Help: Performing

Subject: RE: Help: Performing
From: JamesJim
Date: 05 Feb 00 - 03:02 PM

When I first started performing, I found it easier to sing with a band (of friends) and then do an occassional solo, with them backing me instrumentally. After doing a few solos, I wanted more, then it became easier. Just go for it! Jim

Subject: RE: Help: Performing
From: GUEST,The Duck of the Irish
Date: 05 Feb 00 - 12:28 AM

Don't start with a song that is new and exciting to you. Play something you have played so many times you could not mess up. Then when you do, it will be easier to get back. Have a couple of beers, but not many or you will really stink. Don't be too serious, look at people and smile if you can. Don't get upset if people don't pay attention. This is America, It's a custom here. Good Luck!

Subject: RE: Help: Performing
From: GUEST,bb in texas
Date: 04 Feb 00 - 11:48 PM

played with friends for years. envied the folkies who had peavey pa's and sang in the pizza joints. finally got up there and totally screwed up, heard my voice through the pa and jumped back off the mike, sang in different key from the song i was playing, wanted to die. thought it was all so easy. Practice is a big answer. know your songs like someone above said. play through mike or pa, that is worst part, getting used to projecting. but know your stuff, hit an open mike or join some friends on stage. thats a big help. it's worth it. i play about every three weeks in a bookstore coffeeshop. i make 100m a year at work, make $50 plus tips on saturday. would trade jobs anytime. just do it. no one cares if you mess up. but you know what? you wont. go do it. good luck,stay off the booze. (ps, i had a band once, 3 piece c/w and rock. sang my ass off one night at an outdoor drunken street party ( a beer-fest believe it or not) next week the other two guys told me if i ever got that drunk again i was history...heck, jerry jeff got a way with it for a long time, and i thought i never sounded better....but i was singing flat all night, flat, and loud!!! anyway, even though i owned the p.a., i backed off on the booze, andkept the band. go 4 it.

Subject: RE: Help: Performing
From: Blackcat2
Date: 04 Feb 00 - 01:30 PM

Great idea Fortunato. That makes me feel better even with my limited performance experience!

pax yall

Subject: RE: Help: Performing
From: Fortunato
Date: 04 Feb 00 - 01:25 PM

What would you like your eulogy say?:

He (or she) wanted to play out in front of folks all his (or her) life but never did.

or

He (or she) played and sang for people, fulfilling a desire. Made a few mistakes, yes, but fulfilled a desire.

Now work backwards from your chosen eulogy to now.

Regards, Fortunato

Subject: RE: Help: Performing
From: GUEST,Rich(stupidbodhranplayer...)
Date: 03 Feb 00 - 06:32 PM

I started playing sessions where the only people who noticed my mistakes were other musicians. Having had session etiquette drilled into me repeatedly before anybody but my instructor heard me play, I played quietly and didn't get anything worse than a little friendly ribbing. As it turns out, that was preferable. I've done a bit of busking, played some ceilis, and played in a traditional Irish trio. Chances are when you're playing your worse there is still someone in the room who wishes they could play like you. If nothing else, if it goes poorly, it will be something to look back and laugh about. It could end up being a story you tell about while tuning, or introducing a song. Generally they don't kill people for poor performances any more and haven't for several huundred years. Have fun with it. Even when the money's good, you don't go into folk music for the money, just enjoy it. Rich

Subject: RE: Help: Performing
From: sophocleese
Date: 03 Feb 00 - 05:25 PM

I went to a song circle where it was difficult to back out and sang in three different keys for one song. Fortuneately somebody else knew the song and started singing along and that helped. What was just as hard was forcing myself out the door to the circle the next week. Rest assured you will make mistakes and forget words and start off in the wrong key or on the wrong note and start too fast or too slow, but if you keep going and going to any place like a song circle or open mic, you WILL get better and less nervous of the audience. For me I knew I either had to get out and sing in front of others or spend the rest of my life kicking myself in the behind for not doing it. Now I can cheerfully sing along with others at parties, instead of being painfully shy about it and getting drunk and therefore singing worse.

Subject: RE: Help: Performing
From: M. Ted (inactive)
Date: 03 Feb 00 - 03:32 PM

You should probably start out performing as part of an ensemble of some sort--there are all sorts of groups from highly polished theatrical quality choruses to church choirs, to informal community singing groups, and with a bit of looking, you can find one that would welcome someone with your particular combination of enthusiasm and skill--

Then, you can stand up in front of people and still stay in the background until you get more comfortable and learn how to handle yourself in front of an audience--This may be enough for you--I can tell you from my own experience that being part of a large performing ensemble can fill you social calender, provide travel opportunities, and, especially, puts to into contact ongoing contact with others who have your same musical interests and performance goals-

If you find that you want more, you will know, but you will also have performing experience under your belt, and it will give you exposure to performing venues, and also help you to develop your own act and find your performing niche--

Subject: RE: Help: Performing
From: GUEST,Don Meixner
Date: 03 Feb 00 - 03:02 PM

When I first began to play in public I was terrified. I had to stand because if I sat, which prefered at that time, my right leg would bounce me and the chair across the stage. I tried a trick I's heard about some place. I did the mic check as if it were a set. Nobody but me in the and the sound guy and a girl friend were in the room at the time. I just spent a lot of time setting balances and doing whole songs. As this process was going on the room slowly filled with strangers. One at a time and one more wouldn't make a difference would it? So by the time i was suppose to start, I was warmed up. I was comfortable with the crowd, and they with me. I just continued on.

