Please help,(MY FIRST GIG!!!!!!!!!!!!)

Costs are rising and times are tough.
Please consider a donation to keep this
place going.

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.

You are logged in as Guest

Users viewing this topic: none

Printable Version

All Forums >>Discussions >>General >>

Page: [1]

Message

<< Newer Topic Older Topic >>

miguel

Posts: 56
Joined: Apr. 20 2004

Please help,(MY FIRST GIG!!!!!!!!!!!!)

Yes thats right. I'VE GOT A GIG(in a concert hall as well

)!!!!!

i'm excited,scared and happy

.

anyway its my first gig ever(remember im young) and its quite short, just a couple tunes and i'm outta there.

What i need help with is falsetas. I plan on playing por Buleria(with singer) and por fandangos naturales(with singer) and i am looking for some nice 1970-1975 Paco y Camaron falsetas.

Also any hints on getting past stage fright and accompanying "el cante" would be much appreciated.

Many kindly Thanks
Miguel

p.s The singer is a friend, not the best but i cant complain.

_____________________________

<<No hay música más rica ni más viva en todo europa>> ---Manuel de Falla---

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 15 2004 7:56:17

sonikete

Posts: 735
Joined: Jan. 9 2004
From: Sweden

RE: Please help,(MY FIRST GIG!!!!!!!... (in reply to miguel)

Por bulerias would suggest that you just do something simple that swings and you feel really comfortable with, a lot of beginners try to pull off too difficult falsetas that might work at home but are too hard to play clean live and if you are too worried about what you are going to play its going to distract the accompaniment of the singer which should be where the focus should be.

I found the best way of getting rid of the worst nervousness is to be really prepared and work as much as possible with the singer as you possibly can before the gig so you feel that you are 'one' with him/her and feel really loose and comfortable. And if you are having fun when you rehearse its going to be fun on stage as well.

Good luck!

/patric

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 15 2004 16:07:50

Miguel de Maria

Posts: 3532
Joined: Oct. 20 2003
From: Phoenix, AZ

RE: Please help,(MY FIRST GIG!!!!!!!... (in reply to miguel)

Miguel,
congrats, you have a great experience in front of you. I would counsel you to avoid Paco and play Ramon instead. Play something simple, play it with perfect compas and feeling. This will be much better than searching through Paco to find things that don't have ultra-fast picado and choosing something that seems impressive. This is not a time to show off, but to play music. So play something easy, and play it well.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 15 2004 16:14:56

Jamey

Posts: 187
Joined: Jul. 7 2004
From: Winnipeg, Canada

RE: Please help,(MY FIRST GIG!!!!!!!... (in reply to miguel)

quote:

Also any hints on getting past stage fright and accompanying "el cante" would be much appreciated.

A glass of red wine 10 minutes beforehand (that is, you finish the glass 10 minutes beforehand) and just try to relax. Know that most in the audience have no idea what you're doing and will think everything is fine regardless. Be sure to be sufficiently warmed up prior to performing as well. Also, don't do it on an empty stomach, your head will get foggy due to low blood sugar and you'll be easily frustrated and flustered.

Know what you're going to play inside and out. If you can play your pieces "on auto pilot", few things will give you more confidence than that. Confidence will keep you calm and focused.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 16 2004 4:43:10

miguel

Posts: 56
Joined: Apr. 20 2004

RE: Please help,(MY FIRST GIG!!!!!!!... (in reply to miguel)

quote:

play Ramon

I like that alot!!!

quote:

A glass of red wine 10 minutes beforehand

Man the way i feel i'll need a bottle of Russian Vodka.

By the way, dont interpret me as being cocky, i dont mean to seam that way. (i am really shy)
I just need to play something in between the verses, not too long or hard.

many thanks
miguel

_____________________________

<<No hay música más rica ni más viva en todo europa>> ---Manuel de Falla---

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 16 2004 8:01:06

Jon Boyes

Posts: 1377
Joined: Jul. 10 2003

RE: Please help,(MY FIRST GIG!!!!!!!... (in reply to miguel)

Miguel - take heed of the other Miguel's advice, its very important. Always gig with material well below your current level of playing. Material that you have just about got under your belt is no good.

One of the best ways to combat nerves is by getting used to playing front of people. Before I started giggging, I had BIG problems with nerves - couldn't even play in front of my family without going to pieces.

So you have to practice playing in front of people, so that is it is no more stressful than drinking a cup of tea. There are lots of pyschological tricks you can do to help with this (See 'The Inner Game of Music' for a whole book on the subject). But here are some suggestions:

Pick up your guitar and play to someone at EVERY opportunity. Keep a guitar in your living room and when someone comes to visit, ask if they'd mind of you play them a quick tune.

Play to your family and friends at every opportunity.

Go out and busk, anything to get that experience.

When you practice at home and you are about to run through some falsetas, close your eyes first and visualise a room full of people waiting for you to start playing.

Imagine the neighbours are listening closely every time when you practice.

Record your practice sessions.

Get the picture? anything that simulates the performance experience is helpful, because practicing performing is just as important as practicing the material.

When you do the gig, don't see it as the 'end of the line' where everything stands or falls. See it as a practice session for your NEXT gig, when you will play even better.

Expect to make mistakes, you will, but laugh them off and realise that for every ten mistakes you make, the audience will probably notice one. No-one knows your stuff like you do.

HTH.

Jon

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 17 2004 8:50:24