chinanight
Strummer
Posts: 25
My main instrument is: Taylor and National
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Post by chinanight on Mar 30, 2015 14:46:52 GMT
Since my last post on March 3rd I am about to do my third solo gig next Sunday. One of the biggest difficulties I found was getting the guitar and vocals sounding ok. When playing with others there is someone there to help with the sound check. However with the guitar I strummed a few chords using a looping machine and then went out front to listen and adjust as required. A couple of the punters in the pub I could see we're trying to figure out how I was playing guitar without playing it!!. They had had a few.
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Riverman
Artist / Performer
Posts: 7,348
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Post by Riverman on Mar 30, 2015 16:40:04 GMT
Great advice chinanight. Playing through a PA is a whole other challenge. I've lost count of the number of times I've ended up dissatisfied with my performance on account of not being able to hear the guitar properly.
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Post by dicky on Mar 30, 2015 19:37:19 GMT
thanks all for the help/advice having failed earlier I am loathe to get up and try again ' one thing came out of this, is that I wasn't ready then . I have since regulated my practice into a set of 10 or so songs which I know quiet well. as I go to sing arounds these should last while I learn or relearn other songs. I have found a small group to play at so I will give this a go. next stop Cambridge folk festival---- maybe not .might have to set my sites lower ,x factor is pretty low . thanks again dicky
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Post by Cams on Apr 3, 2015 21:04:59 GMT
Great advice here. I played intermittently up until about a year ago, when I was asked to do a weekly residence at a local bistro run by my pals. It was the fact that I was saving hard for a new guitar that helped me to swallow my fear and go and do it. I would dread it all day long and it was a day for not going grocery shopping after work, making an easy family dinner and basically keeping as much of my time free so that I could get to the venue with at least an hour to spare so I could set up and be ready before the kick-off time. And even when I began to enjoy it, the dread was still there through the day. I slowly got better at it and the dread began to diminish. Now, after just over a year of weekly gigs, I look forward to it. I've had time to tweak my day, my set up, my set list and, the hardest thing of all for me, the banter with the audience. I find that sooo difficult. But I'm told now that I seem relaxed and I really enjoy ever gig.
One of the things that has really made a difference is my sound; it's taken a while to tweak gear and settings and I've come to realise that if I'm happy with my sound, I play soooo much better. So the gear is important.
Each of the components of making it enjoyable for me has improved over time just by continuing to do it. And now I've got my new guitar, naturally I'm putting my gig money away for another one! That incentive really did help me, although I do realise that getting paid to play is far from being the norm!
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mandovark
C.O.G.
Posts: 2,994
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Post by mandovark on Apr 3, 2015 21:25:37 GMT
I once heard a classical music teacher say to one of her students after a performance that "you know how to make a mistake". She meant it as a compliment. What she was saying was that if the performer makes a mistake and looks frustrated or uncomfortable, the audience will feel the same way. If the performer makes a mistake and laughs it off, chances are the audience will too.
I try to remember this whenever something goes wrong in a performance. We all make mistakes, but how you deal with them can play a big part in whether or not you keep the audience on your side.
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Post by Cams on Apr 3, 2015 21:32:46 GMT
I like that mandovark. I'm going to keep that in my mind.
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Riverman
Artist / Performer
Posts: 7,348
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Post by Riverman on Apr 5, 2015 23:13:06 GMT
I can really relate to that feeling of dread. But also to that dread turning gradually to enjoyment as your experience grows. I take the view now that every performance is good in terms of adding to that fund of experience, even (or perhaps especially) the ones that go less well.
I played a couple of outdoor gigs at an Easter market over the weekend. New experiences included wondering whether the light drizzle encroaching on the front of the stage would result in electrocution; persuading a drunken passer by that there was no point in him joining me to sing on stage, as he requested, as he wouldn't know the lyrics to my songs; being buzzed, mid song, by the largest bee I've ever seen; and trying to give a withering look, also mid song, to the teenage boy who shouted "you're f****** s***" as he and his gang of mates passed by (an act of bravado rather than a carefully considered musical critique, I like to think, though who knows? He's entitled to his opinion!).
The point is, if you remember that you're doing this because you want to, and you want to get better at it, then it's all good. Learn your material thoroughly, practise twice as much as you think is necessary, then do it as much as you can. And enjoy the ride.
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Post by geddarby on Apr 6, 2015 10:21:43 GMT
This is a very interesting thread, one can only endorse all the practical advice which I am aware of but have difficulty in following even though when I play at local folk clubs and the occasional open mike night etc.I am usually dissatisfied my performances but on occasion things "do go right on the night" and the sense of communication with your audience on an emotional level makes it all worthwhile.
So just keep playing music that means something to you and enjoy.
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Post by andyhowell on Apr 6, 2015 14:30:30 GMT
This is a very interesting thread, one can only endorse all the practical advice which I am aware of but have difficulty in following even though when I play at local folk clubs and the occasional open mike night etc.I am usually dissatisfied my performances but on occasion things "do go right on the night" and the sense of communication with your audience on an emotional level makes it all worthwhile.
So just keep playing music that means something to you and enjoy. Just don't tape them ;-)
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Riverman
Artist / Performer
Posts: 7,348
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Post by Riverman on Apr 6, 2015 14:55:38 GMT
But if you do (or somebody else does), just don't listen...
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maninashed
Cheerfully Optimistic
Mad Farmer Liberation Front
Posts: 4,195
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Post by maninashed on Apr 6, 2015 18:41:53 GMT
I went to a pub session last night and it was packed, lots of musicians but lots of holidaymakers as well, with it being Easter. I nearly made excuses and left but I stayed and somehow I played the best I ever have in public, relaxed and in control. There's something about actually communicating with music and the response of listeners that gives music a whole new dimension and makes the experience very worthwhile.
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Post by Cams on Apr 7, 2015 12:36:13 GMT
There's something about actually communicating with music and the response of listeners that gives music a whole new dimension and makes the experience very worthwhile. Well put! It's so satisfying playing with other musicians who listen. That's why guitar gatherings are such fun!
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Post by dicky on May 7, 2015 22:19:35 GMT
hi everyone I did a couple of songs last week didn't come out too bad . I have found that if you use a anti perspirant spray on your hands before you start the hands don't stick to the guitar, or your fingers don't stick together. onward and upward. all the best to everyone. dicky
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Riverman
Artist / Performer
Posts: 7,348
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Post by Riverman on May 7, 2015 22:31:41 GMT
Well done dicky, keep at it!
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maninashed
Cheerfully Optimistic
Mad Farmer Liberation Front
Posts: 4,195
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Post by maninashed on May 8, 2015 6:49:30 GMT
Good work!
Onward and upward indeed!
I think playing playing in public is a process and it's about developing ways to do it. You can only really learn how to do it by doing it!
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