How Has Hearme Enhanced Your Life

Subject: RE: How Has Hearme Enhanced Your Life
From: MMario
Date: 18 May 00 - 03:09 PM

Llanfair...next time I have a "family free weekend" I will be sure to let you know, then we can attempt a (an?) UK-Friendly HearMe. And set it at a good time for you... For that matter, Don't forget ANYONE can start a HearMe session -- gather your victims -- I mean audience --- where you may, but there is usually someone hanging around the mudcat at most hours...

Subject: RE: How Has Hearme Enhanced Your Life
From: Llanfair
Date: 18 May 00 - 02:55 PM

I've only been to one, so far, and I agree with what everyone else has said. My only problem is that I'm not a night bird, and the US start time of 7-30pm is 12-30am for us in the UK,and I can't stay awake that long!!!!
It is wonderful singing for such an appreciative audience, though, and hearing the exceptional talent and knowledge of other Mudcatters. Hwyl, Bron.

Subject: RE: How Has Hearme Enhanced Your Life
From: BlueJay
Date: 18 May 00 - 02:16 PM

I've only been to one HearMe session so far, the autoharp one one may 14. I was only able to listen for a little while, and didn't try to play anything as I faced the F9 dilemma for myself. But I was really impressed, and enjoyed chatting a little. And the music was great. Due to my bizarre work/sleep scheduling, it is hard for me to attend most HearMe's. But I intend to keep watching for them. One of my big insecurities about playing is that I have no idea what I sound like on the receiving end, or even if I can be heard at all without jamming the mike into the instrument soundhole while holding the F9 with my nose, putting my mouth close enough so my voice can be heard. But just listening really is a blast, hearing all these people postings I have read. Who knows, probably some time I'll get my instruments, mike, and converted moustache tuner for the F9, and I'll ask you kind folks if you can HearMe or not. (I was certain a Shubb Capo would hold that key down, but it's not even close). Thanks, BlueJay

Subject: RE: How Has Hearme Enhanced Your Life
From: Dave (the ancient mariner)
Date: 18 May 00 - 12:49 PM

I think Dharmabum has pretty well described the value of this tool. I think hearing people, only seen in text for the last three years, has enhanced the Cafe; and opened up a new form of entertainment. I hate television, and enjoy listening to the multi talented people, who share their music and laughs over the internet. This Cafe is a nice place to browse and enjoy music with conversation. How else could one chat with with friends in Australia and California from Nova Scotia? I liken this to Ham radio, CB, and a magazine, all rolled into one package. Yours, Aye. Dave

Subject: RE: How Has Hearme Enhanced Your Life
From: ceitagh
Date: 18 May 00 - 12:44 PM

I love Hearme. I hear so many songs I've only heard about, and I get to listen to wonderfully talented musicians in the comfort of my home! What could be better? I love listening to Spider Tom sing some outrageously funny composition, and hear Mbo croon a ballad or (when we let him) an ELO song. Dave TAM has an entertaining array of shantys and alison has a lovely voice. Then there's DaveO, JAB, Sinsull, Midchuck and others....autoharp nite was fun...I love hearme!

Besides, they say nice things when i sing...motivating me to learn new songs.

Pax, Kate

Subject: RE: How Has Hearme Enhanced Your Life
From: Homeless
Date: 18 May 00 - 12:17 PM

Even tho I've not yet gotten to perform (no mic available) it has increased my confidence in my own playing. To hear someone playing a song and say "Oops" or stopping to re-start at a flubbed chord or verse makes me realize that I'm not the only person who can't perform flawlessly. Knowing that I've got others at my level is somehow relaxing.

It's also a place to learn. Exposure to music you wouldn't have otherwise heard, how to do a barre F on a classical guitar without buzzing, the difference in effect on your emotions caused by a minor and a seventh chord. Depending on who is singing/playing on any given night, the variety of topics to learn about (or teach) is endless.

Subject: RE: How Has Hearme Enhanced Your Life
From: Clinton Hammond2
Date: 18 May 00 - 12:07 PM

Well... it's fun I'll give it that... and some good people there that's fer sure!!

{~`

Subject: RE: How Has Hearme Enhanced Your Life
From: SDShad
Date: 18 May 00 - 11:51 AM

Midchuck, Dharmabum--

Jon Freeman has written a lock button program for Hearme tht eliminates the need for creative F9-key weights. See this thread to download it.

Chris

Subject: RE: How Has Hearme Enhanced Your Life
From: Dharmabum
Date: 18 May 00 - 11:08 AM

I can remember as an 11 year old boy, talking on my neighbors ham radio. I was in complete awe as I spoke with someone from the other side of the world. I never dreamt that 35 years later i'd be in touch with so many good folks from so many different places. I first found the Mudcat about a year ago & joined in a few months after that. Since then I've gotten to know a number of you through your posts in the various threads, and some through personal messages,{thanks L.N.for your kindness,it really touched my heart}. The one thing that really stands out about "catters" is their willingness to help each other. It never seems to take very long for a lyric request to be answered, or most any other question for that matter.I've found the song challanges to be very theraputic,and to have some of my material in the Mudcat songbook a great boost to one's ego{thanks Aine for all your hard work}. For all those talented folks sitting on the fringes like I did for the first few months,please join in, I can't think of a friendlier place to be. And now we've got Hearme,I can't explain what it meant for my daughter and I to be able to be in a jam session with such talented people. But as I was jamming that little stick into my F9 key ,{ hey what do you expect from a carpenter?}, just a little bit of that 11 year old kid came rising to the surface again.

Thanks, Ron.

