Making a perfect gift isn’t easy. However, anyone knows that offering someone a good time, entertaining on a special occasion is the best way to create a wonderful memory. If there is a great concert coming up or a football match you friend would appreciate to see, then a couple of tickets for the new event can be a perfect choice for a present. Your efforts to buy concert tickets or football tickets will be much appreciated and the day you’ll be spending together will surely be unforgettable.

The live performance, the location, the large number of beating hearts pumping up adrenaline for the same cause, the noise, the enthusiasm of the public that participates to such hot and breath taking events are reasons why so many make huge efforts to get concert tickets or football tickets. You strive to pay good money for a couple of tickets to allow yourself to make a pleasant surprise to someone dear. You sometimes discover that some opportunities for entertainment are simply inaccessible because queuing isn’t enough. Concert tickets, football tickets or theater tickets can sell out before you get a chance to buy. The popular events sometimes require taking time off from work to stand in never ending lines. Not everyone affords wasting time, even if money is not an issue (or the other way around).

To make matters worse, the desperation sometimes pushes people to counterfeit their concert tickets or football tickets and try their luck. If you do this, you risk public humiliation by getting kicked out from the event and spoiling the fun of those who are with you (and who perhaps don’t know about the fake tickets). You may also receive a fine which won’t make anything better. However, you can get to see your idols without making unnecessary mistakes and just paying a little extra for concert tickets by buying them online.

If you don’t want your friend to miss out on his gift you have to benefit from alternatives to buying concert tickets or football tickets and the Internet is here for this. To make things easier for those with busy lifestyles, many ticket brokers have launched websites which offer to help you make the best of your time. You can now buy or book difficult to find concert tickets or football tickets, choose the best selections and get the least expensive ones for comparable seats. Of course, the websites will charge an extra fee for their services, but you won’t need to waste your precious time and energy.

You might ask yourself why concert tickets are more expensive if bought online. The Internet isn’t the primary market, but a secondary one, thus the chance to attend an important event is given to you after wasting the first opportunity to book the concert tickets in advance. This is a luxury that has to be paid, but the advantages are numerous. Just think about it: there is the possibility that you did not know about the event or found out too late to book concert tickets. You are given a second chance. If you’ve suddenly decided to buy the concert tickets as a surprise for someone, then you can think this through to be certain if this is a good gift or not without hurrying because the concert tickets are rapidly selling out. These are the advantages of buying online concert tickets or football tickets and one thing is for sure: you won’t risk anything this way.

Buying football tickets is just as tricky as buying concert tickets because usually the fans crowd in as soon as they are available. But can you blame them? If for some entertainment means buying concert tickets to hear Eric Clapton, Dixie Chicks, Rolling Stones or the Black Eyed Peas, for others a hot pick consists in something else. This is why some would like to buy NFL or NCAA football tickets and enjoy the competition between two famous teams, among which one is the favorite. But the entertainment doesn’t stop here. Sport fans can experience baseball, basketball or hockey matches or for those more sophisticated, your gift can be the chance to view a theater show. However, in any of these cases, whether the problem resides in buying concert tickets or football tickets when you want, the solution is to buy online.

Chris spheeris and his amazing music come to Arizona this November and the CloudNine team is so happy to spread the news!

Music from Chris has appeared in everything from commercials to the olympics and now Chris will be in town to share his music on November 7th, 2008 at 7:30 pm! Chris will perform with the Hellenic Greek Dancers to Help Benefit Higher Education for Hellenic Youth.

“Although my music is abstract in nature, and not intended to convey a particular message, i am very aware of the magical and powerful influence that music can have on the listener. for this reason, i carry with me the responsibility of what i communicate to my audience.”

Tickets are $27-$32! Visit the Mesa Arts Center or call the Box Office at 480-644-6500 for more info! We hope to see all of you there!

