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marzullo
`Olu`olu
USA
923 Posts |
 Posted - 07/27/2005 : 03:56:40 AM
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hi all,
this is a spin off from my thread on the wedding. i wanted to ask a more general question.
when you do a straight single guitar, all acoustic gig, how do you keep it interesting for the audience? i guess you can keep it short, and even better be an opening act, or perhaps be led ka`apana. i find, though, that people get nahenahe'd out pretty quickly.
i guess another approach is to be in the background, so that the audience isn't actively engaged in your music.
aloha
keith
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`Ilio Nui
`Olu`olu
USA
826 Posts |
Posted - 07/27/2005 : 04:32:01 AM
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Keith,
Doncha just hate it when you're playing your heart out and nobody's listening?
I find there are two types of gigs that I get. The "sit down and watch me perform gigs" and the "party background gigs". For the former, I try to work up sets that have a lot of upbeat tunes, with some pretty, nahenahe, stuff in between. For the background gig, people are going to listen at first, then start conversing with their friends. I don't think they are nahenahe'd out. It's just the nature of the beast. I use some of the later time to practice new things, noodle hooks and turnarounds while no one's really listening. I used to let my ego get in the way and wonder why people weren't listening. Now I'm thankful for the opportunity to play and practice. It's all good.
Me ke aloha,
Dave |
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RJS
Ha`aha`a
1635 Posts |
Posted - 07/27/2005 : 10:14:31 AM
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I'm sort where Dave is at -- I play at a restaurant for 2 - 2.5 hours, Typically, people come in, listen to 1 or 2 songs, then go on to conversation. But usually there's a turnover, so there almost always some folks listening. Every now and then the restaurant has a big party -- got to watch your ego there, 'cause most people are there to socialize with friends, not listen to music.
Playing most luau/parties is similar --
On top of that, I only play in Taro Patch, so I don't have the variety that comes from changing keys.
So... how do I keep it interesting --
First of all, you've got to judge the crowd -- lots of intimate grouping, in the restaurant couples on dates -- I keep the music more mellow -- but even there I'm careful not to play songs the sound too much alike after each other.
Otherwise I try to keep it "uptempo nahenahe" I use a fair amount of syncopation and a lot of latin based rhythm.
- I work hard to develop arrangements which bring out the melodies of the songs, and which don't sound too much like each other. In other words, I don't use too many "stock" licks.
- I try to take improvisational "breaks" in a lot of the songs. - And I listen to myself to make sure I'm not in the same rut song after song. The improvs keep it more alive and fresh for me, and for the audience (the restaurant has a lot of repeat customers - don't want them to think they are hearing the same songs week after week.)
- Large audiences different - I'm going to play San Francisco Aloha Festival -- the set is very uptempo. 1 Ballad, that even played slightly uptempo. First time through a part, I play it as "written" (I have to fiure out all the stuff I play, but I mean that I play it "straight." Each time back through, I play a variation and repeat the verse twice with the variation. Tried and true format - intended to keep it alive and interesting, yet let the audience follow what you're doing.
At the restaurant or at a part where people are not really tuning into the music, I often use the it as an opportunity to introduce new material -- gives me a chance to get used to playing it in public with less at risk than if there is an attentive audience.
Lots of rambling, hope it's helpful. If you have a specific question, I'll be glad to share what little I've learned. |
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n/a
deleted
50 Posts |
Posted - 07/27/2005 : 12:21:17 PM
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| Although the only time I play in front of people is camping or open mike, I enjoy performing. The worst experience I've had was when I practiced my okole off, and started playing for my wife's family at a reunion. Everyone walked out of the room. Then my sister-in-law came back in and said "Could you keep it down, I'm trying to get the baby to sleep!" |
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Bd1
Lokahi
USA
114 Posts |
Posted - 07/27/2005 : 2:03:34 PM
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| AUWE !!! |
BD1 |
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slkho
`Olu`olu
740 Posts |
Posted - 07/27/2005 : 2:15:40 PM
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Several ways to get the audience to take notice of you; 1. play small venues, 2. having a microphone to prelude each song..."...this next song is about..blah-blah-blah. Sometimes an audience responds first by being 'talked' to, before being 'playing for' 3. Your first two songs should be loud & up-tempo, this gets the audience "primed". Dinner music will always be white noise unless your playing naked or have a large flying reptile sitting next to you.
Singing, which you do, always gets their attention. Knowing who's the focus of attention is also vital. At a wedding, unless your a slack-key playing bride, your pretty much invisible. Know when to pick & choose your audible battles. I always feel a crowd partial to Hawaiian music will always be more receptive than let's say a non-Hawaiian crowd.
What peeves me is when someone asks me to play and goes about not even paying attention to their request...why ask me if you won't listen. But that's probably the ego thing too.
Keith, you always play great, no worries.
-slkho |
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RJS
Ha`aha`a
1635 Posts |
Posted - 07/27/2005 : 5:19:59 PM
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| I like the flying reptile idea. Any suggestions for an easy to maintain lfr that would fit in with an El Salvadoean theme? Legal suppliers? |
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Admin
Pupule
USA
4551 Posts |
Posted - 07/27/2005 : 5:29:44 PM
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How to keep it interesting? Just a few thoughts. Variety's got to be important... tempo, volume, key, instrumental, vocal, etc.
