9 Hours To Prepare: The Last Minute Gig Experience

I had to learn a saxophone solo for a last minute gig, so here is my attempt at documenting how it went!
There are MANY musicians that do this all year long, learning more music much faster than I can. I'm not there yet, but hopefully one day I will be. So in the meantime, I wanted to make a video documenting where I'm at during this stage of my journey. Thanks for watching!
Band: Tyler Brewer (vocals), Anne Celedonia (vocals), Anton DeFade (bass), Jacob Pleakis (keys), Brian Wolfe (drums), Brandon Lehman (guitar/vocals), J.D. Chaisson (trumpet)
Timestamps:
0:00 Dramatized intro
0:17 What really happened
1:15 The transcribing process
4:16 Reviewing other music
6:10 The vlog part/at the gig
8:12 Post gig thoughts
11:09 My redemption
TONS of extra content on my Patreon: / foolishfrankie
#musician #vlog #saxophone
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[@abeldiaz3877]

Pretty interesting even for non musicians like me. There's something about humbleness and the desire to improve that is so very appealing. It's amazing that you remain critical but don't over do it. As a teacher, I believe you're giving yourself a lot of room for learning in a healthy manner and you'll be even greater in a relatively short time.

[@FoolishFrankie]

Thank you for the kind words. It’s definitely a process and something I’m trying to figure out so I’m glad I can share the journey 🙏🏻

[@NathanCox]

I’m a fairly new saxophonist, I’ve been playing less than a year, and these kinds of video are inspiring to me. It’s really easy to feel insignificant and hopeless when you are watching others only at their best. It’s nice to know someone really skilled also struggles in their own ways.

[@FoolishFrankie]

That’s exactly why I made videos like these!! I’ve felt the same way my whole life, and continue to feel that way some days. Just know that messing up is part of the process

[@virgiliodirks]

R.I.P Tina Turner

[@antiqueandroid]

✨

[@Sh4rtL0rd]

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

[@nolankumacha6105]

@@Sh4rtL0rdShartLord23

[@Sh4rtL0rd]

@@nolankumacha6105 🐐

[@rayl6901]

As a musician we all go through this type of self depreciation. I would bet lots of cash that 99% or more of the people didn't even notice. I was going to say all, but musicians tend to notice. Still, you're coming into a gig without knowing the song. I think at one point we've all been there, man, and all been too harsh on ourselves. You did fine for the circumstances, and next time, you'll know it inside out, because you've had more than 5 minutes to work on it... Great video! Thanks!

[@FoolishFrankie]

Much love🙏🏻

[@JYLDB]

You have some serious balls to do this on the whim! Love your content bro! Seriously talented.

[@FoolishFrankie]

Thank you so much 🙏🏻

[@Ro32da72]

It's great that you can sit and analyse your own performances this way without being too hard on yourself, and it's helpful for even non-musicians to see just how much hard work goes into making it look easy! Your professionalism and desire to improve are obvious here, so thanks for making this one, it was a great watch 👍🎷

[@FoolishFrankie]

Thank you so much for the kind words🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@dukeofrodtown1705]

May Tina Turner, ('The Best') rest in peace. Absolute legendess, who slayed every time she walked on a stage. Was an inspiration to so many, including the youngest generations, and definitely my generation's aspiring singer-songwriters. Great video Frankie, and like I said have a great Memorial Day weekend!

[@roniethefish4145]

Crazy that you can just listen, figure out the notes, then just own the solo. It’s fun to see you figure it out then finally go into the gig and preform very well. 🎉

[@morpheus3190]

Frankie you are silly, you are the best, solo sounded fine. 🎼everybody in the wedding party thought your solo was great. I will admit that I get freaked out when seeing you practice. The worst is to show up for a gig and they change the key on you right before the set. Playing and transcribing at the same time was always a terror for me. Something you handle with ease! You are seriously talented and can “fake it” like the best. 👍😊

[@octavebelow6480]

I love the gig videos. Please keep on doing them they are super entertaining!

[@FoolishFrankie]

Thanks for the kind words🙏🏻

[@octavebelow6480]

@@FoolishFrankie No, thank you for the amazing content!