The biggest concert in my life deserves the best review I can give. The Doors music group aptly renamed The Doors 21st Century kicked off their 2004 tour on Friday in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

 The highly anticipated event was a month overdue because of a legal tangling with Ian Astbury, the frontman of this new group. The wait was well worth what we received from original Doors members Ray Mazarek (Keyboards), and Robby Krieger (Guitar). The only thing missing was of course Jim Morrison, the enigmatic and provocative lead singer that burned the history of Rock and Roll over 30 years ago.

To those born after The Doors died in 1971 with Jim, this was as close as anyone could get. Ian Astbury gave a phenomenal performance in Jim Morrison’s absence. Complete with tight jeans, dark sunglasses, long dark hair, and an uncanny resemblance to Jim he and the audience channeled the spirit of more than a band. I have attended many a Rock Concert, but this one ranks among the elite. One needs to wait a few days to really let the event seep into the pores of the mind. To those of us who believe in the myth of Rock music and believe in it like a religion, this was our Passion of the Christ.

When I arrived at the historic Orpheum Theater in Minneapolis I was awestruck by the interior. Perfect for a band that was established in the classic ballrooms of California in the late 1960s. Hanging chandeliers, enormous ceilings, and a great close view from where ever you sat… But very few people were sitting.

The anticipation from the crowd was electric. When the roadies were coming out to test the instruments the crowd lit up like a fire. Chanting for, “The Doors”, and rising to their feet. This scene was repeated several times.

 When the lights finally went down the deafening screams drowned out anything else in the room. Then a light appeared on the stage to show a juggler. After a few moments the light moved to a circus announcer at the side of the stage who announced, “From Los Angeles, California, THE DOORS!“.,

As the lights on the stage came on Ray Manzarek was seated at his organ, Robby Krieger had his classic Gibson SG electric guitar, and Ian Astbury was at the mic looking just like Jim Morrison. Persian rugs were on the floor below each member and they immediately began playing Break On Through. It sounded like a scene out of a Beatles movie from the screams of a very diversely aged crowd.

From then on the band played through the years picking several selections from different albums. (Set List Below) Ian Astbury mimicked the trademark revolutionary stage performance that Jim Morrison perfected many years ago. Although in today’s climate of bands the Doors would be a bit mild, the moves fit the music perfectly. There is a lot of discussion about having a replacement lead singer, but the crowd of over 10,000 was the actual replacement. The spirit of Jim Morrison was in everyone around, and the biggest example was the young kids who ran up next to the railing of the balcony.

 About ½ way through the show four 16 year old boys and girls ran up to the balcony railing and began dancing. When this happened awhile earlier guards came down quickly and escorted them back to their seats. Now they were here to stay.

Being so young one would assume that they had not even heard of an almost 40 year old band. But they knew every word and were dancing over the railing like Leonardo in Titanic! It was the epitome the evening. An older gentleman next to them was dancing with them and giving more high fives than the Super Bowl.

At the same moment a young man in his early 20s hopped up on stage and ran up to Ray Manzarek and put his arms up in the air cheering! The bouncers quickly wrangled him, but Jim Morrison was there that night. He was on T-Shirts, hats, minds, and souls The old trickster.

It should be noted that Ian Astbury even gives props to Jim when he sings, Not To Touch The Earth. He says, “Jim Morrison was the Lizard King, HE can do anything”. The other noticeable differences to 1967 were that Ray Manzarek’s keyboard was not his oldie. That didn’t stop him from playing with his feet and showing off. There were several times when Ray and Robby would point back and forth as they hit their cues in songs. The one person not pointing was John Densmore, the former drummer who was not in attendance.

 As the show was drawing to a close The Doors 21st Century played the hit, Light My Fire. The Doors greatest chart topping song, which was number one in the Summer of Love in 1967. The background was a liquid show, the theater was antique, and the music was what a group of Americans wrote many years ago in a turbulent time. Had Jim Morrison been there a riot surely would have erupted from the sexual and emotional energy that was in the theater.