I suggest that what ever you do, make your first song a song you know so cold you can't screw it up. I always use Paxton's "Natural Girl For Me", that way I start with them laughing and they know that I am many things but polically correct isn't one of them.

Don

Subject: RE: Help: Performing
From: Molly Malone
Date: 03 Feb 00 - 03:00 PM

And inevitably you will forget many a line when using liquid courage. Also, the problem wth busking is that it depends on the day. If you are having a great day and everyone's pockets are tight, it doesn't matter how wonderful you are. On the other hand, you could have a really horrible day and end up with a full hat. Noisy crowded bars are great, people are loud and they don't listen to the music as much. Or you could try karaoke. (Did I just say that?) They expect you to suck at karaoke. So if you are any good at all, you'll be nearly famous. At least, that's the case here.

Subject: RE: Help: Performing
From: Clinton Hammond2
Date: 03 Feb 00 - 02:49 PM

Good call In OBU... the busking thing had escaped me... I used to do it and yer right.. it was a great place to cut ones teeth...

Jam nights, onpen mic nights, ya.. but I'll have to admit to being a tad leary about the use liquid courage... it's a dangerous habit to start, and I've seen a couple of promising players sink to the level of sad, pathetic barflies... Ask Willie P. Bennet about the dangers.. he knows... and he recovered...

Most importantly, have FUN!!!!! LOL!!

;-)

Subject: RE: Help: Performing
From: Vixen
Date: 03 Feb 00 - 02:46 PM

I couldn't sing or play when I knew anyone was listening until three years ago.

Pick a VERY supportive friend whose judgment you value and perform over the telephone a few times. It gets pretty silly pretty fast, and you end up inviting him/her to come listen in person. Then, when you're comfortable with that, add a few more friends to the gathering (like 2!) and play just one or two songs for them, and then hang out and do something you all enjoy. Finally, when you're comfortable, tell them you want to do an open mic, and get them to come sit in the front row. Focus on them, and break a leg!

My friend Lisa badgered me into playing for her on the phone when she was sick, then had to hear me in person, and finally, she, and my brother, and another friend convinced me to do an open mic.

Now, I love performing, and actually play for money!

Good luck!

V

Subject: RE: Help: Performing
From: InOBU
Date: 03 Feb 00 - 02:42 PM

You wont know if you have any thing anyone wants to hear until you have been embarassing yourself for awhile. Each time you do, notice the reactions, strive for the things that get you the smiles and nods, and note in the back of your mind those things that get the faces like when you scratch a blackboard with fingernails. I found that busking was a great way of developing as a musician, as the coins in your case were an emidiate way of guaging what works and what doesnt. But dont get discouraged by first attempts, like anything else, it takes work, and you will not be as good in public as at home for a while, and then, reacting to an audience, if you have tallent, you will be better for the interaction.
Good luck
Larry

Subject: RE: Help: Performing
From: Blackcat2
Date: 03 Feb 00 - 02:38 PM

Sounds like a great variant!

I could use it with my Jolly Tinker/Old Maid in the Garrett/Scotsman mini-set.

Subject: RE: Help: Performing
From: Molly Malone
Date: 03 Feb 00 - 02:33 PM

Just remember that you will screw up. It will happen. Let it. No one ever notices. They don't know it's your first time on stage. Great example: Friend of mine was on stage for the first time. First song: Night Visit (Pretty Fair Maid...many other names) He got to the line about

"I got up and I made the bed, and I made it nice and easy." He, however, sang:

" I got up and I laid her down, and I laid her nice and easy."

His friends rolled, he turned red, and no one else noticed.

He still performs that verse at sessions...the second way.

Subject: RE: Help: Performing
From: MMario
Date: 03 Feb 00 - 02:20 PM

What eventually worked for me was putting myself into a situation where it was more embarrassing to back out then to perform. Luckily I had an 8" x 8" pillar behind me at the time which was all that kept me on my feet, but after the first time it was relativly easy to perform again.

Subject: RE: Help: Performing
From: Blackcat2
Date: 03 Feb 00 - 02:18 PM

Hi there Frank - I'm no expert at performing in public even though I've been doing it for 6 + years, but . . .

Check out open-mike nights if you haven't already and get to know the performers and the person in charge of the night - they usually encourage people.

Check out jams as well - get togethers of musicians who (at least around here) sit in a big circle and take turns doing a song - either we everyone joining it or not - depends on the wishes of the performer.

those both worked for me - also, I keep in mind that I am more critical about my performance that are most if not all of the audience - so i don't worry and just let it happen. (3 pints of the "Black Liquidation" has also helped.)

break a leg!

Blackcat2

Subject: Performing
From: GUEST,Frank Zavelle
Date: 03 Feb 00 - 02:06 PM

Hi, perhaps some people here can help me, for quite some time I have wanted to perform in public I can't seem to build up the confidence to do so, if any of the people on this list ever had a similar problem, can they offer some suggestions? Thank you Frank