About 15 years ago I got a surprise call from a production office at the BBC. I had been recommended by a friend as a suitable acoustic guitarist to play on an edition of Songs of Praise.
Now, I'm not the world's greatest guitarist but my friend knew my abilities well enough so I accepted the invitation and agreed to turn up at the venue at 2pm on the rehearsal date and then recording. Feel the fear and do it anyway, right?
I was sent the song titles and made some notes. I confidently travelled across London, guitar in hand feeling like I was someone special.
Things didn't start well when I arrived at 2pm to find that all the other band members had set up and were ready to play. They were just waiting for me.
Things got worse when the conductor handed me the sheet music. Maybe I should have asked more questions on the phone, like 'Will I need to know how to read music?'.
Finally, no one told me about the guitar solo in the middle of one of the songs. It was all too much. I had to confess to everyone present that I was a fraud. I was utterly unqualified to be in the same room as these fine musicians. I just wanted to leave, burn my guitar and never answer the phone again.
At this point, the conductor showed his worth. He gave the band a break, sat with me and literally sang me through the parts I should play. It wasn't difficult and he knew I could do it. I just needed a little help from someone who knew what they were doing. Someone who had probably been in my situation before and could solve this little problem. The result? I got through that afternoon and even enjoyed it.
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P.S. Last year I ran into that conductor and thanked him for being so generous and Yoda-like. He hadn't a clue who I was and had no recollection of the event. Clearly, it was painful for me but all in a day's work for him. The BBC hasn't troubled me since.