Almost like a tribute to Jim the song The End, Jim’s and my own favorite was not played. I believe that this show was better than any concert I have ever scene. I think back to Bob Dylan, Paul Simon, Paul McCartney, and other superstars’ shows I have attended. This one topped them all! Sure “the” Jim Morrison wasn’t there, but his spirit was in the music.

On a side note the local paper, The StarTribune had a guest writer do a review and it was the saddest thing I had ever read! The person was so disappointed that The Doors were playing without Jim Morrison he went to the length to say Ian Astbury stuffed his pants. It was a stupid article that should not have even been printed. I am ashamed and pray the Doors come back here! MINNESOTA LOVES YOU!!!

featuring 2004 U.S. National Poetry Champion Sonya Renee, Toronto’s d’bi young, Motion, Jemeni, Camesha Cox, Bird of Paradise, Tamla Matthews, Dasha Kelly from Milwaukee, and from the Punany Poets, Mahogany Browne.
St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts (27 Front St. East)

9pm. Tickets are $25 upper level, $30 lower level in advance.

Tickets are on sale now through the St. Lawrence Centre Box office at 416.366.7723 or in person at 27 Front St. East

For more info, interviews, or media accreditation contact Dwayne Morgan at dmorgan@upfromtheroots.ca or 647.284.9135

www.upfromtheroots.ca

Born Carlos Sosa in late seventies Puerto Rico, Dj Sneak has experienced two major musical shocks in his life. He first listened to Merengue and Salsa played by Latin orchestras – very much resembling jazz’s big bands – from his hometown. Then his family moved to Chicago in 1983, and as a teenage graffiti artist, Sneak soon took to Chicago ’s nascent house sound, the sound of pioneers such as Larry Heard, Todd Terry or Frankie Knuckles then conveyed by the Hot Mix 5 on local radio WBMX.

Sneak did not took long to hook up with the cream of second-wave Chicago producers. Working for the much respected Gramaphone Records shop, Sneak became acquainted with Derrick Carter who inspired his move from Djing into producing. Sneak soon began to release material for various independent labels including Cajual, Relief and his own Defiant imprint. His work on Cajual gave him international exposure and broke him into the international Dj structure.

After releasing two debut Lps ( Rice & Beans Please! and Blue Funk Files ) and launching a second imprint Unabomber in conjunction with Mario J, Dj Sneak had a massive success with his Teddy Pendergrass sampling mutant : You Can’t Hide From Your Bud. Despite the hit enjoyed by this killer of a track, Sneak was weary of being pigeonholed as a disco-house producer. He explored drum & bass territory along with Armand Van Helden ( with mixed results ) and launched several projects with fellow djs such as LA’s Dj Doc Martin. Today, he’s rumoured to have actively participated to Daft punk’s new album and remains active on a number of imprint including Derrick L Carter’s Classic.

There is always something going on in Aspen, Colorado and the Aspen nightlife is very active. You can find a wide variety of things to do – but if you want a little culture, you should definitely find out what events are planned at the Harris Concert Hall.

At the Harris Concert Hall, you will find everything from Piano Recitals to Rock-n-Roll Concerts. Events are planned well in advance, so you should be able to find out what concerts and events are scheduled to coincide with your Aspen vacation.

The Harris Concert Hall is located in the West end of Aspen, in a quaint residential neighborhood. Due to parking and traffic problems, you should strongly consider walking to the concert hall. It is a short ten minute walk from the downtown area. Other transportation options include biking or taking the bus. When there are events at the concert,it is very difficult to find parking.

The Aspen Music Festival and School were founded in 1949 by Walter and Elizabeth Paepcke from Chicago. Many music professionals train here and all of the school and festival performances take place in the Harris Concert Hall, which seats over 2000 people.

You should definitely try to visit Aspen during the Music Festival. This takes place over a nine week period in the summer, and there are usually more than 200 planned events. People from all over the world come to the Aspen Music Festival, so be sure that you make your plans and reservations early!

