'ups your game' and can make one improve rapidly (although this is far from comfortable) . The thing is this , the band never rehearses , so its a sight reading gig for everyone.
Apart from playing i have to sort out the geography (i.e. what areas are open for solo's, when backing figures appear etc etc as well talk to the audience , and of course make sure count ins are accurate. This all sounds like a load of excuses but actually can be really stressful. I'm also trying to evaluate my own performance, ensure my reading is accurate maintain balance etc on an instrument that is relatively new to me…. maybe i need some illegal substance to chill me out!!!
Seriously though I realise i need to be more relaxed but find this a bit tough at the mo………things can only get better (i hope) I'll be wicked by the time I'm 70!! (ha)
Thanks again to everyone...