Members SteveWoodward Posted November 29, 2008 Members Share Posted November 29, 2008 Good for you getting up there. I've got massive stage fright...I can barely play in music stores, heck I hate to play in front of the cat! I think I'm good enough for someone to appreciate my efforts, but I'm just too shy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Melodeous Posted November 29, 2008 Members Share Posted November 29, 2008 My problem is a little different, Kwak. I'm firmly convinced the audience does'nt comprehend much of anything they hear. Unless it's a familiar tune. For that, they applaud.One would think that with such an outlook, stagefright would'nt be a problem. I'll see your remark and raise you one: They aren't qualified to listen. They only hear. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members MattSkibaIsGOD Posted November 30, 2008 Members Share Posted November 30, 2008 I have no problem playing other people's songs in public, but I get nervous as hell to play mine. Workin on it though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members live-I-evil Posted November 30, 2008 Members Share Posted November 30, 2008 Just coming up to the point of starting to play out for people. It's a scary line to come up to but you have to cross it at some point. Maybe I should start talking after I cross it... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members OldGuitarPlayer Posted November 30, 2008 Members Share Posted November 30, 2008 Here's a good way to calm your nerves before a gig...[YOUTUBE]x_Tixpkv6io[/YOUTUBE] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Samilyn Posted November 30, 2008 Members Share Posted November 30, 2008 Yup - That'll do it every time. Best part is, you won't remember if you train wrecked or not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members kwakatak Posted November 30, 2008 Author Members Share Posted November 30, 2008 No thank you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members kwakatak Posted November 30, 2008 Author Members Share Posted November 30, 2008 OK, I've been doing some reflecting (when I've been able) and I think that I could definitely see myself playing some background music in a coffee shop. I think I've got enough fingerstyle pieces in my repertoire to fill up a couple of hours. The only issue is that they don't all fit within a certain style: some are folk, some blues, some jazz, some "muzak"... As for the whole "entertainer" thing, well I don't think I'd have a problem with interacting with people. I try to approach situations with a bit of humor, though sometimes it falls flat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Samilyn Posted November 30, 2008 Members Share Posted November 30, 2008 OK, I've been doing some reflecting (when I've been able) and I think that I could definitely see myself playing some background music in a coffee shop. I think I've got enough fingerstyle pieces in my repertoire to fill up a couple of hours. The only issue is that they don't all fit within a certain style: some are folk, some blues, some jazz, some "muzak"... As for the whole "entertainer" thing, well I don't think I'd have a problem with interacting with people. I try to approach situations with a bit of humor, though sometimes it falls flat. Excellent, Neil! That's a great mix - very appropriate for a coffeehouse type venue. As to the "entertainer" aspect, you'll find that it gets much easier, especially after you get to know a few regulars as well as the staff of a venue that you play at frequently. GO FOR IT !!!!!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Melodeous Posted November 30, 2008 Members Share Posted November 30, 2008 Heck yea. Mix it up. Just a half hour of one genre/style is more than I usually sit for. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members masterbuilt Posted November 30, 2008 Members Share Posted November 30, 2008 OP congratulations. The ice-breaker is the toughest. I've been playing "out" for forty years and you know what... I know people that have played out longer than me and they sill feel gitters. Just enjoy it and any applause is icing on the cake. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Queequeg Posted December 1, 2008 Members Share Posted December 1, 2008 yep. you got to mix it up.if it helps, ask a friend to open for you or play the 20 minute intermission/break. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members guildfire Posted December 1, 2008 Members Share Posted December 1, 2008 I would do a test run in front of some family/friends, get their feedback then go public if you feel it will work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Samilyn Posted December 1, 2008 Members Share Posted December 1, 2008 I would do a test run in front of some family/friends, get their feedback then go public if you feel it will work. My family never gave a damn, so I always went out totally "cold". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members kwakatak Posted December 1, 2008 Author Members Share Posted December 1, 2008 Per my earlier post, most of the music I had in mind is instrumental. I also like to play and sing as well - and in different genres as well. Would this be too disruptive in coffee house settings where people generally just do their own thing and just want some background music? