I’ve definitely fallen asleep at shows, notably Bill Frisell put me down like a baby. Another time it was borderline rock jazz and I was in the front row out like a lamp before my friend elbowed me.
A decade ago I would have felt shame, but I’m past that. Managing energy is definitely helpful, I also like it when festivals end at decent hours (New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival wraps at 7pm each day). Sometimes I buy tickets for shows long in advance and don’t have a lot of control over whatever else fills my week- often work and family commitments.
I say- it’s great that we made it to a show, it’s not “polite” to fall asleep and if it happens we must be pretty exhausted and it’s what our body needs.
The one time I got to see the Modern Jazz Quartet, I was 18 and went with my best friend's mother. She fell asleep ten minutes into the set. And I never let her forget it. Then again, the MJQ wasn't exactly Maynard Ferguson...
I’ve definitely fallen asleep at shows, notably Bill Frisell put me down like a baby. Another time it was borderline rock jazz and I was in the front row out like a lamp before my friend elbowed me.
A decade ago I would have felt shame, but I’m past that. Managing energy is definitely helpful, I also like it when festivals end at decent hours (New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival wraps at 7pm each day). Sometimes I buy tickets for shows long in advance and don’t have a lot of control over whatever else fills my week- often work and family commitments.
I say- it’s great that we made it to a show, it’s not “polite” to fall asleep and if it happens we must be pretty exhausted and it’s what our body needs.
The one time I got to see the Modern Jazz Quartet, I was 18 and went with my best friend's mother. She fell asleep ten minutes into the set. And I never let her forget it. Then again, the MJQ wasn't exactly Maynard Ferguson...
Nodding off during Steamboat Switzerland is a legendary feat. Once the brain is saturated, even explosive jazz becomes a lullaby.