To play jazz, or any music, the artist must be like a scientist - curious, feel a sense of passion, demonstrate patience, exercise creativity, be self-sufficient, and have courage. Courage to, as John Barry in The Great Influenza writes, "venture into the unknown.... the courage to accept - indeed embrace - uncertainty."

While playing a gig, at any moment something could go off the rails. The singer could come in early (will likely happen), the sound could go out, a party goer will ask for Freebird (guaranteed to happen), or some frat kid will ask for more cowbell (if I had a penny...). Those, or any hundreds upon hundreds of mistakes, could throw off the piece. When that happens, what do we do? How do we pivot? How do we finish the song as if we planned it that way?

We embrace uncertainty. We know we could screw up. We are okay with that. Jazz musicians will often say, "as long as we end together!"

So how to bridge the gap between mistake (stimulus) and the ending?

• Stop. Don't stop the tune, but take a breath and...

• Listen. What's happening around us? Does it sound like someone is going to take the lead? Who is off? Who is on? Is it me?

• Look. Is someone signaling to go to a new section? Does the leader look like they're aware of what's up... are they hatching a plan? Wait, I'm the leader... do I know what's up? Is everyone with me?

• Act. Get everyone's attention, determine the next optimal spot to come together, communicate that spot, prepare everyone to jump, 1, 2, 3, and...

• Jump.

Steps 4 and 5 don't happen without Step 1 - 3. And, as a musician, you must love steps 1-3.

You must look forward to the opportunity to take in what's happening around you and enjoy it! You must embrace the opportunity to align everybody together and prepare us to move as one. You need to recognize that it won't be perfect, but it will be something you all do together.

Hey... as long as we end together.