|
Miguel de Maria -> RE: I've been offered a gig (Jan. 6 2004 19:33:22)
|
This depends on the situation. Are you playing for a dinner crowd or is it a "concert-like" setting? Realize that unless this is set up where people are explicitly "supposed" to watch you, very few will. If it's a cocktail hour, people will mingle and tell jokes to each other; one or two people who don't have anything to say will probably watch you. If it's dinner, everyone will be absorbed with the meal. The bad news is that a 45 min. gig isn't going to launch you into the flamenco stratosphere with Tomatito, the good news is that it's a lot less pressure this way.
It's pretty well documented that 4/4 stuff works the best. People won't know what to make with siguriyas or maybe even bulerias. They will certainly like rumbas and columbianas better, but alegrias and guajiras would be nice, too.
The thing here is that you only have a month to prepare, I don't think you should entertain any thoughts about learning new repertoire. If you have hours of repertoire, then pick a nice mix, some melodic stuff and some rhythmic stuff. As much flamenco or classical as you want. But playing at a gig is different, for the great majority of people, than at the house. Something that you may think is easy and beneath you might seem real hard when people are watching and you get nervous. My advice is to put together an hour of material that is your best stuff, that you are absolutely comfortable with. Then spend the next month drilling on this stuff as much as possible, ironing out any rough spots. If possible, get it so you can play with your eyes closed, in a cold room, with a crowd of polka-loving clowns watching you.
If you were hired as a "flamenco guitarist," then make sure you play at least some flamenco, maybe to start with and a nice number to end. Play a sevillanas for sure. That will pretty much seal your obligation to do flamenco... in the end, you are what you are and don't try to be anything else.
|
|
|
|
