defining your style

Subject: defining your style
From: Charcloth
Date: 20 Mar 02 - 09:15 AM

In this world where everyone wants to pigeon hole everything, from a marketing standpoint I often have to explain "what type of folk music" I perform. I suspect I am like a lot of other folks here in that it's kinda hard to narrow it down. And it becomes frustrating at times.
I mix alot of things in, I draw material mostly from Burl Ives, the Clancy Brothers, the Corries, Johnny Horton & the Carter Family, even Bill Monroe & Glen Campbel. To me it's just a classic folk music.
I was just wondering how some of you deal with labeling or "pigeon hole" yourselves>br>Charcloth

Subject: RE: defining your style
From: mack/misophist
Date: 20 Mar 02 - 09:28 AM

The word you want is "eclectic". Some are Irish, some are Blue Grass, some are Cajun, you are eclectic.

Subject: RE: defining your style
From: M.Ted
Date: 20 Mar 02 - 10:29 AM

Why do you perform the music that you perform? You have reasons for choosing the songs that you choose--find a good way to describe what you are going for--a catchphrase that gets it all across in two or three words--if the phrase doesn't get it across, find another--you'll know when you've got it right--then just repeat as necessary! This seems like a minor, annoying point, but actually, when you get the right answer worked out, it will help you a lot in marketing yourself!

Subject: RE: defining your style
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 20 Mar 02 - 11:02 AM

Hairy-chested man songs... That what I tell people I play...

;-)

Subject: RE: defining your style
From: GUEST,Russ
Date: 20 Mar 02 - 11:06 AM

Charcloth
I only refer to myself as a "folk" musician in certain situations.

I sometimes use the term 'folk music' because it is so vague in just the right way for me. For example, it sometimes comes up in the course of idle conversation with people who do not know me very well that I am an amateur musician. The invariable question is "What kind of music do you do?" I have two answers depending upon my mood. If I am not in the mood to begin an extended discussion, I answer "folk music". The invariable response is "Oh, you mean the kind of music that [insert name of any artist or group who has ever been characterized as 'folk'] does?" To which I respond, "Yes", no matter what artist or group has been named. At which point the questioner moves to another topic. You see, the nice thing about 'folk music' is that everybody thinks they have at least some notion what I am talking about. And almost everybody thinks they know enough about 'folk music' to know that they are not very interested in that particular genre. Thus 'folk music' serves as a nice, polite 'conversation stopper'. If, on the other hand, I am in a garrulous mood I respond, "Old time music". The invariable response is "What's that?" I kick into my didactic mode and begin a lengthy explanation.

Subject: RE: defining your style
From:
Date: 20 Mar 02 - 11:14 AM

"Saterical pagan folk music"

I have a very limited audience.

Subject: RE: defining your style
From: GUEST,LesB.
Date: 20 Mar 02 - 11:57 AM

Our group has started to call what we do "Americana" which seems to avoid being labeled specifically as Bluegrass, Country & Western, Folk, or Old Timey, all of which we cover.

However, for those who lump both North & South America together, (see the Irish food thread) we do not do Bolivian pan pipe tunes, or tangos (yet)!

Subject: RE: defining your style
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 20 Mar 02 - 01:38 PM

"defining your style" - why? (If you're trying for a booking you'd send them a CD anyway.)

Subject: RE: defining your style
From: Bobert
Date: 20 Mar 02 - 02:08 PM

Grunge folk with a touch of blues..Hmmmmm? Now what the heck is that, Bobert? Heck if I know. Hey, I just play the stuff...

Subject: RE: defining your style
From: Charcloth
Date: 20 Mar 02 - 04:49 PM

I like the eclectic folk idea. You can't always send demos & you have to plow the field a little to get them interested. I do mostly retirement homes & such, so few of them ask for demos anyway.
Here's the dilemma, I called one place offering my services & offered to send demo & promo material they really acted disinterested. When describing what I do they made the comment, "our residents are more educated than that & probably wouldn't be interested in what you do." Yet later, because I performed at a sister facility & was given a great recomendation, they hired me & afterwards booked me for 8 return engagements.
Needless to say my marketing approach needs some work. Suggestions are welcome
Charcloth

Subject: RE: defining your style
From: Charcloth
Date: 20 Mar 02 - 05:09 PM

It's kinda hard for me to explain why I do the songs I do. I do a large # of the songs just cause they are fun. That's a large reason I play the banjo. It has a sound that reminds me of laughter. Other songs tell stories that I think should be remembered. Some I do cause I know it brings back memories. I do a lot of them because I have enjoyed singing them with my family throught my 45 years. Songs my granpa sang to my grandmom. Songs my momma sang to me when I was a wee bairn. But mostly I try to sing the songs that will brighten someones day.