Apart from the songs, a good rap with the audience adds a lot. I observed the latter while watching George Kahumoku perform in a restaurant. It wasn't the music that initially captured the attention of the chatting diners. It was his adept story telling that quickly had everyone, silent, listening to every note he played and sang. It was impressive to see. |
Andy |
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Mika ele
Ha`aha`a
USA
1493 Posts |
Posted - 07/27/2005 : 6:41:43 PM
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I listened to keith play at a local coffee shop once (while I was still in town). There were several local uke group listeners and SCSKS bruddahs trying to figure out what the tuning was before Keith let us know. There were also alot of folks buying coffee on a Sunday afternoon wanting to socialize and mellow out (I think coffee kind of works against mellowing - but I digress).
Keith explained what kihoalu was and where it came from, changed tunings and explained, a little, why. He changed guitars. He changed to a ukulele. He explained what the background and context of the sory was before hand - set the mood. He explained what the Hawaiian words meant and tried to describe the many meanings in the poetry. He even sang a little. He played brilliantly. Then he stopped. . . . Finis. . . . I wanted more but his time allotment in the coffee shop was up.
I want to be like Keith - he charmed the okoles off the SCSKS bruddahs and convinced the ukulele crowd there was more to life than four strings.
The coffee lovers. . . They bought more coffee.
The moral of the story. The coffee shop likes Keith because it helps them sell more coffee to the local uke group and SCSKS bruddahs that come in to hear him play. 
Really. Keith knows how to read the audience, he comes prepared with material, well practiced, and enjoys what he is doing. We can tell because we enjoy it too. If kihoalu was as big as Brittney, no Jessica, no John Mayer, well you get the picture - Keith would be making BIG BUCKS!
Thanks for the inspiration to practice and the willingness to share with us. |
E nana, e ho'olohe. E pa'a ka waha, e hana ka lima. |
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marzullo
`Olu`olu
USA
923 Posts |
Posted - 07/28/2005 : 03:14:29 AM
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psst, micha`ele, you forgot to tell me where to send the money... 
i do try patter (hey! i'm a perfessor, we LOVE to talk), typically about the songs because i love the words and the stories behind them. i think what i should work on is one thing you all have mentioned - tempo changes. my song style is pretty much one speed, slow but too fast for hula. i should build a larger set of fast songs. what are your suggestions? i can do some fast ones on the uke - i'm working on He `Ono - but they don't seem like slack key numbahs. i wish i could sing falsetto so i could do Kupa Landing (jesse tinsley has been giving me pointers on going falsetto; i'm afraid that i'm scaring my neighbors). maybe kahana kamali`i?
thanks again for the thoughtful discussion (and the fan review!  )
aloha,
keith
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wdf
Ha`aha`a
USA
1153 Posts |
Posted - 07/28/2005 : 04:57:20 AM
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| Hey, Keith! Did you buy another Goodall. That's a nice Royal Hawaiian you're playing. |
Dusty |
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slkho
`Olu`olu
740 Posts |
Posted - 07/28/2005 : 07:17:27 AM
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Ditto on what Andy says. Keith doing falsetto???? I got to hear this.:-)
-slkho |
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RJS
Ha`aha`a
1635 Posts |
Posted - 07/28/2005 : 2:11:55 PM
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I want to be clear about a specific point.
PLaying at a restaurant, unless the situation is clearly labelled as a concert, means that you are part of the overall ambience of the place. The goal is not to draw attention to your playing, but to help create an enjoyable experience for the diners.
When I play at the restaurant, I do not expect people to be continuously listening to me. As I said, typically they tune into 1 or 2 songs when they arrive, and after dinner stay to listen to 1 or 2 more songs. That's perfectly OK. -- When I go to a restaurant and there is live music, that's almost exactly what I do. (OK, maybe I keep some amount of listening going on, or tune in more if something is interesting. But basically I'm going to the restaurant to have dinner with my wife and friends and the food and conversation are the primary focus. |
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Mutantmoose
Aloha
USA
12 Posts |
Posted - 07/28/2005 : 4:34:03 PM
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I guess it matters if you are advertised or not. If your name is above the special of the day, then it's okay to draw more attention. If you are below the baked salmon, then you are pleasantly musical wallpaper.
I guess that the last time my family went to Cafe Napoli for Italian food, we didn't spend a lot of time listening to the accordian player either.
Mark |
Mark
"In the business of enriching lives for 15 years." |
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marzullo
`Olu`olu
USA
923 Posts |
Posted - 07/28/2005 : 6:36:19 PM
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hi dusty! that's dr. dave's delightful geetar. it's a beaut!
rik, be very glad you're not within earshot of my shower.
aloha,
keith
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slkho
`Olu`olu
740 Posts |
Posted - 07/29/2005 : 08:21:57 AM
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...I kept wondering why Zoom was howling. yuk-yuk
-slkho |
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