Members Notes_Norton Posted October 6, 2018 Members Share Posted October 6, 2018 We got hired to play an Oktoberfest at an Elk's lodge. Not familiar with playing Oktoberfests and seldom play Elk's lodges (we're over their budget). Anyway Ein Prosit was requested so I learned it. It's about 40 seconds long and when do you are supposed to count to 3 in German and then in German say "Drink". I have no idea how often to do this. I don't think it will be a wild crowd, as the town we got booked in is filled with retirement folks. Has anyone had an experience like this? If so, anything to offer? How frequently? (I don't want to be responsible either for someone drinking to much and hurting someone on the road or in the opposite direction, being a party-pooper). Thanks,.Notes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members pogo97 Posted October 6, 2018 Members Share Posted October 6, 2018 Has anyone had an experience like this? If so, anything to offer? How frequently? (I don't want to be responsible either for someone drinking to much and hurting someone on the road or in the opposite direction, being a party-pooper). These *are* adults, right? Drinking makes such fools of people, and people are such fools to begin with, that it's compounding a felony. Robert Benchley Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members 1001gear Posted October 6, 2018 Members Share Posted October 6, 2018 Here's a youtube. [video=youtube;TdjrVJDVC9Y] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators daddymack Posted October 6, 2018 Moderators Share Posted October 6, 2018 Benchley was an optimist... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators daddymack Posted October 6, 2018 Moderators Share Posted October 6, 2018 ein, zwei, drei, getrank, ja? Das ist gutte! Prosit! Wunderbar!Too many Oktoberfest gigs... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Notes_Norton Posted October 7, 2018 Author Members Share Posted October 7, 2018 The guy who booked us said, "Use your judgement". We have about 6 polkas in our book plus the waltz Du, du liegst mir im Herzen. I'm thinking about doing Ein Prosit either before or after each polka. I don't know if they are going to want all 6 in 3 hours. I'm sure we'll do Beer Barrel, Liechtenstein, Pennsylvania, and Clarinet. Of these, I like the Clarinet Polka the best because it is a technical challenge to play. I'll open with Pennsylvania to get them on the Oktoberfest mood, because I think most people of that age group are familiar with the melody. I'll be playing the Ein Prosit by ear, but any pre-advice as to where to start is appreciated. Notes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members pogo97 Posted October 7, 2018 Members Share Posted October 7, 2018 "Too Fat Polka" and you can do worse than to check out Walter Ostenak: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Walter+Ostanek Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators daddymack Posted October 7, 2018 Moderators Share Posted October 7, 2018 start at the beginning...just a wild guess Plus, you could cover 'Bei mir bist du schön', the Germanized version of thee Yiddish classic...or go the Andrews Sisters route.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members mr3lions Posted October 8, 2018 Members Share Posted October 8, 2018 Octoberfest is a celebration of beer I wouldn't worry about over consumption. Are you doing doing Danke Scheon the old Wayne Newton son? Lots of audience participation. Don't forget to yell Ziggy Zaggy, Ziggy Zaggy Hoi Hoi Hoi after every song too! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators daddymack Posted October 8, 2018 Moderators Share Posted October 8, 2018 I was corrected years ago that the correct pronunciation is 'Zicke Zacke Zicke Zacke Hoi Hoi Hoi' which is basically 'chugalug' for the Krauts...it has no actual translation, although a 'zicke' is a female dog... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators daddymack Posted October 8, 2018 Moderators Share Posted October 8, 2018 oh, and, do not tell the crowd you are playing a polka...polkas are Polish folk songs...you are playing 'Oom-pah'! Americans make no distinction between the two, but the Deutschlanders do...emphatically. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Notes_Norton Posted October 8, 2018 Author Members Share Posted October 8, 2018 Hopefully we'll get away with it. The flyer said oom-pah and American music. I've played luaus for these folks, they usually want 2 or 3 Hawaiian songs and that's it. Same for St Pat's day. Danny Boy, about 5 others (actually American songs celebrating Irish-ness) and that's it. And the modern Polka is actually an American thing based on Polish traditional music. At least that's what they taught me in school. Notes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Drummer44 Posted October 11, 2018 Members Share Posted October 11, 2018 You need to do the Chicken Dance song, too. Mandatory at Oktoberfest. -D44 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Notes_Norton Posted October 12, 2018 Author Members Share Posted October 12, 2018 You need to do the Chicken Dance song, too. Mandatory at Oktoberfest. -D44 Thanks. For the age group that I'll be performing to, this should work fine. Notes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Notes_Norton Posted October 14, 2018 Author Members Share Posted October 14, 2018 Okto-beer-fest went well, we had more oom-pah than they had oomph so they went home tired and happy. Like many Elk's parties, once every half hour was more than they needed, the rest was good old popular music that kept the dance floor full. The guy who booked us was happy, and the audience had a great time. Live is good. Notes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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