[@valkyllias]

This is a cool thing for non pros to hear. It's super common to get last minute stuff where it needs to sound the like the pro who recorded it. I heard a story of a pro trombonist literally on the stage while music is being played as the sax player is teaching him the next song, some Dixieland standard he doesn't know, like Alligator Stomp, or something random like that.

[@deepeshchinta1217]

Recording gigs seems to be pretty cool not only for us(the viewers) but for you to look back and critique yourself on things you probably wouldn't have noticed during the gig. I think being able to listen back to yourself from an audience point of view rather than a players point of view is pretty useful! Also, how often do you end up taking last minute gigs? It seems kinda stressful! 😅

[@FoolishFrankie]

It’s honestly been a crucial part of my development as a saxophonist!! And almost all of my gigs early on were last minute because I’m just not as established so I was always subbing. I’m getting called less for last minute gigs these days but they definitely still happen and if I’m available I always try to take them cause it’s good experience!

[@calvinbass6238]

Love this! really showing the frustration and perseverance that come hand in hand with being a musician! Really helps new players like myself get comfortable with making mistakes!

[@katrinarose2210]

Thanks for posting these, I actually love watching it as a saxophonist of over 15 years

[@FoolishFrankie]

I’m glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for watching 🙏🏻

[@thelastbraincell1897]

I love these kinds of videos because they keep me motivated to keep trying to learn the tenor sax for school, plus they are just entertaining to watch. Thanks for the amazing videos!

[@FoolishFrankie]

That’s awesome to hear!! Thanks so much for watching🙏🏻🙌🏻

[@mattosborne1366]

I'm so impressed with you putting this up! Thanks man.

[@FoolishFrankie]

Much love🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@jontrimble5581]

"That 80's sound" is a real thing. I enjoy watching your hungry musical path. I'm on the other side of the hill. I have been very blessed to raise a family on trumpet money. After decades of production shows, recordings, and tours, I'm enjoying playing the weddings. No one comes to those for a bad time:) I'll check later to see if you have an album I need to buy. Kudos my friend. Keep on honkin:)

[@kintorey1195]

Very good job, very professional, it's clear that you put in a lot of effort. You will go far ^_^

[@FoolishFrankie]

Thank you Kinto 🥺🙏🏻

[@johnbspringer]

l love these Raw and Exposed "Life as a Musician" videos of yours. They serve well as a teaching aid of what to expect once you get out of the garage and out on the road. I love that you post all of your mistakes and flaws as this make it very real and very cool!

[@FoolishFrankie]

Thank you so much this comment means a lot🥺🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@collectorbynature152]

You kept me watching till the end! With so little time to learn a new song, you did amazingly!

[@FoolishFrankie]

Ahh thank you so much🥺🙏🏻

[@benwinstanleymusic]

Super helpful to see behind the scenes vlogs from stuff like these, as a trumpet player from the UK trying to get more into professional gigging. You've got a great sound btw!

[@FoolishFrankie]

Ayy I’m glad it’s helpful!! Thanks for the kind words🙏🏻

[@axel_r_]

You're simply the best, Frankie.

[@FoolishFrankie]

I am far from it but always trying to improve!!🙏🏻

[@caseyjbaker]

It's so rad how you show your work. One of my favorite channels. Thanks for posting it all 🔥

[@FoolishFrankie]

Much love🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@tessLizCroft]

Jaw drop at that sneak peak of the solo with that insane saxy growl. Also, what a golden intro.

[@FoolishFrankie]

oops just seeing this thank you though!!

[@TheDanSebastian]

Amazing content dude... it is great to see someone going through the same things we all do as horn players. Your edit, comments and the way you approach the learning process is really on point and helpful. Cheers!

