Re: Introverted Gussing

[Grant Dermody <gdermody@xxxxxxxxx>]

I meant to reply all with this but goofed, oops, we'll
try again.
There are behaviors, actions, and attitudes that have
given and continue to give harmonica players a bad
name among musicians. It's best, in my opinion, to
avoid them all. Gussing counts.
Grant
- --- fmeek@xxxxxxxxxxxxx wrote:
> 
> Ear of the beholder, I suppose.
> 
> I was recently at a large and well-known harmonica
> event which hosted several nights of harmonica
> music.  A gentleman in the audience repeatedly
> pulled out his chromatic to figure out the key of
> songs being played.  He was attempting to play very
> quietly, I guess, but he was still heard several
> feet away, even over the amplified sound.  I'm a
> pretty easy going guy, but I kept getting distracted
> from the musical event by this man's note sampling
> and I kept hoping that he would stop.  His enjoyment
> of the event might have been increased but mine was
> decreased (others' too, based on the glances being
> shot at him).
> 
> It seems that out-of-place notes travel over air
> much better than correct ones.
> 
> Perhaps a good rule-of-thumb would be "when in
> doubt, lay out-- or at least step out of audible
> range for others who might not enjoy your activity".
> 
> Having said that, I describe myself as an
> out-of-earshot gusser.  I step away and really
> smother the harp in my hands to keep the sound to
> myself and not attract notice.  I hope I'm accurate
> in my assessment.
> 
> Regards,
> Frank
> 
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: IcemanLE@xxxxxxx [mailto:IcemanLE@xxxxxxx]
> > Sent: Tuesday, September 23, 2003 07:30 PM
> > To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
> > Subject: Introverted Gussing
> > 
> > In my formative years, I was an Introverted
> Gusser. 
> > 
> > At a show, like a Siegal-Schwall concert, I would
> pull out the correct 
> > harmonica and play along with the band. However,
> as an Introverted Gusser, I never 
> > tried to be heard. I would play quiet enough so as
> not to interfere with the 
> > enjoyment of those around me, oftentimes with one
> finger in my ear to better 
> > hear myself. I would never push to the front of
> the crowd to play up at the band.
> > 
> > My purpose was in learning - not to draw attention
> to myself.
> > 
> > 
> > The Iceman
> > 
> > 
> 
> 
> --
> Harp-l is sponsored by SPAH, http://www.spah.org
> Hosted by ValuePricehosting.com,
http://www.valuepricehosting.com


__________________________________
Do you Yahoo!?
Yahoo! SiteBuilder - Free, easy-to-use web site design software
http://sitebuilder.yahoo.com