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Samilyn Posted December 1, 2008 Members Share Posted December 1, 2008 Per my earlier post, most of the music I had in mind is instrumental. I also like to play and sing as well - and in different genres as well. Would this be too disruptive in coffee house settings where people generally just do their own thing and just want some background music? I don't think it would be disruptive at all. Singing, just like instrumentals can be kept to the background. I've played a lot of "ambience" gigs in my day, using very few instrumentals, because I'm primarily a vocalist, not a good fingerstyle player. It's not so much about keeping the music mellow as keeping the volume down so people can play chess, read their books, chat with each other, etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Melodeous Posted December 1, 2008 Members Share Posted December 1, 2008 Per my earlier post, most of the music I had in mind is instrumental. I also like to play and sing as well - and in different genres as well. Would this be too disruptive in coffee house settings where people generally just do their own thing and just want some background music? Heck, go to the coffee houses and spend a little time getting acquainted with their ambiance and patrons. A little recon will help loads. The open mic I've done at a little wine bar near my place is a postage stamp. I've done blues, folk, and my own stuff quietly off on a small corner platform. Doesn't rate the word "stage". But, I went there to check it out first. I borrowed a guitar from the local mom/pop with the condition I would plug their store while at the bar to the patrons. I didn't want to take my guitar there. Harmless, maybe, but I'm not taking chances just to satisfy an occasional urge to make guitar noises in public. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members riffmeister Posted December 1, 2008 Members Share Posted December 1, 2008 Anybody else ever been an "in the closet" sort of player like this? Do I need to get a real life or go on prozac or something? I also hate it when I'm out with friends and they want me to go up on stage and play something. So from my perspective, I'd say "no" you don't need to get e real life.....there are more of us out there just like you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Yamaha Junkie Posted December 1, 2008 Members Share Posted December 1, 2008 Hey Neil buddy, I figured I would come by and check this place out.You need to learn to like coffee more Lets see; I suck but have no stage fright, you are fantastic and have stage fright. Something is wrong. Lets Milli Vanilli. I'll bring a "Big Box" on stage with me. You play and sing and I'll syc. I got the Zoom H4 figured out more!See you next Wednesday. Or whenever you can break away from life. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Stackabones Posted December 1, 2008 Members Share Posted December 1, 2008 There's nothing better than playing live. Though I've had a dry spell due to misdirection (about a year or two), it's a rare week in my life as a musician that I haven't performed at least once a week. I've played house parties, jam sessions, coffee shops, restaurants, clubs, festivals ... I've seen a million faces, and I've rocked them all! Whatever you do, never consider any gig a "paid rehearsal." There are not many ways to be more condescending to an audience (or the venue) than to consider any performance anything less than the real deal. Even in places where outbursts of applause aren't common (coffee shops, restaurants), people know you are playing and they will respond in subtle ways. If there is only one person in the audience, give them a show and play your best. Give any audience the benefit of a doubt that they get you and get what you're trying to do. I think it's great that you're gonna do this! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members S~R~O Posted December 1, 2008 Members Share Posted December 1, 2008 I warm up the audience with covers and a bit of chit-chat. Once I have a connection with them, the original material usually goes over quite well. Warn Up!!!! ................Hell..........LOL Don't let her fool you. We would start on a song Cold, get a few bars into it and screw it up royally. Then we just start improvising the hell out of it until the audience realized we were screwing around, then, when we got comfortable, we would get semi-serious and just have a good time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members kwakatak Posted December 1, 2008 Author Members Share Posted December 1, 2008 I also hate it when I'm out with friends and they want me to go up on stage and play something. So from my perspective, I'd say "no" you don't need to get e real life.....there are more of us out there just like you.Well, there are friends and then there are friends. Real friends don't shout out "Freebird!" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members kwakatak Posted December 1, 2008 Author Members Share Posted December 1, 2008 Hey Neil buddy, I figured I would come by and check this place out.You need to learn to like coffee more Lets see; I suck but have no stage fright, you are fantastic and have stage fright. Something is wrong. Lets Milli Vanilli. I'll bring a "Big Box" on stage with me. You play and sing and I'll syc. I got the Zoom H4 figured out more! See you next Wednesday. Or whenever you can break away from life. Hey, John! What can I say? Some folks make me relax. I'm usually on my guard. It literally took me 15 years to open up to this certain circle of "yuppie" friends who I inherited from my wife. My own "redneck" friends (from 15 years ago) and I used to have no inhibitions. In fact, much of my youth was spent in Deadhead fashion where we'd sit around a tape player with our guitars and try to play along. It's been too long since I've been at ease like that. Last year's LB Jam and this past summer's McKnight jam were almost like stepping back in time to the good old days. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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