Erring on the side of caution

Subject: Erring on the side of caution
From: Alan Day
Date: 21 Oct 11 - 12:03 PM

I wonder how many of you given the choice of a really exciting tune, or medley, will err on the side of caution and not perform it, owing to the degree of difficulty it contains and go for an easier tune, or set ?
I must say that it is a pleasure to play alongside Will Fly as He is keen to go for the exciting set and take a chance on it, whereas in the past playing in groups/bands they have adopted the more cautious approach.
Al

Subject: RE: Erring on the side of caution
From: Will Fly
Date: 21 Oct 11 - 12:06 PM

He is keen to go for the exciting set and take a chance on it

Should read: He is keen to make an arse of himself in front of everybody.

Subject: RE: Erring on the side of caution
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 21 Oct 11 - 12:19 PM

It's that Godlike capital H that I love. :-)

Subject: RE: Erring on the side of caution
From: Alan Day
Date: 21 Oct 11 - 12:36 PM

Best to cover all possibilities Steve.
Al :)

Subject: RE: Erring on the side of caution
From: Waddon Pete
Date: 21 Oct 11 - 12:53 PM

I think it often depends on where you are playing. In some locations you feel most comfortable sticking with the tried and trusted, whereas other venues are places where you feel you are able to stretch your wings musically, above the norm. (Good ol' Norm. Almost as good as Will).

Sometimes performing a song or tune in the wrong environment can put you off doing it for a long while!

Best wishes,

Peter

Subject: RE: Erring on the side of caution
From: olddude
Date: 21 Oct 11 - 12:58 PM

Will Fly is a music hero of mine. I don't think there is anything that Will can't play and sing although he sometime doesn't like to sing ..

he is a major talent and a good friend.

Thanks Will

Subject: RE: Erring on the side of caution
From: michaelr
Date: 21 Oct 11 - 01:08 PM

With my band, I like to rehearse new sets a few times, then break them out at gigs, even if we don't have them down to a T yet. In performance, things often shape themselves in ways that rehearsals don't allow for, and that's as it should be. Unless of course it's an audition or competition.

Subject: RE: Erring on the side of caution
From: Will Fly
Date: 21 Oct 11 - 01:13 PM

Absolutely michaelr - the persistent live performance of a new number can hone it in a way that persistent rehearsals sometimes don't.

I'm happy to take a flier at most things - comes from playing jazz all those years ago, perhaps - and they seem to work most of the time...

Pete - my best to Norm! :-)

Subject: RE: Erring on the side of caution
From: Alan Day
Date: 22 Oct 11 - 05:20 AM

I have seen many times artists who announce on stage that they are trying out a new tune, or song that they have been practising that day.
I inwardly groan, I have never yet heard anyone actually pull it off.
That is where erring on the side of caution pays off. A well practised piece played regularly and well practised, no matter how difficult is well worth a try if it is exciting.
Al

Subject: RE: Erring on the side of caution
From: treewind
Date: 22 Oct 11 - 06:15 AM

Playing something difficult and impressive but properly rehearsed is one thing, playing something you've just learned and that isn't ready yet is another.

Recently I tentatively planned to play a tune I haven't previously done as a solo, but had misgivings because it wasn't practised to the "foolproof"* stage - and I was relieved when there wasn't time for it.

On the other hand, we've sometime done tune sets in front of a festival or club audience where I was making up arrangements/harmonies as we went along - but that's on fairly simple material that we've done a lot in regular sessions.

*by which I don't necessarily mean that I'll play it perfectly in performance, but that if it goes wrong I'll be able to recover smoothly.

Subject: RE: Erring on the side of caution
From: bubblyrat
Date: 22 Oct 11 - 06:23 AM

When I saw this thread title , I thought at first that it concerned a book about fish , by Les Barker ! How disappointing !

Subject: RE: Erring on the side of caution
From: Will Fly
Date: 22 Oct 11 - 06:25 AM

Indeed! Egrets... I've had a few...

Subject: RE: Erring on the side of caution
From: Roger the Skiffler
Date: 22 Oct 11 - 09:52 AM

I'll forgive you that pun, Will having heard you play on Youtube: great stuff!
RtS
(merely an unfrocked washboard player & kazoo hummer)

Subject: RE: Erring on the side of caution
From: Will Fly
Date: 22 Oct 11 - 10:01 AM

I nicked the pun from Simon Drew - eccentric maker of t-shirts, mugs, cards, calendars, books, etc.

My favourite Simon Drew joke is a mug with a plinth on one side and a horse in mid-air on the other side. Caption: "Someday my plinth will come".

:-)

Subject: RE: Erring on the side of caution
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 22 Oct 11 - 01:05 PM

If playing on my own in a folk club, I might limit myself to simple polkas. It depends on how nervous I'm feeling.

In sessions, it can be more a matter of who I'm playing with although I'm always a slow starter and it takes me a while to relax. Obviously in some sessions, you can start just about anything and others will take up the tune strongly but there can be other occasions where let's say I'd rather keep to tunes like the Kesh Jig which I know I can usually "keep control of" (esp on tenor banjo) rather than perhaps have the tune taken in all sort of directions or perhaps come to a grinding halt if I miss a note or two.

If I'm playing with one other, I usually prefer a good guitar player. One who can find the right chords (some off chords really distract me) and who will really go for the tune (and I don't mean just thrash the guitar) and keep going (I have a hard time with the player who will try to wait and or adjust if I slip up. Instead of being able to correct my mistake, I find 'm then adjusting to get to where he has tried to correct on my behalf...).   I find sort of player a good sort of "safety net" if I'm trying something a bit harder or don't play often.