[@FoolishFrankie]

That means more than you know man thank you🙏🏻

[@alexvo5725]

Frankie -- you're awesome. I watch and love all of your videos. Thanks for posting and making this, even if it didn't turn out 100% the way you wanted it to. We appreciate the sincereness and authenticity. Please keep it up :)

[@FoolishFrankie]

This comment means a lot🥺 thank you so much for watching🙏🏻

[@mertgulec7541]

Really enjoying gig videos dude. Every youtube musician video is flawless and it creates a false sense of un-enoughness in me but watching your videos reminds me that just like me everybody is a human and it is such a relief lol

[@FoolishFrankie]

Ahh thank you that means a lot! I definitely don’t want to portray myself as someone who is perfect because I am far from it lol. I’m more interested in authentically sharing my journey so I’m glad it can be comforting!!

[@willgreen5992]

Super cool to hear the solo from your opinion! Great insight and awesome to see this!

[@FoolishFrankie]

Glad you found it interesting! Thanks so much for watching🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@lourayner6547]

you're an inspiration to me and many of my students - the fact that you share your desire to improve through these vids and aren't coy about sharing those not so good moments give us all the confidence to keep trying! Love it

[@FoolishFrankie]

Thank you so much!!

[@ChristianFitzharris]

I love this sort of analysis. You dont know until you take stock. Great job!

[@FoolishFrankie]

🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@aaronhowardjudd]

Thanks for this and all your videos Frankie. What people don't realise that new songs take at least 2 weeks to soak into the brain and embed themselves into the muscle memory .... Even then, you don't really learn them until you gig with them. Well done for nailing it second time round .... you're a brave man showing this process.

[@FoolishFrankie]

Much love🙏🏻

[@AshleySmithh]

Videos like these are super inspirational man! Love your work ethic and passion for music; it definitely spreads through the screen 😂 I can't wait to make a video like this when I start busking. Cheers for the boost in motivation dude 😄

[@FoolishFrankie]

Thank you so much that means a lot🥺🙏🏻

[@Videoshark21]

Thank you for making such amazing videos! You're making me want to pick up my saxophone again! Haven't played in a long time Keep up the amazing work!

[@FoolishFrankie]

Thank you so much!🙏🏻

[@roniethefish4145]

This is really teaching me how to listen and figure out the notes and play to fit in with the band. Sound great🎉

[@FoolishFrankie]

Glad it was helpful!🙏🏻

[@1travisvideo]

great video, brings me back to my wedding videographer days and the chaos of getting ready. Then the timer there ticking down builds great tension for the whole story. Also HUGE respect for putting this out there even though the final solo didn't go as perfect as you want, encouraging for others to see that it's not always about perfection but showing up and getting the job done, and then learning from that experience and keep grinding. Keep it up!

[@FoolishFrankie]

Ahh I have so much respect for wedding videographers. Every time I meet one on a gig they’ve been there since like 9am and I always feel so wrong for showing up at 5pm then watching them pack up the same time as me🥲 Thanks so much for the kind words and for watching!!

[@davidbradford1934]

Another great gig video. Thanks. I am in an amateur jazz band and your videos not only inspire me but give me courage to learn from mistakes and push to get better.

[@FoolishFrankie]

Ahh that’s great to hear!! Thanks so much for watching🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@BassNSax628]

I found this very interesting. I’m amazed how some sax players learn a part or a whole song so quickly. Thanks for making this video. I’ve only just discovered your channel but I’m going to check out your other ones.

[@FoolishFrankie]

Thank you so much!🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@AjayStLouis]

Really grateful for this video.🙏🏽

[@FoolishFrankie]

Thanks for watching!!🙏🏻

[@PK-vs5km]

Hi really good to follow you through your musician world a real insightful video and so humble of you to show behind the curtain into a world most of us will never experience.but it’s nice to watch thank you

[@stephenhicks826]

I really enjoyed this video. You are showing the enormous amount hard work that goes into being a musician. If you can manage it please do more these.

[@FoolishFrankie]

Much love🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@watson5270]

i like the mission impossible/ gone in 60 seconds thing with how much time is left also i love to see someone pursuing their passion especially if its music i’m rootin for ya man. no music, no life.

[@jovankamoga3556]

I loved it so much when you sang out the solfa notations. Am a keyboard player doing mostly hymns but most KZbin videos have musicians mentioning the name of the notes instead of the solfa notes. I liked it

[@TheColdCreature]

My mouth would be so sore!! (Clearly don't practice enough) 😂 but I'm so impressed with how quick you picked it up. I think it's good to forgive yourself for a few small errors since it was so last minute!