Subject: RE: How Has Hearme Enhanced Your Life
From: Midchuck
Date: 18 May 00 - 09:59 AM

And building clever devices to hold down the F9 key out of items immediately available on the desktop, like pens and staplers, develops one's engineering skills considerably.

Peter.

Subject: RE: How Has Hearme Enhanced Your Life
From: GutBucketeer
Date: 18 May 00 - 09:45 AM

Bonnie:

We are waiting for you to join the Hearme Circle! Find some young person (guy or gal) that lives and breathes computers and have them figure it all out.

We want to hear those banjos that we keep reading about!!!

Actually, I feel that I've gotten to know another side of people through hearme. We are all multi-facetted and the glimpse that you see of me from typing/chat is different from the glimpse that you see of me in hearme. It's the same when I meet mudcatters in person. Hearme has exposed me to a whole new continents of music! and let me hear tunes that I never had right before.

WARNING ***** WARNING ***** WARNING *****

!!!HEARME IS ALSO ADDICTING!!!

I was a mudcat addict before, but now with hearme I actually go through withdrawals if I'm gone for a week or more. It's a very powerful musical drug!

WARNING ***** WARNING ***** WARNING *****

Last, Hearme has helped me overcome much of my performance anxiety. I'm a basement singer and am just learning Banjo. For years I just accepted that I was musically challenged. Therefore, in the past I played/learned mostly for my own enjoyment, in my basement, or at the local autoharp club meetings which were very supportive. HEARME has given me the chance to overcome many of my performance fears. Now I'm ready to try to find local jams, etc.

JAB

Subject: RE: How Has Hearme Enhanced Your Life
From: SINSULL
Date: 18 May 00 - 09:36 AM

I am new to Mudcat and was amazed at the friendly welcome at Hearme. For the first time in my life, I have sung in public. And no one laughed - at least not out loud. I have heard singers and songs that I could never hope to hear in the "real" world.

But Harpgirl's music was the best. I immediately bought an autoharp and have been playing with it every night since. If you had asked me even 2 months ago if I would ever learn to play an instrument or read music, I would have looked at you as if you were crazy. Now I am planning to attempt guitar and maybe the sexiest banjo I can find.

Hearme is always fun but every once in a while Mbo is "on" and the music is painfully pretty. Or DaveO and Spider are at their best and treat us to some raunchy fun. Sorcha and her daughter, Ceitagh, MMario,,Jon Freeman and his Mom, falsetto Max. I am forgetting at least a dozen more - sorry. Little N - come listen, if you are not able to perform. It's a wonderful place.

Subject: RE: How Has Hearme Enhanced Your Life
From: Dulci46
Date: 18 May 00 - 09:25 AM

It has made me work harder on learning new songs. I find I am playing and singing a lot more. And one thing I am really thankful for is that I actually picked up my dulcimer the other night and played it on Hearme. Haven't even played it for probably 5 months.

I also like hearing all the different songs that I have never heard and hearing the people that I will probably never meet.

I am still shaking a lot the few times I do anything but I can feel my confidence getting better. (Well, a little) If it weren't for Hearme I probably never would have played or sang for anyone. I really enjoy listening to everyone.

It has made me start a song book for myself. I LOVE IT!!!

And I am a compulsive reader. Makes me forget what I am playing. So far I can only get half way through a song on the autoharp. But I am working on it.

Subject: RE: How Has Hearme Enhanced Your Life
From: alison
Date: 18 May 00 - 09:23 AM

Nice to see you again Praise,.... MMario summed it up very well.....

and where else can you sit in on a world wide song circle.

I think it's great for hearing tunes that otherwise would be sent snail mail etc... just set up a tape recorder and someone can sing it to you......

and it's great for catching up with friends

slainte

alison

Subject: RE: How Has Hearme Enhanced Your Life
From: wysiwyg
Date: 18 May 00 - 09:17 AM

Well, Neo, the first thing I noticed was the complete absence of any desire on anyone's part to be nasty, even when people who don't appear to get along AT ALL in the threads are at HearMe. The music takes care of that like it should. Hear someone sing, or sing to someone, and it's never the same afterwards.

For me personally, the answer goes like this. What have I gotten out of HearMe? Oh, not much, just kept me alive when I didn't know what was wrong with me.

~S~

Subject: RE: How Has Hearme Enhanced Your Life
From: MMario
Date: 18 May 00 - 09:05 AM

LN - HearME has let me HEAR several songs I have read about but never heard before. It has let me HEAR renditions in different styles of old favorites of mine. It has let me HEAR the voices of people I will probably otherwise only know through print. And has let me HEAR original songs from performers I would probably NEVER have heard in any other manner.

It has allowed me to SING for people who have done marvelous things for my ego with their response to my singing (thanks everyone) affording me great pleasure, and they seemed to have enjoyed it as well.

And with the text chat available as well, you can not only listen and sing, but hold conversations without messing up the performer (unless you're a compulsive reader such as I, who cracks up about the text while trying to sing...)

it's not perfect, but it's one giant leap forward...

Subject: How Has Hearme Enhanced Your Life
From: Little Neophyte
Date: 18 May 00 - 08:56 AM

There have been several threads on how the Mudcat has enhanced our lives but I am curious about what people have gotten out of Hearme. It keeps growing and it is becoming a very significant aspect of the the Mudcat Cafe.
It would sure be nice to hear from Hearmers about what it has offered them, what they have learned, some funny stories, things like that.
Personally I am creating this thread because I do want to get involved in Hearme, but sometimes I get a mental block when it comes to the computer and I shut down and give up.
So if I read some personal Hearme experiences, I bet I'll be inspired to put more effort into getting there.

Little Neo