BS: Wish me luck - give me advice!

Subject: Wish me luck - give me advice!
From: mousethief
Date: 10 Nov 00 - 01:23 PM

Our local used book store/coffee house/sandwich shoppe has recently started staying open till 8:00 on Thursdays and Fridays -- a pretty bold step for this tiny little town. I dropped by last night to see how it was going, and a guy came in who had seen me perform at the open mic I told you about (c. a month ago).

He recognized me and told the bookstore co-owner that I was a pretty good picker and she should get me to play on these late nights. She was intrigued and asked if I would consider it. The little demon on my left shoulder had apparently throttled the little angel on my right shoulder earlier in the day, because I said yes. She asked me to check my schedule and come back with a set of dates I can perform.

This will probably be gratis (maybe a free coffee?), but a good chance to perform in public and gain some recognition.

What do you all think? Any advice would be welcome too.

thanks,
Alex
O..O
=o=

Subject: RE: BS: Wish me luck - give me advice!
From: John Hardly
Date: 10 Nov 00 - 01:28 PM

congrats mouse! Lucky bookstore! Unlucky me (i won't get to see you perform). Break a leg!

John Hardly

Subject: RE: BS: Wish me luck - give me advice!
From: Morticia
Date: 10 Nov 00 - 01:29 PM

I think it's wonderful Alex, go for it because you'll be sorry if you don't, we only regret in later life those things we didn't do.I wouldn't presume to advise you but as a rule of thumb, in a mixed ( i.e. non-folkie) venue we stick largely to the popular or easily recognised stuff.A Star is Born!!

Subject: RE: BS: Wish me luck - give me advice!
From: Jim the Bart
Date: 10 Nov 00 - 01:32 PM

Do it. Put out a tip jar and see what happens. If it works out, see if you can get a standing date (every Friday, every other Saturday, the first Saturday of the month - you get the idea). People will begin to get used to you being there on that day and, before long, you could have a some regulars.

It's a situation that could benefit everyone - you get to perform regularly, the owner gets some business she might not have had, and the people in the community get an alternative to TV.

Good luck with it, Alex.

Subject: RE: BS: Wish me luck - give me advice!
From: GUEST,Matt_R
Date: 10 Nov 00 - 01:45 PM

Tips? Recognition? Great Scott man, it's not about that! It's about the songs!

(mocking folkcore people) ;-)

Subject: RE: BS: Wish me luck - give me advice!
From: GUEST,emily b
Date: 10 Nov 00 - 02:13 PM

Alex, this sounds like lots of fun, if a little scary. Go for and enjoy the opportunity to share your stuff. Who knows what may come of it.

One thing my band is trying to learn is to read the crowd and not necessarily stick to the set list. Stay flexible and always appear as you are having the time of your life. This will translate out to the listeners.

Good luck and good licks.

Emily

Subject: RE: BS: Wish me luck - give me advice!
From: sledge
Date: 10 Nov 00 - 02:23 PM

Music, books, coffee, how I wish.............

Sledge

Subject: RE: BS: Wish me luck - give me advice!
From: Dave (the ancient mariner)
Date: 10 Nov 00 - 02:58 PM

Do it mate, its a good chance to get your music heard; and remember us when you are rich and famous. Yours, Aye. Dave

Subject: RE: BS: Wish me luck - give me advice!
From: Bert
Date: 10 Nov 00 - 03:04 PM

Way to go. Break a leg man.

Subject: RE: BS: Wish me luck - give me advice!
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 10 Nov 00 - 03:26 PM

Go for it, Alex. When you've done it so often you're bored with it, or when you're pretty sure you can make more money playing somewhere else, that's the time to start thinking about turning down gigs. Not now.

And they might give you a gift certificate for a book or two.

Subject: RE: BS: Wish me luck - give me advice!
From: GUEST,Bill in Alabama
Date: 10 Nov 00 - 03:53 PM

Any performing experience is good experience. Work out a set of predetermined length, take a break, do another set. Make set length comfortable to you, and be relaxed, as if you were just sharing some songs with friends. Make it fun for yourself, and it'll be fun for you. Knock 'em dead.

Subject: RE: BS: Wish me luck - give me advice!
From: Catrin
Date: 10 Nov 00 - 04:13 PM

Go for it Mousethief - it seems to be unanimous amongst us 'catters. It sounds like fun and good practice too. And think what you'll be giving the community - and yourself while you're at it!

Good luck!

Cheers,

Catrin

Subject: RE: BS: Wish me luck - give me advice!
From: SINSULL
Date: 10 Nov 00 - 04:36 PM

Sounds like you've died and gone to mouse heaven. Go for it! Good Luck.
Mary

Subject: RE: BS: Wish me luck - give me advice!
From: DougR
Date: 10 Nov 00 - 04:48 PM

Alex, by all means go for it! It will be great experience for you, not only musically, but also stage presense and working the crowd.

Perhaps as you build a following, money will come your way too! Help that person build the business, and it would be difficult, it seems to me, to continued to take advantage of pro bono services by the entertainer.

Congratulations!

DougR

Subject: RE: BS: Wish me luck - give me advice!
From: mousethief
Date: 10 Nov 00 - 05:10 PM

I'll know it's mouse heaven when the photographers ask me to smile and say "cheese!"

Thanks everybody for the encouragement. Y'all are great.