Subject: RE: defining your style
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 20 Mar 02 - 05:36 PM

Hi, Charcloth: There must be a special training program they put health care center staff through to reject anything that might bring life into the building. I've played in nursing homes as a solo for most of my adult life, and in the last five years, with my gospel group. The residents love us, and we get invited back regularly to play at the places where we play. (We are able to volunteer our music, which removes any budget restrictions.) But, I am amazed at how many places I've offered to sing who never follow through, even though I have a long list of places that will recommend me or my group enthusiastically. One of the main problems that I run in to is that the staffing for "entertainment" is so ephemeral that it seems like every time I talk to someone, it's a new person and I have to start over again. But, that's a whole 'nother thread. It IS frustrating when you have something to bring (I too play banjo and guitar when I go on my own) and you can do it for nothing, and you still can't get in.

How do I define my style? Whatever the occasion calls for.

Jerry

Subject: RE: defining your style
From: Francy
Date: 20 Mar 02 - 05:44 PM

I Tell Stories.............Frank of Toledo

Subject: RE: defining your style
From: Celtic Soul
Date: 20 Mar 02 - 05:55 PM

Jeez, I have no idea how to categorize what "style" we do. Only this past weekend, I was told that I was sounding very bluesy in my singing...which is interesting considering I sing mostly maritime music/sea shanties/folk music of the British Isles. But then, even when we do a piece "straight", we always try to earmark it as our somehow. Dunno quite what to make of it all, frankly. We're just "us". I guess.

Subject: RE: defining your style
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 20 Mar 02 - 06:09 PM

I'm fond of telling people I'm a story singer--or a song teller. Most of the songs I sing are either ballads or have a sort of story feel to them, even if they are not really quite a straight-out story.

On the other hand, I like Burl Ives' comment, which was something like this: "People call me a folksong singer. I'm not. I sing songs that I like. It just happens that most songs I like are folk songs."

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: defining your style
From: Charcloth
Date: 20 Mar 02 - 09:30 PM

I Love the Burl Ives quote Uncle DaveO! That is pretty much how I see it. I also agree with Jerry's line "Whatever the occasion calls for"

Subject: RE: defining your style
From: CarolC
Date: 20 Mar 02 - 09:56 PM

I think I would have to define my style as eclectic, but in a very quirkily eccentric sort of way. I'll play anything that sounds like circus music.

Subject: RE: defining your style
From: khandu
Date: 20 Mar 02 - 10:30 PM

CIRCUS MUSIC????

Carol C., does the "C" stand for "clown"? ;D

Everyone whom I have ever heard has influenced my music (except for Three-Dog-Night!). Therefore, the only way I can define my music is "khandu stuff"

khandu

Subject: RE: defining your style
From: CarolC
Date: 20 Mar 02 - 10:38 PM

Oohhh... khandu! You've guessed my secret! ;-)

Subject: RE: defining your style
From: DonMeixner
Date: 20 Mar 02 - 10:49 PM

Khandu,

She plays a conordion for crying out loud. What else can it be but circus music.

Don

Subject: RE: defining your style
From: CarolC
Date: 20 Mar 02 - 10:53 PM

;-)

Subject: RE: defining your style
From: khandu
Date: 20 Mar 02 - 11:12 PM

"She flies through the air with the greatest of ease"

Just to let you know that we are not making fun of you, Carol C!!

khandu

Subject: RE: defining your style
From: 53
Date: 21 Mar 02 - 09:06 PM

Very basic and to the point. A little rock, and country mixed together,along with some bluegrass.

Subject: RE: defining your style
From: Amos
Date: 21 Mar 02 - 09:25 PM

Actually, the accordion is just the instrument she talks about on Mudcat. I

have it on good authority that she drives to other gigs in a giant flat-bed based steam calliope which she plays loudly at the windows of ICU wards. Works miracles -- those half dead patients rise up demanding their clothes!!!

LOL!

A.

Subject: RE: defining your style
From: CarolC
Date: 21 Mar 02 - 10:53 PM

Love steam calliopes. Amos, you forgot to mention my charitable work as a belly dancer in the cardiac wards. Except it seems like I never see the same people when I go back again. So I figure it must be another one of those miraculous things.

Subject: RE: defining your style
From: Charcloth
Date: 22 Mar 02 - 08:29 AM

LOL