Gigging Again

[Silence Dogood]

S'all good man. You can practice law in a back room or in front of a jury. "playing for people is where music is at." Of course, I meant ... for me that's where it's at. Although most of my playing is before an audience of one, my dog, playing for people is the most fun. Again, for me. 

Oh, I get where you are coming from.  I even envy you a little for enjoying performing; it's just something I could never do well.  I can also play something flawlessly a thousand times in my bedroom, and once I'm in front of someone else it all goes to pot. 

[ducktrapper]

Oh, I get where you are coming from.  I even envy you a little for enjoying performing; it's just something I could never do well.  I can also play something flawlessly a thousand times in my bedroom, and once I'm in front of someone else it all goes to pot. 

It's important to figure out that when playing in front of an audience that they are not all musicians and mostly don't care for or even hear flawlessly. While proficiency is important, they care for authenticity. Heart and soul. Once I understood that, I was much looser and had more fun.
A couple of weeks ago we saw a fellow play all night focused on a tablet attached to his mike stand. He was good, got all the lyrics right but something essential was missing. I often forget words and do the Mick Jagger thing, mumble gobbletygook. Audiences don't care. In every crowd, there's only one of me who notices such things. LOL 

[Silence Dogood]

It's important to figure out that when playing in front of an audience that they are not all musicians and mostly don't care for or even hear flawlessly. While proficiency is important, they care for authenticity. Heart and soul. Once I understood that, I was much looser and had more fun.
A couple of weeks ago we saw a fellow play all night focused on a tablet attached to his mike stand. He was good, got all the lyrics right but something essential was missing. I often forget words and do the Mick Jagger thing, mumble gobbletygook. Audiences don't care. In every crowd, there's only one of me who notices such things. LOL 

All that makes a lot of sense.  It has always seemed to me that any given audience is hoping for the best, wanting the performer to do well, and wanting to just enjoy the show. It's only the other guitar players in the crowd ruthlessly critiquing and judging.  As you point out, hardly anyone else notices much beyond the music.  And yes, people can always sense and feel when a performer has soul.  It's what moves the world. 

[ducktrapper]

All that makes a lot of sense.  It has always seemed to me that any given audience is hoping for the best, wanting the performer to do well, and wanting to just enjoy the show. It's only the other guitar players in the crowd ruthlessly critiquing and judging.  As you point out, hardly anyone else notices much beyond the music.  And yes, people can always sense and feel when a performer has soul.  It's what moves the world. 

Yeah, I'm a lousy audient for the most part. Unless they're someone I've paid to see or really terrific, I usually want to replace the performer with ... myself! 

[Queequeg]

I do play out about once a week and I enjoy that although it's sometimes stressful.
Mostly my playing is meditative, alone in the house, a mental exercise, intentional listening to my technique.

[ducktrapper]

I do play out about once a week and I enjoy that although it's sometimes stressful.
Mostly my playing is meditative, alone in the house, a mental exercise, intentional listening to my technique.

Playing guitar and singing is really not what I do best but as a songwriter, which I believe I'm pretty good at, performing is the only way to get feedback on songs. My wife likes all my songs (except two) and my dog adores me.   

[William2]

I do play out about once a week and I enjoy that although it's sometimes stressful.
Mostly my playing is meditative, alone in the house, a mental exercise, intentional listening to my technique.

I pretty much agree with this. I just play for my own pleasure. I play to work on technical issues and keep my mind focused. I do this in one session. In another session, I will play pieces I know and concentrate on interpretation or look at a new piece of music. My only public playing when I was young consisted of doing recitals as part of my job requirement where I taught. I would occasionally test out some pieces for the recital at open stage coffee shops they had at the time. I did a few restaurants gigs to help out friends that had the opportunity for a better job and had to get out of a commitment. They and I viewed these gigs as paid practice. I think some people really enjoy playing out and others don't. I'm in the latter category. I think it shows when a performer enjoys performing live. And when i was young, I can't say I ever went to venues to hear music. There were a couple of restaurants in Milwaukee that had live entertainment that had a couple of really good jazz artists. My wife and I would frequently eat at these places for the food and fine music. And I would go to guitar recitals by visiting artists.

[Queequeg]

Playing guitar and singing is really not what I do best but as a songwriter, which I believe I'm pretty good at, performing is the only way to get feedback on songs. My wife likes all my songs (except two) and my dog adores me.   

I respect songwriters' creativity. Especially good ones. 
With a gun to my head I could not write a proper song.

[ducktrapper]

I respect songwriters' creativity. Especially good ones. 
With a gun to my head I could not write a proper song.

I just wish I could be a successful one! I get a lot of love for this one. My friends Fish on The Wall's version. I always wanted Disney to sue me.   

This is NOT a song about drug use. I found that no one wanted to take personal responsibility for the crap in their lives. Blame the government, their parents, school  etc. Well, I blame Walt Disney and Loony Tunes.

https://www.google.com/search?q=youtube+dopefiend+from+disneyland+fish+on+the+wall&rlz=1C1CHBF_enUS1037US1037&oq=youtube+dopefiend+from+disneyland+fish+on+the+wall&aqs=chrome..69i57j33i160j33i299l2.13954j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:64ec02e1,vid:bi38aC7YHE8,st:0

[ducktrapper]

So I got a gig at a Pumpkin Festival! They want me to play and sing at 10 A.M.! I guess I'll have to start drinking at 8. 

[ducktrapper]

Pic from the Pumpkin Fest. Martin & Larrivee. My favorite combination.   

[StringPicker6]

Great pic! Nice guitars to keep you company on stage.

[Silence Dogood]

Love that Larrivee electric.  Looks like a fun time.

[ducktrapper]

I also got to play with some guys in cow suits though no one took a picture of me with them. Maybe I should be thankful. They were good but udderly bizarre!

[ducktrapper]

Love that Larrivee electric.  Looks like a fun time.

It's a fine guitar and yes it was. Plus I got free pumpkins!