Another exciting event that takes place at the Harris Concert Hall is the Aspen Film Festival. This festival takes place three times each year. The Aspen Shortsfest is held in the Spring. The Aspen Filmfest is held during the Fall, and the Aspen Academy Screenings are held during the Winter. Again, people come from all over the world for these events, so make your plans early.

The Harris Concert Hall is full of history, even though the newest section of it wasn’t built until recently. This is a major part of Aspen’s history and culture, and you should try to attend at least one event at the Harris Concert Hall while you are in Aspen. Most events take place in the evening; however there are also events that take place during the day. You can check with your lodge or hotel to find out what events are planned at the Concert Hall each day. Also inquire about the need to purchase advance tickets for specific events.

Listening to Bon Jovi Songs brings back memories of a Bon Jovi concert that I attended but it wasn’t all good! To discover what happened read on..

Whenever I hear any Bon Jovi songs I am reminded of the time that I went to a Bon Jovi concert on Saturday 6th July 1996. The concert at the Milton Keynes Superbowl was towards the end of the mammoth These Days tour that started on 26th April 1995 at the Andheri Stadium Bombay, India and ended on 19th July 1996 at the Helsinki Olympic Stadium.

It took my boyfriend and myself over 3 hours to drive to Milton Keynes and we had to queue for 4 hours until 2pm to get into the Superbowl. It was one of those quirky English weather days, one minute the very hot sun was beating down on us and the next there was torrential freezing cold rain.

When we got into the arena we were able to get a spot at the front of the stage but as more fans arrived and blocked us in I became claustrophobic and worried that I wouldn’t be able to escape to the loo during the next 8 hours. I left Mark hugging the front of the stage and escaped to sit on a hillock where I got a pretty good view of the proceedings as the support bands Seven, Gun and Joan Osborne performed.

The most memorable being Joan Osbornes performance, she was great but the weather was still being quirky and it became pretty uncomfortable sitting on grass while soaked to the skin. I wandered round for a few hours and became more uncomfortable as a bloke took a fancy to me and started to harass me despite being told that I was with my boyfriend.

Seeing my discomfort a group of Bon Jovi fans told the bloke to leave me alone and asked me to join them. That was lucky for me in 2 ways, one that it got rid of my stalker and the other in that we were in a marvellous position to watch the show, close to the stage but to the right – away from the main crush of fans.

It was just before 7.00pm and I was feeling tired, very wet and shivering from the cold. I couldn’t have been wetter if I had stood in a pool fully clothed. As I tried to warm my by now numb blue hands I was miserably wishing that I hadn’t agreed to go to the concert.

A few minutes later a helicopter arrived and shortly afterwards I could see the band climbing up the steps to the stage. I did a double take at seeing Jon, he was dressed in a tight tan leather jumpsuit which gave the impression of him being naked from a distance.

The band started up and for 2 hours my discomfort was forgotten as Bon Jovi launched into a string of their hits including Always, It’s My Life, You Give Love A Bad Name, Someday I’ll Be A Saturday Night and my long time favourite Living On A Prayer.

Imagine a sea of over 60,000 fans joining in with the choruses, swaying, waving and punching the air together. It was a spectacular sight on and off stage as Bon Jovi rocked the Superbowl. I was enthralled with the bands performance and stirred by the music and the interaction from the crowd.

I felt disappointed when a fireworks display ended the magnificent performance 2 hours on, but afterwards Bon Jovi reappeared for an air punching encore to round off the show. I was still very wet and cold but warmed by a magnificent performance from the entire band. I absolutely recommend seeing Bon Jovi in concert and despite my discomfort I would go through it all over again – it was worth it.

I’ve been watching videos from the 2008 Lost Highway tour and think that Jon Bon Jovi has still got what it takes. Bon Jovi are a great band and 12 years on I am still a big fan of Bon Jovi songs and hope that I get a chance to see them in concert again, but perhaps an indoor concert!

