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Mark2 -> RE: First gig (Feb. 5 2016 17:35:38)
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Congrats on your first gig playing flamenco.
1. you are correct IMO and same for 2.
When you play in a cuadro, or play in a "flamenco group" it's more like playing in a group doing jazz or whatever.
3. flamencos are focused on compas, and losing it will ruin a performance, but non aficionado audiences might be more likely to notice flubbed notes than adding two or three extra beats in bulerias.
4. Personal choice, but for me none is usually the right amount. For me what has worked the best was the knowledge that I had a command of what I planned on doing. Uncertainty of my ability to execute, along with better players in the audience, is what caused the most stress for me.
5. Not necessarily. Repetition does lead to comfort, but there is always the chance that you will take a gig that puts you way outside your comfort zone, and that could easily be more challenging than your first gig. My first solo gig was a huge mental challenge, but when I look back at almost forty years of doing gigs, that one doesn't come close to the scariest.
For me anyway.
I can add that having your gear sorted is very important for newbies to gigging. Having strings broken in and stretched, but not old, is huge.
Any mics, cables, amps you need to deal with should be tested before and ready to go. Having extra strings, cables, extension cords, etc, could save you from panic when something goes wrong.
Also consider if the chair you are going to have made available is suitable. You could show up to a gig and they only have a tall stool, which might be fine if you are used to playing while sitting in one, but it could also be a huge pain if you are not.
quote:
ORIGINAL: julianev
Last night I did my first ever flamenco gig - it was extreme fear levels in the run-up to the event, but an amazing buzz on the night and into today for having got the first one in the bag! Some things I wish I knew a week ago:
1. Your ability to wing it musically is reset to zero when you start learning flamenco.
2. Compared to other styles of music e.g. playing in a band, there is nowhere to hide. That means you need the musical equivalent of emergency slip roads at the high risk/most challenging points to manage the situation non-catastrophically if it starts going wrong.
3. As long as you don't break compas, you've got a good chance of being able to steer back on track and getting away with it in terms of the audience noticing.
4. Correct dosage with alcohol is critical :-). We did a sober rehearsal Thursday which was a sausage-fingered nightmare: the pending apprehension pretty much killed my ability to play. A few drinks on the big night, and the fluidity mostly returned (thank God!)
5. Now the first one is in the bag, nothing will be that scary again!
Anyone got anything else to add to that list for those new to playing out?
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