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 am hopefully going to be attending a Paco Pena concert held at the university I study at. I was thinking of taking my guitar with me to the concert and politely asking for an autograph (I will get a marker with me and try to get him to sign the actual top / soundboard). The questions are:
1- Does Paco usually do such things? Does anyone know if he minds? Has anyone attended a concert of his and asked him for such a thing (or seen him do that for someone) and he accepted?
2- Does he speak English or only Spanish? If he only speaks Spanish, then how do I ask him (politely) to autograph my guitar in Spanish?
3- What sort of marker should I use for him to write on my guitar? Anything special, or just a normal water-proof, permanent marker?
4- Should I go after the concert or get to the hall very early, and ask him before the concert begins? (does he usually arrive early to maybe set up the sound system or something like that?)
5- I have two guitars: a Hohner (USD $80) and a Ramirez R1 (USD $600). I was thinking of taking my cheaper one since I still have hope that one day, PdL might visit Lebanon for a concert, and I'll have him autograph my expensive (better) one (don't know if PdL does stuff like that either). What do you think?
If there are any other things I need to know about this matter, please let me know. I don't want to ask him and have him smash my guitar into pieces over my head out of anger. Thanks tons!
Here's some answers (bearing in mind I knew him a long time ago).
1. Yeah, I think I have an autographed programme somewhere. I've seen him often meet folk after the concert No trouble, (unless he's changed since.)
2. He speaks VERY good English.
3. Don't know.
4. In my experience, Paco absolutely HATED to be disturbed just before a concert or during the interval. When the concert is over he is much more relaxed and friendly.
5. Don't know.
cheers and good luck!
Ron
_____________________________
A good guitar might be a good guitar But it takes a woman to break your heart
sounds like a good way to RUIN a guitar, IMO. Its not gonna make you play any better... unless you get motivated somehow by his signature. It reminds me of Manitas De Plata who used to play a guitar autographed by some famous artist. But at least Paco is worthy of such veneration...
btw, I would use the cheap $80 guitar
Jb
_____________________________
¡Si esto no está en compas, esto no es el Flamenco!
sounds like a good way to RUIN a guitar, IMO. Its not gonna make you play any better... unless you get motivated somehow by his signature. It reminds me of Manitas De Plata who used to play a guitar autographed by some famous artist. But at least Paco is worthy of such veneration...
I have to agree with JBash on this one. Why not have him autograph a CD? I cringe everytime I see an autographed guitar. Unless, it's a very cheap model.
Ramzi, I think the best way to show your adoration/appreciation for PP is to learn to play some of his falsettas. I'm sure if you go to the concert, and ask him to sign your guitar, he will probably agree to do it. But I think he'd respect you more if you blew him away with your version of "Riomar", "Solquema" or something off the "Azahara" album.
Jb
_____________________________
¡Si esto no está en compas, esto no es el Flamenco!
I used to feel that way, and still do about my own guitars. But it seems popular nowadays for the young players in Spain to get "Paco de Lucia" above the fingerboard, and "Tomatito" below it, on their main working Conde guitars. Saw it on guitars by Diego del Morao, Jesus de Rosario, and this guy who came with Sara Baras last week, Jose Carlos Gomez I think?
I saw PDL sign some rock dude's Fender strat, which I thought was really dumb at the time. I guess if you plan to NEVER sell the guitar, and just keep for sentimental value. To me a photo or CD is much better idea. OH, and I don't recommend subjecting any player to hearing their own music RIGHT after they just gave a concert! It is not like they are suddenly going to hire you based on your version of Mediterranean Sundance, and finish out the tour with you as second guitar. If you simply play badly, you are torchering the poor guy with his own music. If you play even BETTER than the guy did that night, you are torchering the poor guy still. I would never do it unless asked.
I would not see anything wrong with giving a famous artist a demo CD of your playing or something less imposing, or to a manager or band memeber, which they can toss in the trash bin behind the theatre if they choose!
Thanks a lot guys. This forum is so great. You are all so interactive. I love the fact that you reply quickly.
I guess the general atmosphere is negative concerning the whole autographing issue, and I'm not a good enough guitarist (I guess) to learn one of his pieces and play it in front of him. Even if I were, I guess my hands would just clench up at the mere thought of the performance anxiety itself.
I only have one of his CDs (the one where he does his own renditions of many Nino Ricardo pieces, and other stuff... forgot the title though). I am not a great fan of his, but his playing is awesome (judging from the youtube videos). Very clean technique even though he uses the IMO annoying traditional flamenco seating position. I just wanted to go to the concert because I got a 50% discount being a student at the university he is playing at (thus the priciest ticket that was worth $55 cost me $27.5), plus the concert is being held right next door to my house (I live very close to the university), plus, I haven't gone to a "real" flamenco concert yet (I've attended many free classical guitar recitals, and some jazz and Brazilian music concerts - I've played in several "flamenco" concerts with my teacher and some of his students where we played some tangos, alegrias, bulerias, tarantas, soleares, farrucas, and mostly rumbas, but that is definitely not up to Paco Pena standards!).