P.S. As for my boyfriend I dumped him after the show. I don’t rate a guy that lets a woman he is supposed to care about wander off on their own for hours in a strange place and in a 60,000 plus crowd. He cared more about getting a place close to the stage than my safety. I probably ended up with a better view than he did and I was able to go to the loo when I wanted!

“I’m a New Jersey success story,
And they’ll say Lord give me the chance to shake ‘his’ hand,
They’ll say.”

From “Big Casino” by Jimmy Eat World.

When it comes to the world of rock music, not many artists personify a “New Jersey success story” the way that Bruce Springsteen does. Few other musicians can lay claim to the career that Springsteen has enjoyed: nearly 40 years in the business, fifteen original albums released, accounting for nearly 64 million records sold (including “Born in the USA,” one of the best-selling albums of all time), 18 Grammy awards, an Oscar, a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction and an enduring legacy as an icon of American working-class and socially conscious rock.

Starting off playing New Jersey clubs in the 1960s, Springsteen signed with Columbia Records in 1972. Frequently recording and touring with his backing E Street Band (some of the more well-known members have included Steve Van Zandt, Clarence Clemons and Max Weinberg), Springsteen became known as the premier representative of American blue collar rock. Classic singles like “Born To Run” and “Jungleland” firmly established his reputation, then the release of “Born In The U.S.A.” made Springsteen a certified superstar. The album’s cover of The Boss in faded blue jeans and white tee shirt with rolled up sleeves became an iconic image of the 80s. Subsequent releases couldn’t match the sales or popular success of “Born In The U.S.A.” and Springsteen settled into nearly a decade of writing less commercial music, exploring roots rock, Americana and folk leanings. One highlight of this period was a 1994 Oscar win for his song “Streets of Philadelphia,” which appeared on the soundtrack of the film “Philadelphia.”

Springsteen was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1999. 2002’s “The Rising” brought back the E Street Band for the first time in nearly two decades and began a period of newfound commercial success for Springsteen that has continued with a series of successful releases and a highly anticipated concert tour with the E Street Band.

Springsteen’s discography includes dozens of re-mastered versions, re-releases, boxed sets, concert recordings and contributions to compilations, but the following list represents the core Bruce Springsteen catalog (including the E Street Band recordings):

1973: Greetings From Asbury Park, NJ.
1973: The Wild, The Innocent & The E Street Shuffle (includes the seven minute single “Rosalita”).
1975: Born To Run (reached no.3 on Billboard Top 200, named by Rolling Stone Magazine as no.18 on its Top 500 Greatest Albums of All Time list).
1978: Darkness On The Edge Of Town (reached no. 5 on Billboard U.S. pop charts).
1980: The River (reached no.1 on Billboard U.S. pop charts, included “Hungry Heart,” Springsteen’s first Top 10 pop single).
1981: East Side Story.
1982: Nebraska (reached no.2 on Billboard U.S. pop charts).
1984: Born In The U.S.A. (reached no.1 on Billboard Top 200, featured 7 Top 10 singles including “Dancing In the Dark” and has sold an estimated 24 million copies).
1987: Tunnel Of Love (included the top 10 singles “Brilliant Disguise” and “Tunnel of Love”).
1992: Human Touch.
1992: Lucky Town.
1995: The Ghost Of Tom Joad.
2002: The Rising (reached no.1 on Billboard Top 200 and won Best Rock Album Grammy award for 2003).
2005: Devils & Dust (reached no.1 on Billboard Top 200 and won Best Solo Rock Vocal Grammy award).
2006: We Shall Overcome – The Seeger Sessions.
2007: Magic (reached no.1 on Billboard Top 200 and won multiple Grammy awards).