[@FoolishFrankie]

Thanks for the kind words🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@michaeldempsey3281]

I aspire to your equanimity! Seriously, your dedication and attitude toward your playing is exactly what is called for in situations like this, and all others. And, wow, what a tough space

[@FoolishFrankie]

Much love🙏🏻

[@nielspasquier8938]

You're awesome! Thanks so much for sharing!

[@FoolishFrankie]

Thanks for watching!

[@ricisonline]

this is so good!! i love watching u work and showing the steps, the ups and downs. it's very exciting! i can't play an instrument to save my life but i love music, so yeah. "the best" is such a great song. a classic! i see you keep it real and that's what great artists do best. cheers! xx

[@FoolishFrankie]

Thank you🥺🙏🏻

[@kylekemp4776]

I truly appreciate your willingness to share your experiences. I’m an entry level bedroom musician who looks forward to the first day of playing in front of a live audience. Keep up the good work.

[@FoolishFrankie]

Of course, I’m glad it’s helpful! Thanks for watching 🙏🏻

[@Chemical1Objectivity]

Your self-documentary is inspiring. As a person who wanted to pursue a music career but went a different direction, your videos are very informative and helpful in preparation for what it’s like to be a professional musician. Very valuable!

[@FoolishFrankie]

Ahh thank you so much I’m really glad you find them interesting and I appreciate you watching🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@Gorg3ousFreeman]

Captured the last minute experience perfectly, got some nice tips, thanks!

[@FoolishFrankie]

🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@bryantdarris]

Bro your a pro! That Tina T. song sax playing sounded hard to replicate and you did. Very cool, 2-weeks later. Thanks for your humbleness to show the good and not so good. I hope I can post the vulnerability to help myself grow.

[@FoolishFrankie]

Much love🙏🏻

[@AdeReeves]

You sir are a true Pro !!!!!! 👍

[@FoolishFrankie]

Very much learning how to be one right now by playing with them!

[@KristofDE]

Great idea for a video, thanks for the ingisht to your process!

[@FoolishFrankie]

Thanks so much for watching🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@QueerlyBeloved386]

Such an enjoyable video. You couldn't be more charming Frankie.

[@FoolishFrankie]

Thanks for the kind words🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@colmryan172]

Fantastic video!

[@FoolishFrankie]

Thank you very much!

[@fenrirwow]

As someone who's been a saxophonist for roughly 7 years, this is actually much more relatable than I expected lol

[@euliskay]

This was SUPER interesting! I really love your great sense of storytelling throughout; you show everything we viewers need and it all feels so seamless. Also, as a musician myself it's so nice to see the realness of my life reflected so closely by another human. I enjoyed the format a ton as well, including the retrospective and the "2 weeks later" at the end. I'm new to your channel, but I'll definitely be looking for more stuff like this! Thanks for sharing!

[@FoolishFrankie]

This comment means so much, thank you🥺🙏🏻

[@euliskay]

@@FoolishFrankie You're so welcome! Please keep em comin!

[@txsphere]

Great content!

[@FoolishFrankie]

Thank you so much 🙏🏻

[@maxhoecker]

Thanks for the honesty. I find it hard to believe you’ve never heard that song 😊 . I still freeze when it comes to hitting certain altissimos in a live setting. And I’ve been playing for years.

[@jimbo_bomberino8606]

amazing stuff Frankie!

[@FoolishFrankie]

Thank you so much 🥺

[@szymonskrabanek5327]

It's interesting that you mentioned the concept of listening a lot and then forgetting. It's the same mechanism that spaced repetition systems (SRS) use to help you learn stuff faster (e.g. foreign language vocab). You learn something, make sure you remember it at that time, then leave it, and (ideally) juuuuust when you're on the verge of forgetting, you try to recall it (or just see it again). Supposedly the brain retains information better when it's refreshed on that edge between remembering and forgetting. Pretty amazing, you've pretty much created an SRS for yourself!

