To Thread - Forum Home

The Mudcat Café TM
https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=99695
13 messages

Art of the Solo Performer

07 Mar 07 - 11:51 AM (#1989590)
Subject: Art of the Solo Performer
From: dwditty

I have been writing down some thoughts about performing lately which I suppose I will eventually post in blog form somewhere. As I write, though, I find myself turning often to a book I purchased a few years ago - one of those books you keep handy and go back to often. It is called, "The Art of the Solo Performer" by Steve Rapson (Solo Performer). Rapson ran open mics around Boston for 20 years or so. As you can imagine, he has a pretty good amount of field research. As near as I can tell, we all go out of our way to learn as many bad habits as we can from other performers.... :). The book is broken down into tiny sections (tips, if you will) that can generally be read in a matter of seconds or a minute or two. This makes the book very handy to pick up and read in those odd moments. With nothing to gain but the chance to return the many favors of tips and advice I have received here, I highly recommend this book for anyone who performs or wants to.

dw

07 Mar 07 - 01:08 PM (#1989653)
Subject: RE: Art of the Solo Performer
From: Wesley S

Wow - Just from what I've seen so far there's a gold mine of practical information here. Thanks.

07 Mar 07 - 01:21 PM (#1989666)
Subject: RE: Art of the Solo Performer
From: Francy

Hi dw....will be sure to check it out....how are you........haven't been around paltalk recently...doing a lot of solo performing and loving it......Frank of Toledo

07 Mar 07 - 01:30 PM (#1989673)
Subject: RE: Art of the Solo Performer
From: dwditty

Hi Francy,

Good to see you and heat that you have been out performing - exactly where you should be. Please let me know if you trek back east sometime.

dw

07 Mar 07 - 03:08 PM (#1989770)
Subject: RE: Art of the Solo Performer
From: Jim Lad

Welcome back, Francy. I'll check it out too. Just to make sure there's no mistakes, you know.

08 Mar 07 - 12:52 PM (#1990628)
Subject: RE: Art of the Solo Performer
From: Stewart

The "performance skills" pages on the link above are very good. The "Do's and Don'ts for Open Mikers" by Steve Friedman should be posted at every open mic.

I've been doing open mics for about ten years now, both as a performer and also as an organizer and volunteer. It's a real education in performing. But I'm also concerned that, at least at most open mics I've been to, there's little or no feedback or educational aspect on how to perform. Just get up and do your thing, observe others and learn from your experience as best you can. Some people progress well under these circumstances, but others could use some guidance and mentoring.

So I've thought about doing an open mic workshop, but I'm not quite sure how to structure this. What are some ideas for such workshops or for introducing an educational component into our open mics?

Cheers, S. in Seattle

08 Mar 07 - 04:43 PM (#1990839)
Subject: RE: Art of the Solo Performer
From: GUEST,M.Ted

My experience over the years has been that the people in most need of guidance and mentoring are the least receptive to it--and, on a few occasions, I've been in that group-

08 Mar 07 - 04:59 PM (#1990856)
Subject: RE: Art of the Solo Performer
From: alanabit

Thanks for posting this dwditty. I found it very interesting indeed.

08 Mar 07 - 06:29 PM (#1990904)
Subject: RE: Art of the Solo Performer
From: dwditty

YW.

There are lots of nuggets in this book....like this (quoting from memory, but I think it is close):

A good performer gets on stage, looks out at the audience and says, "Here I am." A great performer gets on stage, looks out at the audience, and says, "There you are!"

09 Mar 07 - 07:19 AM (#1991279)
Subject: RE: Art of the Solo Performer
From: The Fooles Troupe

"My experience over the years has been that the people in most need of guidance and mentoring are the least receptive to it"

Yep...


"on a few occasions, I've been in that group"

so have we all, at times...

10 Mar 07 - 08:21 AM (#1992455)
Subject: RE: Art of the Solo Performer
From: dwditty

Stewart...now there is an idea for a companion book - The Art of Running and Open Mic. Of course there are all kinds. Locally, there is one focused on mostly original songs (at least that is what the encourage. Even though I do mostly covers, as they once said to me, "Well, it's not like you are doing Eagles songs"...lol). The place is a true listening room - no talking (there is a comfy lounge upstairs where people can go to drink their tea and chat), seating is theatre style....they serve teas and coffees - all ages. Very structured - 2 songs...sign up sheet (get there early). It fills a niche at that end of the spectrum, but still could use your book to make it better.

At the other end of the spectrum is a very successful open mic (running every thursday for 20 years). No sign ups...House band available...it is in a bar, so much diff atmosphere. No sign up sheet....at some point you are asked to go next and it might be 3 or 4 songs or a 45 minute set, depending on the mood and what is going on.

My point is that while very different, there is still much that such a book or workshop could offer both of these nights. Let me know when you publish!

dw

10 Mar 07 - 12:19 PM (#1992616)
Subject: RE: Art of the Solo Performer
From: Stewart

dw - thanks for your kind remarks. I'm not sure I'm the one to write this book, I'm still trying to figure this out. I currently visit 3 different open mics.

The main one is very popular - about 25 performers each week, one song - and has a very friendly listening audience, nice bookstore/bakery venue. Quite a range of performers, from pros to rank first-time amateurs. But many of the latter could benefit from a little mentoring or how-to-perform guidance. It's a nice open mic, a great community of musicians, but is becoming a bit of a drag to sit through two and a half hours just to get one song. Some of the regulars know only about three songs and keep repeating the same.

Another open mic I've begun to go to is in an Irish bar. Typical bar scene - noisy, pool table, TVs (but sound turned off, thankgoodness), gaming machines, etc. But it has a small stage with a few table around with mostly musicians listening. It's an invitational "musician's showcase" so usually we get 5 songs or about 20 min. A great host, terrible sound system, usually good musicians, and it really teaches you how to perform under all conditions (you realize that the loud cheer in the middle of your song is really in response to the game on the TV). And it doesn't start until after 9 pm and goes past midnight. Lots of pluses and minuses.

The third one is quite new, in a small comfortable coffee house, small stage, no mic (small room, good acoustics). So far not a lot of musicians so we get about 3 songs, usually an equal number of musicians and listeners, quiet listening atmosphere. The host sort of schedules performers on the basis of when they come and if they have to leave early or can stay late. Very informal. Hope it doesn't become too popular so we can still do several songs.

I've been to a few other local open mics which are terrible - loud rock music, poetry and rap, loud bars, et. - only once, never went back. So there's quite a range. When I finally figure it all out I'll think about the book.

Cheers, S. in Seattle

15 Mar 07 - 02:10 PM (#1997724)
Subject: RE: Art of the Solo Performer
From: Stewart

So, is there any need for "a companion book - The Art of Running an Open Mic." Or does such a book already exist?

I tried to start a thread on this here, but no response yet.

Cheers, S. in Seattle