Anyone who had doubts about Springsteen’s longevity and relevance in today’s rock music environment can cast them aside now. Springsteen released “Magic” to critical acclaim (including a rare, perfect five star review from Rolling Stone Magazine) in 2007, and received Grammy awards for Best Solo Rock Vocal Performance and Best Rock Song. Springsteen also picked up another Grammy for Best Rock Instrumental performance for his contribution to the “We All Love Ennio Morricone” compilation.

Pollstar’s 2007 concert revenue figures place Bruce Springsteen and his E Street Band reunion tour firmly in the top twenty acts for that year, with revenues of just under $50 million USD. That tour, supporting his latest CD “Magic,” will continue into 2008 with dates throughout Europe and North America.

Have you ever been to a concert and been wowed by the impressive displays of lighting that seem to enhance the mood of the music being played? Indoor and outdoor concert lighting both make use of subtleties in order to highlight the band playing without being too overwhelming.

If you are looking for something new to do with your landscaping, then try to apply concert lighting outdoors in order to illuminate parts of your yard.

Light from the Back

While lighting in traditional theater usually comes from the front, with big floodlights and spotlights providing illumination to see the action, your outdoor concert lighting should come more from behind what you’re trying to illuminate. Concert lighting is more to establish mood and identity than eliminate, and by putting your lighting in the rear and illuminating from behind, you will create more interesting plays of light and shadow.

Decide Who Your Star Is

Just as most bands have a leader in their group; your outdoor concert lighting ensemble should have someone who takes center stage, so to speak. Decide what that centerpiece is going to be, whether it’s a decorative fountain, your prize rosebush, or a clump of well-tended flowers. Among all the parts of the landscape you’re trying to illuminate, this centerpiece alone should be the only one to have any lighting come from the front, your one exception to the rule of lighting from the back.

Use Color

If you think about businesses and gardens with stunning landscaping or outdoor lighting, you’ll realize that the sort of display made was probably not just of light, but of color as well. Your outdoor lighting, like in concert lighting, should involve a little color. This is a lot easier to accomplish these days since outdoor lighting is available with LED displays, which can easily and cheaply provide color to what you’re trying to illuminate.

Use Variety and Simplicity

For a varied and stunning display, use different and complementary colors for your back lights than for what you use to illuminate the centerpiece of your display. As mentioned already, your outdoor concert lighting should set the mood as well as illuminate. As such, don’t fall into the trap of providing too much.

Again, part of the reason to use color and backlighting is to set mood. If you illuminate too much, you create glare, which will make your display too bright to look at when it’s dark out, which is what you’re trying to avoid. By following these basic steps, you will have a great outdoor concert lighting display to highlight some of your best landscaping.

Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past year you know who Hannah Montana is. Miley Cyrus, star of the Disney channel series hit, “Hannah Montana”. Miley, is the daughter of country music singer Billy Ray Cyrus, and she plays a high school student, Miley Stewart, who lives a secret double life as a famous pop star, Hannah Montana. The show is very popular, as a matter of fact, it reaches five million viewers a week.
You also know that people are going to great lengths to get her concert tickets. How great you might ask. Let me tell you.

Let’s start with this little tidbit I read about. On January 3rd, country station Y-108 held a contest of a different sort. First it was held in a mall. It was designed for dads of little girls. These dads were required to wear a blond Hannah wig, a black dress and 2-inch heels while running through the mall doing some wild things. All this to win tickets to a Hannah Montana concert!

And let’s not forget the infamous essay contest that was held. According to sources a mother/daughter duo entered the writing contest in hopes of winning the concert tickets. The essay stated that the little girl’s father died in Iraq in a roadside bombing. It was later learned that the little girl’s father did not die in Iraq, in fact he’s not a soldier. The mother stated that she and her six-year-old daughter wanted to see Hannah Montana in concert and the essay was what they did to try to win the tickets. Officials announced that that mother/daughter duo would not be receiving the grand prize.