So that is basically it. Besides, I am a "pseudo-OCD" person, so I guess looking at my guitar every time and noticing that there is an autograph on one side (had I actually gone through with it and had him autograph it) but not symmetrically on the other side would have just driven me nuts!!
I don't know about Paco, but I would personally never sign a hohner guitar.
lol, yes it is pretty funny... I would be too embarassed to even admit to Paco that I own a Hohner! That said, I DO own a VERY good hohner electric guitar.
Ramzi, if PP lets you play a song for him, do the best thing you can play competently. It doesn't really matter what it is, as long as you enjoy it and show him that you are a serious aficionado. he's not gonna give you a job, but he just might see that you have something in common with him.
But I doubt he has time to hear his fans play...
Jb
_____________________________
¡Si esto no está en compas, esto no es el Flamenco!
but not symmetrically on the other side would have just driven me nuts!!
Well, you could keep in the case until PDL comes to town. But then if he signs it, he will say "hey, where is Tomatito's signature??". In which case you will have to get as well someday, but then again it will be off balance.
I got some Paco Pena autograph somewhere around here, he seemed like a nice guy.
I am sure he would be flatered to sign it.
but... people might look at you a litlle odd in the theatre u know during the performance, carring a guitar case just hope the security guard hasent just seen Deperado...
Ricardo ... how was Sara Baras ? how was the Guitarist ? did u socialise with them after ?
Trust me Flo, I am nowhere near a Desperado-like appearance (but I do play a mean Cancion del Mariachi - except for the fast picado run in the solo ). One glance at me, and they would directly know that I am a nerdy student that just wants to hassle PP for an autograph after the concert.
Now back to neuroanatomy!! AAAAhhh, I feel like I wanna practice some picado, but I have to inhibit my corticospinal tract (you see what I mean?).
how was the Guitarist ? did u socialise with them after ?
Hi. I did not socialize, I was really hungry and "poured out the theatre with the masses looking for the Pub and Grub" or something as Ron put it.
I love Sara Baras because she and her dancers do super tight and clear rhythms. Nothing too fancy with tons of cortes. I prefer that style, although I know many aficionados think of it as "flashy footwork", crowd pleasing stuff, but I like when footwork takes me for a ride.
As per usually guitars were not as loud as I would like. JM Banderas to me is the superior player by far, but his mic was only 40% of the the other guy, who was good too,, but was doing the extra strong rasgueos to be heard noticeably louder than Banderas. Really annoying when Banderas played falsetas. They gave him enough volume during Zambra so he could do improv solo. But the music was different arrangements by Banderas, Gomez, Montoya (the guitarist who played with sara before) and others. It was a mix, mainly traditional format with modern falsetas of course. I liked the whole show, it was dedicated to her Mother. Everything was tight and good, just wish Banderas was given a chance to shine more like he did in Mariana Pineda.
My guess is the other guy Gomez was "trusted" more as a baile accomp. so they gave him more volume. But we have talked about what happens when you get two "lead" guitars.
I caught PDL on his way out of the theater, and got him to sign a program/picture. I think I tossed it LOL! He was very nice though, much nicer than his manager. Just try not to overburden or inconvenience these guys too much. To me flamenco players aren't famous enough to warrent me bothering them for autographs. I got a few autographs but I just don't bother anymore. I'd rather have an autographed picture of Arnold Shcwartzeneger smoking a cigar while flexing his bicep.
Banderas is great, Mariana Pineda's music is so special and different, it really opened my eyes to him.
I got Carlos Gomez cd, was surprissed to learn he was with Sara, since his cd is ok but it seems a litlle more traditional for what Sara has had in the past, eg. Rosario, Ramon etc.
my absolute fav Sara soundtrack is from Juana la loca with Rosario
i like Sara as a dancer, for some reson many of the flamenco dancers here kind of see her as the female version of Joaquin Cortes for some reason, dont know why. Personnally i think she could be more like him and follow his wardrobe on stage would make me very happy.
dont know much about Montoya but he was in Juana la Loca so he must be great.
At the end of the day, I've shook hands with many famous and wonderful guitarists, (didn't wash for a week) and the magic somehow didn't transfer. Only through your own efforts can you play what you hear in your head. That's my view anyway.
cheers
Ron
_____________________________
A good guitar might be a good guitar But it takes a woman to break your heart
I hate to ruin the "perfect ending" that Ron posted to this thread, but Flo, yes it is the same Desperado that we both watched. Cancion del Mariachi is the theme song (that I guess everyone knows) Antonio Banderas (Desperado himself) sings during the first 2 or 3 minutes of the movie (where he is "playing" a black guitar and has two mariachis accompanying him).
hehe i know i was kidding, i havent seen it in a long time i cant acctualy remember the song but how fast can it be if the wrong Banderas is playing it
Flo, I think the CD you have is the one of Juan Carlos Gomez, not Jose Carlos Gomez who plays with Baras. Sadly, he doesn't have a solo cd. He was mentioned in a recent article on flamenco-world along with Banderas, Dani Mendez and Diego del Morao as guitarists that everyone hopes will have their own albums soon. Here he is:
Printable Version
). One glance at me, and they would directly know that I am a nerdy student that just wants to hassle PP for an autograph after the concert. 
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