[@FoolishFrankie]

Woah that’s interesting, it totally makes sense though!!

[@joaoornelas1582]

I know little about music and that world in general, so it's fascinating to follow this "day in the life". Great job, love the honesty and self-criticism without being downbeat about it. I've seen some of your short, but would love some longer content in this format, "cutting" into it to provide commentary into what's happening, what's going well and what isn't (many people won't be able to tell unless you point it out).

[@FoolishFrankie]

Thank you so much this comment means a lot🙏🏻 I’ll try to do more long form content like this🙏🏻

[@claypufahl6074]

Iconic solo! Played that for 12 performances or so for the Tina Turner touring musical when it came through my town. Had a reed that couldn’t quite handle the high E one night, but fun solo to learn and play. People love that one! Nice job.

[@FoolishFrankie]

Wow that’s awesome!! Thanks so much for the kind words🙏🏻

[@music_man_145]

i think you did just fine with the gig & the video my school just took my tenor away for summer brake so all i have is my clarinet. 😭which is fine i love clarinet i've played it for 3 yrs just miss my tenor which i feel like for only playing it for 2 months i am better than clarinet lol. but thank you this makes me feel a little closer to my sweet baby sax so i thank you🙂

[@jj9749]

Excellent video. Reminds me of trying to learn rap lyrics then forgetting them on stage

[@audreyahmed2048]

I totally relate to replaying mistakes from previous performances but the ones you highlighted were so minor. I don't know how you made the second time through of the solo sound even better but you did!!

[@FoolishFrankie]

I appreciate it🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@smilodon]

I love that the ice cream truck song was Music Box Dancer... a better choice than some I've heard.

[@GAMING4UNATION]

10/10 Vocals!!

[@chrisholladay]

Awesome stuff! It's only by getting out there and making the mistakes that you can truly take them in and grow. Failure is the only way to succeed!

[@FoolishFrankie]

Sooo true!

[@GUmbolyaa5112]

great video!! Even though you thought that solo wasn't the best, I think you did a great job remaining calm under pressure. Is that a new tenor btw?

[@FoolishFrankie]

Thank you! It was one I was temporarily borrowing. I’m back on my Jean Paul student one for the time being

[@MonteD1]

Good job recognizing the importance of the pocket. I enjoy your videos.

[@FoolishFrankie]

Thanks for watching!🙏🏻

[@kennethkao2269]

I'm new to sax, really enjoy watching your videos~

[@FoolishFrankie]

Thank you 🥺

[@cinema3522]

Man these gigging videos are great, really give me a idea for what I’ll be in for when I really get a foot in my local music scene. Right now I’m just showing up to jam nights, festivals with music, and even churches so people know me; I’ve already ran into the same people at different events so hopefully I’m on the right path

[@FoolishFrankie]

That’s awesome!! That’s how you do it in my experience, just keep getting out🔥🙌🏻

[@cinema3522]

@@FoolishFrankie sweet glad I’m on the right path!

[@akshonjackson86]

Great video, I always have a hard time with the exact duplication of solos, I always add my own flair, then it feels more like my artistic expression, I’ve faced a few musical purists who didn’t like it, but I consider myself an artist so if someone doesn’t like my art they can get art somewhere else lol. Most the time people enjoy hearing a remixed rendition of music they love! Especially when stage presence and a love and passion for what you are doing shows through! All in all last minute gigs are nerve racking, I’m always nervous before the first note lol, I feel like if I don’t get nervous something may be wrong…😅

[@Khonsaiho]

Awesome that you shared that solo anyway. Much props because theres so much going on when you have one shot at a specific time to do it. At least you know next time with this song you'll for sure smash it 😂

[@FoolishFrankie]

Thanks so much 🙏🏻

[@emmarawiczsax]

These videos are so good.

[@FoolishFrankie]

Thank you!

[@emmarawiczsax]

@@FoolishFrankie

[@MalekTheGoat122]

Your amazing I love your vids

[@FoolishFrankie]

I appreciate the kind words!

