Re: [Harp-L] What IS a pro? (warning...long)



Jeez Phil, what a wonderful compliment. The New Yorker...man I'm stunned. I have been diligently reading the lists for years and to be quite honest, I am generally intimidated by all the talent on this list. These guys are harp BEASTS, and there isn't much for me to say of a technique nature. So, I like to slip in something now and then that's light and lively and won't be too controversial. Sometimes it works, sometimes I stick my foot in my mouth.

I've had a very unusual harmonica history filled with intrigue, mystery and disappointments. Sometimes I toss out a piece of it so that others might be cheered up.

smokey joe.........

On Jan 22, 2007, at 8:42 PM, Philharpn@xxxxxxx wrote:

Hey Joe, this is good enough to appear in the New Yorker. It's at least as funny some of the Calvin Trillin stuff I've been reading. Plus, it's about harmonica.

Phil Lloyd

In a message dated 1/22/07 3:20:00 PM, leone@xxxxxxxx writes:

Well, honestly I don't know, but I think it's anyone who shows PROficiency. A person can be a professional (such as a doctor) and although they may be 77th out of a class of 78, they are STILL a pro. Now, it seems to me that it would be a good idea to have that very fact posted on the wall of the doctor's office were it not for the fact that just because someone graduated at the top of their class doesn't mean they will be a better doctor. The 'lesser' graduate may try harder, study harder, and altogether keep abreast of the latest trends KNOWING that they started out with a proverbial cloud over their head.

Whereas the top graduate may rest on their laurels and  coast through
life, in much the same way that I coasted through high school.

Here's why I could never be a pro. When I was born it was raining.
Sept in the rain. It was raining bombs. I was born during an air
raid. I was always a light sleeper. The slightest sound (didn't have
to be actual noise) would wake me. You have heard of 20/20 vision,
15/20 vision, even 10/20 vision. I have the equiv of 5/20 hearing. If
I travel, I have to have my own goose feather pillow. Those floss and
lumpy foam pillows at the hotels & motels don't cut it for me. Even
if the hotel cost is $114.95 (or more) a night, the pillows are
cheap. MY pillows cost $100.oo

I can hear the ice machine even if it's halfway down the hall. If
someone buys a soft drink, I head it 'thud'. I can sometimes even
hear the coin(s) drop. I hear the whir of the elevator motor and the
obligatory 'bling' of the lighted service request button. I can't
stay with someone who snores. Ergo: I don't travel well. Being a pro
requires traveling. A LOT of traveling. I like to sleep in my own
bed. Having been a govt. brat. I had been to 11 grade schools, 3 high
schools, a trade school & and a Jr. college. I probably moved 23
times or more, but it was never one nighters and I would get used to
my bed. In the SeeBees, I was in a ship's compartment the size of a
two car garage. There were 2 dozen of us stacked 3 bunks high. When
we had Marines aboard, we were 36 stacked 4 bunks high. It was tough,
but I was always tired, so I survived.......barely.

Movement under my feet? I hate mushy stages. We're talking about
those black panels of plywood set in steel picture frames which can
be assembled and dis-assembled. They're 'supposed' to be made of
3/4" (19mm for our foreign friends) SEVEN ply BCD exterior glued
plywood. Such as used for poured concrete forms. Very very stiff
stuff. I have seen them in 5/8" (16mm) FIVE ply CDX plySCORD. Reminds
me of the time I was in construction and we were working on an
apartment building roof. A roof used to be 5/8" plywood on 16"
centered joists. Now they are 1/2" plySCORD on 24" centers (with
clips between the joists). Well, I went through a piece, through the
third floor, went through the cheap a$$ sub-flooring and down into
the second floor. Rolls of carpeting stopped my fall.......luckily.

When I had my 29' sailboat, I EXPECTED some movement. Rocking,
rolling, pitching, yawing, bobbing, but I knew what to expect, was
concentrating on the boat, and that was my job. If I try to play
harmonica and the ground is moving, it breaks my concentration, and
messes me up (psycologically).

I DON't like the ground to move when I'm walking on it. I must be
some sort of cat. Leone DOES (after all) mean Lion, so I guess I like
solid ground under my feet. This is why I cringe when I see a lot of
animation and jumping around. Might work for 'Cirque de Soliel', but
it bugs me.

So, that's it. Oh, and one more thing......to be a pro on HARP, you
have to be good.

smokey joe & the Cafe s (at the Windjammer)
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