Re: [Harp-L] An illustrative story.

["ChipComcast" <jandkday@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

 My personal favorite was fellow who got up at Ava Faye's Open Mic and
proceeded to
'dip' his harp in his wine and then did an acoustic piece that was akin to
Cap't Nemo's
underwater wheeze fest.
(I wonder if he had dipped it in Jack Daniels would he be able to play
country music better?)

  My personal take is the audience will let you know pretty quick if they
are not
tanked themselves.

Two types of players evolve from the harmonica:
1) The techincally proficient talent who is an awesome side man.
2) The vocalist who comes with a song in his/her heart
and the harp is secondary on most tunes.

 Let them know but also a little tact goes a long way, choose the high road.

Jimmy Day

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "samblancato" <samblancato@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: "Harp-L" <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Friday, October 29, 2004 10:12 PM
Subject: [Harp-L] An illustrative story.


> Hi Folks,
>
> There have been several posts on this list about harp players' ability to
> behave themselves when playing out at jams or where ever, so that our
little
> instrument can rise in respect, the idea being that if you actually suck
at
> playing the harp and don't know enough musically about what you're doing
it
> all goes to contribute to the general public's being annoyed by the
> harmonica rather than being thrilled by it. In short, many harp players,
my
> self included, wish all beginning/intermediate players would try to get a
> good grip on what they are doing before venturing out to a live music
venue.
>
> I thought I'd share with you a couple of anecdotes that illustrate this -
> what do I call it? - 'ethic' a bit.  I recently went out with my
girlfriend
> to hear a blues band that is a favorite of mine in the area.  It had been
a
> while since I had heard them and I was surprised to see they had a new
front
> man doing vocals and harmonica.  In a word, he sucked.  This guy was
really
> torturing  his harp up there and I was amazed that this very professional
> band was putting up with it.  The overall effect was that he brought the
> whole band down (IMHO).  (Incidentally, he was using a Harp Commander, and
> now that I've heard one being used I don't think I'll be buying one. Maybe
> this was  not the best use of it though.)
>
> I also went out to a local jam recently where there were two other harp
> players veiing for stage time.  Now these guys *were* good players and so
I
> didn't mind waiting my turn in this situation; in fact their being there
> made the evening, and my playing, more enjoyable.  But I was thinking that
> if there had been someone there who really sucked at the harp it would
have
> made it far less fun and no, it wouldn't have made me sound better by
> comparison. It would have just made all 'harmonica activity' less
> appreciated.  So I can see why some contributors on this list come off
> sounding rather harsh in their chastising of their fellow players.  I'm
not
> perfect and I am definitely not a prodigy on the harmonica but I will say
> this:  I made sure I had a good idea of how to play with a band before I
> started playing out.  This was mostly to save my own but from
> embarrassment - I wasn't worried about doing honor to the harmonica or
> anything high minded like that.  But I do see where it's important to the
> harmonica community as a whole to try to be proficient before you go out
and
> bother other people with it.  So - this sounds really corny, I know- let's
> all try to do our instrument proud when we play for others to hear.  And
if
> you aren't really good yet maybe you should keep it at home for a while
> longer until you are.
>
> Sam Pittsburgh
>
> Sam Blancato, Pittsburgh
>
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