Alex
O..O
=o=

Subject: RE: BS: Wish me luck - give me advice!
From: Quincy
Date: 10 Nov 00 - 05:16 PM

Go for it Alex!!

By doing something that isn't necessarily for financial gain gives far more pleasure than that which you rely on for your main income....especially when you enjoy it too!
The knowledge that you are not finacially committed to the place gives a more relaxed attitude to the task in hand.

Wishing you every success with it.
Looking forward to the tour! "Appearing at a bookshop near you!!!" :)

best wishes, Yvonne

Subject: RE: BS: Wish me luck - give me advice!
From: Fibula Mattock
Date: 10 Nov 00 - 06:21 PM

Nice one! Have a go!! And enjoy the coffee...

Subject: RE: BS: Wish me luck - give me advice!
From: CarolC
Date: 10 Nov 00 - 06:25 PM

Congratulations and good luck, mousethief!

Best wishes,

Carol

Subject: RE: BS: Wish me luck - give me advice!
From: Clinton Hammond2
Date: 10 Nov 00 - 06:28 PM

Sounds like a great gig MT!

I'd kill to find one like that in Windsor...

Good luck eh!

{~`

Subject: RE: BS: Wish me luck - give me advice!
From: richlmo
Date: 10 Nov 00 - 08:23 PM

Good Luck! Just be sure to have your sets written down where you can see them. Tape it to you instrument or whatever. You don't really need to stick strictly to the list , but it sure helps keep the Dead time to a minimum.

Break a leg!

Subject: RE: BS: Wish me luck - give me advice!
From: Banjer
Date: 11 Nov 00 - 06:50 AM

A combination book store/sandwich shop? Neat...maybe in exchage for your performance you can get all the books you can eat!! Go for it..by all means!

Subject: RE: BS: Wish me luck - give me advice!
From: jeffp
Date: 11 Nov 00 - 10:47 AM

Sounds like a fantastic opportunity. One idea you might consider - between sets walk around and talk to the folks listening. Get an idea of what they would like to hear, how the sound is, stuff like that. Use that information to improve your show in the future. Folks will appreciate the opportunity to give feedback and some will actually be impressed that the performer stopped by to ask THEIR opinion.

Knock 'em dead, Alex!

jeffp

Subject: RE: BS: Wish me luck - give me advice!
From: John P
Date: 11 Nov 00 - 10:49 AM

Alex, I see in your Mudcat Profile that you are in Sumner. I'm in Seattle -- where and when are you playing? I don't get down that way very often, but who knows? Have you ever been in the Wit's End in Fremont? It's my favorite bookstore/tea shop/eatery. They love having music in there too. If things go well and you want to come up to the big city, give them a call.

Some practical matters: obviously we all love playing music or we wouldn't do it, but if we get to where we are playing a lot there are times that we would rather be doing somethng else and it is nice to get paid. You may want to talk to the owner of the bookshop about eventually starting to get some regular money if the place starts making more money because of your presence, even if you only get $25 or $50 a night. If you put out a tip jar, be sure to spike it with a couple of ones and a five. People almost never put money in an empty jar.

If you make a mistake on stage, laugh it off and keep playing, even if you have to start the song over. Never apologize to the audience for screwing up. Make sure you have a set list so you don't stand around trying to remember what you know how to play. Always have a good time on stage and try to communicate the fun you are having to the audience. Practice your song introductions on your wife before you spring them on an audience. Smile.

Good luck, John

Subject: RE: BS: Wish me luck - give me advice!
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 11 Nov 00 - 11:11 AM

I second all the above. Also, if you get nervous about doing the open mic, keep this in mind. If you live in a tiny town where nothing's open at night, then there are sure to be people there who are bored out of their minds and starving for stimulation.

I don't want to sound like a preacher, but this especially includes young people who are apt to get into trouble (like drinking) because there's nothing else to do.

But by playing at the coffee house, you will be providing interesting music, you might give somebody else the idea of taking up an instrument, and you will give your neighbors further reason to get out of the house and perhaps make new friends.

So if you get nervous, say to yourself over and over, "This is not about me, this is something I am doing for other people." It helps.

Subject: RE: BS: Wish me luck - give me advice!
From: KT
Date: 11 Nov 00 - 02:05 PM

Good on ya, mousethief! Lots of good tips up there. I would only add this. If you are the type who plays lots of deep songs that are very personal to you, that's fine, but be sure to "include", your audience with lots of eye contact. And smile at them. Try to see who they are and how they are responding to your music. It's a real give and take thing. And have a great time! They'll love ya!! KT

Subject: RE: BS: Wish me luck - give me advice!
From: Bernard
Date: 11 Nov 00 - 02:19 PM

Go for it!

Subject: RE: BS: Wish me luck - give me advice!
From: mousethief
Date: 13 Nov 00 - 12:56 PM

Thanks everybody! Your warm wishes really help. I've got a set list worked out and am practicing like crazy. I'll let y'all know how it goes!

Alex
O..O
=o=

Subject: RE: BS: Wish me luck - give me advice!
From: kendall
Date: 13 Nov 00 - 01:50 PM

Do it once for free, then, if it is well received, get paid. If the place makes money because of you, they should be willing to share it. If I sound like a democrat, thats just co-incidence. Right Doug? :-)