Welcome to one of the most active flamenco sites on the Internet. Guests can read most posts but if you want to participate click here to register.
This site is dedicated to the memory of Paco de Lucía, Ron Mitchell, Guy Williams, Linda Elvira, Philip John Lee, Craig Eros, Ben Woods, David Serva and Tom Blackshear who went ahead of us.
We receive 12,200 visitors a month from 200 countries and 1.7 million page impressions a year. To advertise on this site please contact us.
|
|
|
.... I have a Gig !!
|
You are logged in as Guest
|
|
Users viewing this topic: none
|
|
Login  | |
|
   
gj Michelob
Posts: 1531
Joined: Nov. 7 2008
From: New York City/San Francisco
|
 .... I have a Gig !!
|
|
|
…. I have a Gig !!
My children’s school in San Francisco will host its annual spring auction party at a Spanish restaurant, on May 3d. The school principal, a fine musician with whom I shared some of my recordings, recommended that I play that night. I accepted: I am extraordinarily excited and definitely rather anxious. With an expected crowd in attendance of about 60/70 parents, this is a significant departure from my typical after dinner performance for a few friends. This is a gig.
As I imagine the chilly San Francisco evening, dark dresses and colorful cocktails in the festively lit outdoor garden, the diffuse sound of conversations fades between my hesitant hands and a single shiny microphone pointing interrogatively at my guitar and …. flocks of butterflies storm my stomach in hostile battle formation. I will think of Ron wearing a Tomatito-like wig snapping me out of taking myself too seriously and of Jim Opfer muttering comforting words of encouragement in his Scottish accent… but then of ToddK not as forgiving of neither compas nor technique, recommending I stay home and review my technical rudiments first. Perhaps Alisa would talk me out of it, and suggest I read a melodic Italian prose from the thirteen century instead.
But I will follow Ricardo’s advice and drink a Sherry to warm up. I will picture Florian in his candid white concert suit, his elegant dancers gracefully pacing his notes, reminding me that playing flamenco is and must be fun. I will think of this Forum and try my best, as did those who took the beginners and intermediate competitions, and hopefully the audience will appreciate my effort as I admired them brave musicians.
_____________________________
gj Michelob
|
|
|
|
REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |
Date Apr. 5 2009 5:18:48
 |
|
gj Michelob
Posts: 1531
Joined: Nov. 7 2008
From: New York City/San Francisco
|
|
RE: .... I have a Gig !! (in reply to Ron.M)
|
|
|
quote:
Keep it simple and something you've played for a while in your after dinner moments with friends.
Then you can mentally retreat back into the same mindset, knowing that you've played it before in public and there is no reason why you should have problems on this occasion.
That is good advice, Ron, I will open with something I feel comfortable playing, just hope my hands will respond. I liked your perspective of the audience made of a multiplicity of individuals. I will try to focus on one at the time. My greatest fear is that people won’t care for what I am playing, grow quickly bored… perhaps even yawn… maybe I should just close my eyes and avoid the danger of second-guessing what people are thinking, or worse saying while I play !! After all this is a party, not a concert, I should be prepared to see people coming and going, and chatting about their own thing while a provide “background” noise.
Thank At_Leo: Thank you for the encouragement. I will not ask anyone to record the event, that would be preposterously conceited for this amateur; should anyone film me, however, I hope not to notice the hidden camera, that would make me really edge-of-the-chair nervous.
Deniz: yes with those thoughts I will be a winner... lol  .
I commute (biweekly) between New York (where I practice law and teach) and San Francisco where we relocated our family five years ago… since i spend consitently two weeks on each coast, with that longest six hour flight separating me from my dear ones. I am seriously planning “consolidation” of my affairs somewhere in the nearest future.
_____________________________
gj Michelob
|
|
|
|
REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |
Date Apr. 5 2009 6:30:10
|
|
Jim Opfer
Posts: 1876
Joined: Jul. 19 2003
From: Glasgow, Scotland.
|
|
RE: .... I have a Gig !! (in reply to gj Michelob)
|
|
|
That's great news. Accepting the invitation was a brave act.