What would prompt such behavior in grown men and women you might ask. Let me give you some background. Tickets for Hannah’s concerts have been known to sell out in as little as four minutes. That is not a misprint or a typo, four minutes. Scalpers across the nation have had a field day with this. They are getting four to five times the face value of the tickets. According to one source, a single ticket for the show in Charlotte, N.C., sold for $2,565. The original cost of the tickets…between $26 and $66.

Times have changed and technology has advanced and so we are seeing changes in the way scalpers operate. They no longer hold up tickets outside the arena. Those days are gone. Now you’ll find them behind a computer screen selling tickets online. Most states do not have restrictions on reselling tickets.

It’s been suggested ticket prices (through scalpers) may lessen as the concert date gets closer. However, scalpers will continue to be an issue as Hannah Montana concert tickets are so difficult to get and many people are willing to pay those outrageous prices to have the opportunity to attend her concert.

You may be wondering how to protect yourself from getting gauged when purchasing your concert tickets. Try to buy a ticket as quickly as possible. Though it’s not likely you will get one in the first four minutes that they go on sale, be at your phone ready to place your order. If you miss out on that, check listings on ebay and craigslist. Perhaps someone has a ticket that they cannot use for some reason. And finally, wait until close to the date of the concert and buy your ticket as cheaply as possible.

“I just gave a great concert. I thought I was on top of the world and yet, here I am, three days later, feeling sad and apathetic. Do I need a psychiatrist? Am I a freak?”

Of course you’re not. Let down feelings after a concert performance (even a successful one) are completely normal. How you deal with these feelings determine your level of emotional awareness and professionalism. Here’s how not to deal with let-down feelings from an isolated concert event that you have given:

“I worked so hard for my concert. What do I do now? I’m too lazy to start learning new stuff.”

The above quote deals with a professional’s worst enemy… laziness. Remember that you are not in a position to be lazy in your given profession. There’s too much out there to learn.

“Maybe I need a long vacation. I guess my inner child is crying out to me saying: ‘Stop pushing so hard.’ Poor, tired me… poor, poor tired me!”

If you are a professional that has just completed a huge tour, then you are probably in need of some babying and/or a vacation. However, a couple of concerts shouldn’t really exhaust you to the point of feeling that an all inclusive Hawaii vacation is your only resort for physical and mental recovery.

“I did make some mistakes in my concert, even though I played well. I wish I didn’t. I hate it when I’m not perfect. Perhaps that’s why I’m so sad”.

We are not machines. The word ‘perfect’ should be taken with a grain of salt. Trying your best is far healthier than seeking perfection. Worrying obsessively about mistakes of the past, or potential future difficulties, leads to a road of misery and non-productivity.

So how does a performer combat these negative feelings that occasionally surface in a post-concert situation? Here are some suggestions:

1. Immediately start a new project after a major event. True, you should enjoy the high of a post-concert event. Go for dinner or celebrate a good performance with family or friends. However, as soon as the high feeling is over, get to work.

2. Do not feel like you have worked harder than other concert pianists in preparing for a concert. Everyone is in the same boat. Occasionally, you will find performers who can learn and prepare for concerts quicker than you can. Big deal! Most of us have to work hard. It’s normal.

3. Do not over-worry about what went wrong. It’s silly to obsess about mistakes that are over and done with. Think of concerts as learning experiences. Apply those experiences to your next project. Whatever went wrong will be improved upon in your next concert.

4. When getting back to work, try remembering the basics such as goal setting, seeing small improvements as a source of inspiration, and collecting as much inner patience as possible in coping with the long process of learning new pieces.

No matter how well you play your instrument or how experienced you are on the concert circuit, you’re not totally immune to feelings of let-down. After all, it takes months and months to prepare a proper concert program. Then, in a blink of an eye, the whole event is over. This often leaves performers thinking: “That’s it… all that practice and that’s it?”

The trick is to catch yourself becoming emotionally stagnant or depressed and reversing your situation through some of the steps outlined in this article. Education and self-motivation are truly wonderful qualities in successful stage performers.