[@EricPalmerBlog]

You are in good company. The Thunderbirds and Blue Angels do the same post performance self-criticism with nothing held back. Keep up the great work. Enjoy your sound on both alto and tenor. Started alto again after a 43 year pause. Having fun. You are part of my relearning process.

[@FoolishFrankie]

Thank you so much I really appreciate this comment🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@twiendlocha]

Big fan. How old am I ... How the hell have you not heard this song before?!

[@TylerS9812]

Been there man. One time I was scheduled to play bass for my church and then got texted at 11 pm the day before the service that our drummer got Covid. I then stayed up until 1 am practicing at my house and then woke up at 5 am to go to the church to practice. After, I played the four songs for the service at 9 am and I don’t think anyone knew any better but me and the band. I only had from 11pm on Saturday to 9 am Sunday to go from bass to drums. At least I knew the songs we were playing. 😂

[@FoolishFrankie]

Geeze that sounds brutal😳😳

[@Chris-wp3ew]

I played tenor for years ( In 6-12) in concert and jazz band. I wish I had a mentor like you to push me forward. As good as my accolades were. I sucked. I still loved every second of it though. There were a few times when everything went right (with everyone), and the chord hits you and it's magical... I would imagine like a drug addict.

[@jaredhiramguerrerosalazar1272]

Sometimes feeling nervous make you forget the soli that you practiced a lot. But, definitely you did good, bro!

[@DJAlessandrini]

Loved this video. More videos showing how human you are please.

[@FoolishFrankie]

Thank you and I have plenty on my channel already but there are more on the way!

[@misseimear]

Fascinating to see the process thank you for sharing ❤ Would you ever write down the solo using notation??? or just keep listening by ear until it sticks? Not having notation to fall back on would make me SO STRESSED

[@FoolishFrankie]

I probably should have written it down for something this last minute (I’ve done that in the past or when I have so much music I’m trying to learn for different gigs). But I usually just try to internalize it

[@racsofischer7601]

Love the pokemon music in the background !

[@mikechad27]

Love the ice truck 😂

[@matthewmoore2547]

Imagine this but add lyrics to the melody and that’s my life on weddings. Learning special requests last minute is just par for the course nowadays lol.

[@rauljonatanregalini9788]

Franky sos muy bueno, disfruto mucho los vídeos , me ayudas mucho para también escucharme y preparar un solo de saxo, abrazo grande desde Lanús Argentina!

[@FoolishFrankie]

Thank you!🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@016_]

Altissimo is my PASSION!!!

[@astarslight]

One word to describe this video… real 😅

[@pitpride1220]

Very interesting!

[@FoolishFrankie]

Thank you!

[@stefenJ35]

The way he says “hello” at the start sounds like that vine where the girl is sleeping an someone pours water on her face 😂

[@magma9613]

This kind of video is great. Especially to someone who hopes to eventually play in gigs.👍

[@FoolishFrankie]

Thanks so much 🙏🏻

[@leonskjnhaug5214]

hey man, cool thing that i played a gig on that song to👍

[@parametr]

Cool one. Calling a dep the same day, getting him to spend the day learning multiple new songs and not screw up... pretty pretty good. Wouldn't mind at all about the solo. It's around the end of the set as well, so I guess people was quite hyped up (and drunk) already xD note: must be nice being able to study the same day of the gig. We poor brass bois :(

[@norbertwfroese7092]

Good job. Thanks for posting this video!

[@parametr]

@@norbertwfroese7092 you're welcome ;)

[@josecalidonio5673]

Suena genial felicidades

[@brandonmusko9352]

❤ Pittsburgh gigs!

[@JulianFernandez]

drummer had a nice feel

[@IsaacViarsMusic]

Really glad they didn't cut the song out of the set after shedding it all day 😂

[@FoolishFrankie]

It was one the client requested so I figured it wouldn’t get cut, but I’ve had that happen😅

[@mattpassos5689]

Very impressive man, you could give me a month to prep for that gig and wouldn’t sound that good 😂

[@FoolishFrankie]

Ahh I’m sure you could do it!! Thanks for watching 🙏🏻

[@saxlevine2716]

There's nothing like getting an altissimo E gig ready...

[@kellytaylor8980]

The one and only Tina!