As Ron said, keep it simple and play something you are very comfortable with.
Make sure you go to see the venue and sit there for a while taking it all in, well in advance of the day.
It really helps to do this and run over the performance in your mind. Will it be evening and dark or will it be daylight and bright. What will you wear, will you feel comfortable, don't wear a jacket because that will perhaps feel strange holding your guitar, the buttons will vibrate off the back of your guitar and you won't notice until you have started playing etc. What will the audience be like, will it be formal or casual. If formal, it's really important you visualuize this well in advance. Remember, they will probably not expect too much with their minds on their children, so what you play will be unexpected and go down well.
Make sure and do a sound check and be happy with all the technical things. Nothing worse than playing with the feeling you are not being heard and having to force things out to be heard.
3rd May is my birthday and the best day of the year.
Cheers
Jim.
|
|
|
|
REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |
Date Apr. 5 2009 8:00:29
|
|
gj Michelob
Posts: 1531
Joined: Nov. 7 2008
From: New York City/San Francisco
|
|
RE: .... I have a Gig !! (in reply to Jim Opfer)
|
|
|
Thanks Ed and Aleksi, I look forward to it and to reporting how it will have turned out.
Thank you Jim, those are fine tips. It is an evening and formal affair, no kids; I have seen the venue before and heard other play. It is a sweet outdoor garden (but rain-proof covered) and gets quite dark, I should ask about lighting concerns. I‘ll ask to go and practice there the afternoon, a few hours before the event, and do a sound check.
I will stay clear of buttoned jackets, understandably unfit for the purpose, good point. A sweater however, in case it is the predictable chilly SF night.
My birthday is on May 27th and as an advanced gift I may get myself this amp to use for the gig(s)….
http://www.guitarcenter.com/Fishman-SoloAmp-PRO-AMP-SL1-Acoustic-Guitar-Combo-Amp-PA-Amplification-System-104986245-i1401135.gc
My May 3d and first gig ever (possibly the last one in SF county) will be dedicated to your birthday, Jim. It will bring me “Suerte”
_____________________________
gj Michelob
|
|
|
|
REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |
Date Apr. 5 2009 8:51:29
|
|
gato
Posts: 322
Joined: Jun. 9 2007
|
|
RE: .... I have a Gig !! (in reply to gj Michelob)
|
|
|
gj, just play with passion, and remember that each time that you play it is a cross section of your playing. You don't have to judge it before, while, or after you play. No performer can actually see the rapture that we experiance each time we pick up the guitar, until we first of all see beyond the looming sense of judgement that really isn't there anyway. You've played, you play, and you will play. It's as simple as that. We should know that our own senses and the power of perception vary each time we play. So our own judgement shouldn't get in the way. We always play our music, and that really doesn't change. It's as simple as that. Once you develop a healthy attitude you see this. So get out there and nail it!  And, have a wonderful time, and you know when you play for special people, it's even better, and if all people are special to you, you are quite a performer indeed. 'Great to hear about the Gig! Right on!
Gary
_____________________________
The Life Everlasting/Oswald Utopia
|
|
|
|
REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |
Date Apr. 6 2009 15:54:26
|
|
 New Messages |
 No New Messages |
 Hot Topic w/ New Messages |
 Hot Topic w/o New Messages |
 Locked w/ New Messages |
 Locked w/o New Messages |
|
Post New Thread
Reply to Message
Post New Poll
Submit Vote
Delete My Own Post
Delete My Own Thread
Rate Posts
|
|
|
Forum Software powered by ASP Playground Advanced Edition 2.0.5
Copyright © 2000 - 2003 ASPPlayground.NET |
7.421875E-02 secs.
|
Printable Version
go with the flow, mi amigo! unless something is really wrong, if you enjoy yourself they will too! 
i'm sorry for asking such a tough question. but i'm also really glad you worked through it. otherwise, it would be an annoying thought that would sit in the back of your head.