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RJS
Ha`aha`a
1635 Posts |
 Posted - 12/20/2007 : 6:37:12 PM
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Lots of good advice.
When I play at a restaurant, solo, I keep smiling, no matter what, never stop in the middle of the song, and try to find oone or two people who seem to like my playing and focus on them. Surprisingly, often people who seemed not to be paying attention have given me the most insightful comments!
Remembering that the customers are not there primarily to hear me frees me up a lot.
When I make a bad mistake, I often use that as a jumping off point for some improvisation. Small mistakes - don't sweat them. I have, on occasion, repeated a mistake each time I repeated the song to make it sound as if I planned it. I don't do that anymore, cause most people don't care.
NOW FOR MY MOST IMPORTAHT ADVICE: Script out your first 3 - 5 songs and OVER, OVER practice them. Then practice playing them 2 - 3 times faster than you are used to or would ever perform in public. When you will be nervous, you will play faster, so get used to it in advance. Also practice playing fast and slowing down in the middle of the song without making it sound bad. That way, when you notice you are too fast, you can more easily correct.
Over and above all -- play for yourself only and have some fun. People WILL think you are an expert, you don't have to do much to keep them thinking that way, especially when you are background music.
Good luck
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Edited by - RJS on 12/20/2007 9:44:49 PM |
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noeau
Ha`aha`a
USA
1105 Posts |
Posted - 12/20/2007 : 10:51:35 PM
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| One uddah ting you can do. Sit up straight sing from the diaphragm and relax the muscle between your eyes on you forehead. Make eye contact with people and smile. Audiences love to think they are being sung to one to one. Get a couple of people to smile back and you are on your way. Mistakes won't be noticed you could even sing the wrong words. In Hawaiian even people who know the song don't often notice. Break a leg. |
No'eau, eia au he mea pa'ani wale nō. |
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kaniala5
Akahai
USA
65 Posts |
Posted - 12/21/2007 : 06:45:14 AM
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As a musician, the thing that helps me most is being prepared. If I have song memorized and I know I sound good performing them...........begin with one of these that is cheerful and happy to help set tone of performance. It is easiest if you have more material than time to play it.
Finally, the three P's.......Practice, Practice, Practice.
Then enjoy yourself, remember to smile because your having fun. For me, the time on stage was always too short compared to the time I spent preparing myself for the show. MERRY XMAS
PS. Thanks for suggestioin about leaving guitar at hospital, I gave it to my son. |
Look for reasons to be happy rather than excuses to be miserable. |
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RWD
`Olu`olu
USA
850 Posts |
Posted - 12/21/2007 : 08:29:49 AM
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Dont' forget about the 7 P's too
Proper Prior Preparation Prevents P*ss Poor Performances
Actually the way I first heard it used Production for the last word. (I am in the machine/tool industy). |
Bob |
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Podagee57
Lokahi
USA
280 Posts |
Posted - 12/21/2007 : 11:16:37 AM
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| Lots of good advice to ponder. If it were me? I'd run like hell and hide in the closet........but I'm sure you'll do just fine. |
What? You mean high "E" is the TOP string. No way dude! That changes everything! |
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Ben
Lokahi
USA
122 Posts |
Posted - 12/21/2007 : 11:53:27 AM
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Relax, Nancy. Take a deep breath. Ain't nothing terrible gonna come out of mistakes, so just enjoy being one with the music. What's a little embarassment among friends?
You're not likely to be any more embarassed that I was. A couple of years ago I was solo instrumental background music during a Christmas house tour - my first time not just being back-up to a singer or part of a group. Talk about nervous, despite all the time I spent in preparation! I know something of how you feel, Nancy.
Anyhow, it was a five-hour stint - where exactly was my mind when I said I'd do that? I had found a few nice open D arrangements by Mark Hanson (check out his Silent Night treatment - very simple yet beautiful) and came up with several more of my own in the same tuning so I wouldn't have to play the Two Ning song.
At one point, about 4 hours into it, I was just going along and completely forgot not only where in the song I was, but just what song it was that I was playing anyway. Stopped. Regrouped. Started another. Nothing bad happened. No one laughed. No one stared. No one gasped. Acutally, no one cared.
My points are: first, focus the whole way through; second, life is worth living after a royal screw-up like mine!
Ben |
Mālama pono
Ben |
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thumbstruck
Ahonui
USA
2168 Posts |
Posted - 12/21/2007 : 3:46:58 PM
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Congrats on the gig! All the above advice in spades! Only get 2 kine peepo in da world: musicians and those who wish they were musicians.
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javeiro
Lokahi
USA
459 Posts |
Posted - 12/21/2007 : 5:25:19 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by thumbstruck
Congrats on the gig! All the above advice in spades! Only get 2 kine peepo in da world: musicians and those who wish they were musicians.
That's pretty good, Kory. I never heard that one before! |
Aloha,
John A. |
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NANI
Lokahi
USA
292 Posts |
Posted - 12/21/2007 : 6:26:57 PM
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| You are all the best kine people!!!!! |
"A hui hou kakou, malama pono".
Nancy |
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wcerto
Ahonui
USA
5052 Posts |
Posted - 12/22/2007 : 02:40:07 AM
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Nancy - I am sure the reason you two were asked to play is your great talent AND your vivacious personality. That is all it takes. When we met you in College Park, MD, you were not at all shy or reticent about jumping right in to play with Paul. No different if other people happen to be around. I always say to give the audience something they are familiar with, but that is already done for you if you are supposed to be doing Christmas songs.
You will be great, I am sure. Just take plenty pictures for us to see!
Best of wishes,
Wanda |
Me ke aloha
Malama pono,
Wanda |
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NANI
Lokahi
USA
292 Posts |
Posted - 12/22/2007 : 03:47:51 AM
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| Hey Wanda Welcome back to the Patch You sound in good type. Thanks foe the kind words and we are sticking to MOSTLY Christmas music for those reasons. We are sticking in some Hawaiian just for the fun of it and to see the expresions. I will see what I can do about a photo. Glad to have you back and typing away! |
"A hui hou kakou, malama pono".
Nancy |
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