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May 3, 2009 Happy Birthday Jim Opfer !!
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gj Michelob
Posts: 1531
Joined: Nov. 7 2008
From: New York City/San Francisco
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 May 3, 2009 Happy Birthday Jim Opfer !!
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May 3, 2009 HAPPY BIRTHAY Jim Opfer
Happy Birthday Jim.
There are many things, I am sure, you are proud of as you look back, but as you count your “gifts” today, do not neglect how your music inspired many, as it did inspire me.
For the many years to come…. Happiness, love, health, negra y blancas, and many new inventions of the coolest sounding flasetas.
And -with Bob Dylan:
May God bless you and keep you always,
may your wishes all come true,
may you always do for others what others do for you
may you build a ladder to the stars
and may you climb on every rod
may you stay….. Forever Young
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gj Michelob
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Date May 3 2009 5:30:09
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gj Michelob
Posts: 1531
Joined: Nov. 7 2008
From: New York City/San Francisco
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RE: May 3, 2009 Happy Birthday Jim O... (in reply to Jim Opfer)
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After I stood up, completed the last of 5 pieces and thanked by the warmest applause, the small hall was still spinning. I nodded gratefully to a few faces I noticed had attentively followed my performance. I received so many praises as I walked away from the stage. I lost my voice in an awkward effort to shout my gratitude to each one over the noise of the crowd which resumed socializing.
Yet, as all of you know, no praise matters… we know exactly how well or poorly we performed. However yet, this is an odd case. I could not hear my guitar at all. I played without the benefit of hearing any sound, whatsoever. I did it all by visual memory. Kept the tempo a dash slower than usual and dwelled on given notes knowing and hoping that a certain sustain followed, but have no idea if it did.
So my first gig was really hard. I did not enjoy my own playing, because I could not hear it, nor can I judge my playing for the same reason. I know I missed a couple of notes, but nothing egregiously noticeable.
I am left with praises I am not sure if out of courtesy or if sincerely expressing the incredulous surprise all seemed to experience and shared with me with keen affection and enthusiasm.
One final note: I had not played in public since I was 18. I forgot how infinitely wonderful the excitement can be, and am left yearning for more.
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gj Michelob
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Date May 4 2009 11:14:18
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Ron.M
Posts: 7051
Joined: Jul. 7 2003
From: Scotland
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RE: May 3, 2009 Happy Birthday Jim O... (in reply to gj Michelob)
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Well done gj!
Your last line put me in mind of The Band's song "Stagefright", which goes...
See the man with the stagefright,
Just standing up there to give it all his might.
He got caught in the spotlight,
and when he gets to the end, he wants to start all over again.
About the sound thing, I remember someone here saying that it's good to play your pieces through in a few different rooms in your house, other than your normal practise area, as the guitar always sounds different and that can be enough to throw your concentration when under pressure if you are inexperienced.
As an inexperienced player myself, I've noticed also that your mind tends to go blank and you just sort of play in autopilot and can't really remember too much about it afterwards!
cheers,
Ron
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Date May 5 2009 1:49:59
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gj Michelob
Posts: 1531
Joined: Nov. 7 2008
From: New York City/San Francisco
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RE: May 3, 2009 Happy Birthday Jim O... (in reply to Ron.M)
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quote:
Your last line put me in mind of The Band's song "Stagefright", which goes...
See the man with the stagefright,
Just standing up there to give it all his might.
He got caught in the spotlight,
and when he gets to the end, he wants to start all over again.
I remember that song and I too thought of it.
As to sound, I had all good intentions to buy an amplifier, but arrived in SF (from NY) the day before the performance and had no time. I think one should be familiar with the sound system before pointing a mic to his guitar.
Amongst the guests there was a sound engineer –who works for George Lucas- I saw him play with the volume and EQ nobs, and presumed he knew what he was doing. I remembered Jim writing that if one cannot hear his guitar then he would play harder, inevitably compromising the performance. So I closed my eyes and tried to remember the sound I heard during practice and how I achieved it, and kept it all as light as if playing in my room.
A tremendous learning experience, of course. And as the song goes….
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gj Michelob
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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |
Date May 5 2009 6:43:41
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