Remembering What You Did When Playing & Improvising

Hi David,

So this week I was asked to sit in on a few songs at a duo's show. They're a guitar/harmonica duo. I was finally playing in public after a long time of not playing, and I felt much more confident playing accompaniment to the acoustic guitar player due to understanding the chorus forms and focus notes from the improv lessons 1&2 that I've reviewed. I also felt like due to practicing my licks, I could pull them up from memory without forcing it...which was a great feeling...to trust there will be something coming out of that 4 draw or 6 blow when I need it.

I may have still hit a few bad notes here and there and at one point I pulled out the wrong key of harp, started playing and said, "whoops, wrong one" and got the right one to play.

My question is this--I got to play about four or five songs that night and I had a great time, so much so I don't really remember most of what I played (and not because I had a few too many beers).

What is the best way to review your improvising when performing in a jam or with a band? How do we be "in the moment" and then afterwards, say, "okay, that turnaround could have been better" or whatever? Do you have any tricks like writing down licks afterwards?

Thanks!
Dennis