Hi Holstein, I am sure everybody has a different point of view on this. For one thing, different performers are trying to accomplish different things. For another, we have different attitudes towards what we're doing. And finally, we all own & operate different fingers and brains.
For me, my main purpose in getting in front of a listening (as opposed to a dancing) crowd, is to entertain them. Usually by trying to make them laugh. So for me, making a mistake is pretty unimportant, as long as I get a laugh. Now and then I try to play a tune (usually instrumental) which is not intended to be funny, and I do like to not make too many bad blunders in that case. But I try to get the place rocking and grooving, and little clams happen and I try to keep on grinning. [Aside: Boy, it sucks when people don't laugh though! Fortunately most people like to laugh. Me included. One thing to avoid - make sure your MC (if there is one) doesn't say, "And now the funniest mandolin player around" - that's a challenge for people to not laugh, and they're pretty good at that. It is much better for people to discover on their own that you're making them laugh.] My good friend (and personal bass player) and I make mistakes all the time. They're over with so fast, most of the time, that no one but us even knows they occurred. On the rare occasions that things really turn into a train wreck, just grin and roll your eyes and get right back into it. Often times people enjoy this little spark of humanity that you have shared with them. People can identify with you when you screw up, because they do too. A mistake can bring you closer to an audience. Not that is a good reason to intentionally screw up. You owe it to yourself and to the music to do the best you can. But get into the groove, let the music be free, enjoy the screwups and the interactions with a good audience, and go home with a smile. It is nice to have a little patter you can rely on to lighten up the crowd after an uncomfortable moment. The audience will relax and it can give you a moment to regroup and relax and get ready for the next number. I remember seeing a 60 minutes show in the late 70's where they were talking to the great pianist, Arturo Rubinstein. He played something and made some mistake or another that I would certainly never have heard. Afterwards they said Rubinstein was famous for making mistakes that were better than the original... well I'm never gonna be able to make a mistake like that, but I can hope to have my ears open and if a mistake sounds pretty cool, I might just do it again. That way it sounds like "I meant to do that!" (The motto of one of my bands). Bottom line, smile & keep on grooving! Topher 2009/6/7 The Holstein Kid <st...@senatorgroup.com.au>: > > Howdy friends, > > After reading Rek’s blog the other day, the EGO thing has been on my > mind. After a forced lay-off since Christmas, I got back on the horse > on Saturday night and entertained a paid crowd at a function. > > I really tried to let-go and free myself of any self-consciousness, > but I did find myself trying to perform better and being quite aware > of getting it right. I think that trying to play a tune perfectly > every time can slow me down and an element of cautiousness slips in. > It’s the same when playing for MC on webcam, that live performance > doesn’t seem to come out the same as it does in practice. > > So I was wondering how much easier this gets as the experience builds, > and what % of the practice kicks in for the real deal? I believe that > I’m playing at 80% – 90% of my skill capacity when performing live at > present. Is this just a case of nerves? And what do the pro’s feel > when they prepare and actually perform? Is there still a case of > nerves or is it as comfy as drinking a glass of water? > > I can’t imagine what Tater experiences when he’s stepping on stage > with EC or doing something on national TV! > > Determined….Holstein �� > > > > --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Taterbugmando" group. To post to this group, send email to taterbugmando@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to taterbugmando+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/taterbugmando?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
