RE: [Harp-L] small crowds (was weirdest gig)

["Blake Taylor" <taylorb@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

OK.....um.....Cheerful...Gangsta Rap and Klezmer....A flat, B, and F....

I'd actually like to hear you try that.  Yeah, your version is for real
musicians, though.  We're just 30 something middle-class white dudes
with advanced degrees that try to play music on the side.  Hmmmmm.....
that might explain some of the crowds......

 - Blake

>>> "Chris Michalek" <Chris@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> 10/03/05 4:50 PM >>>

We've done similar things.  Pick a mood, pick two styles of music,
pick three notes, pick a title and then we write a song on the spot.
The three notes are the chord changes, we start in one style of music
and then move to another for the bridge.

People love it.


>
>
>
>---- Original Message ----
>From: taylorb@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
>Subject: RE: [Harp-L] small crowds (was weirdest gig)
>Date: Mon, 03 Oct 2005 15:53:48 -0400
>
>>
>>Any blues band in Cincinnati has to occasionally deal with
>depressingly
>>small crowds. I've always admired bands that can still "bring it"
>even
>>for a nearly empty house.  One of the things we have started doing
>is
>>something we call "Blues line is it anyway?" We break away from our
>>established setlist and ask the crowd  (sometimes the bartender when
>>there's even fewer people!) to suggest a topic - any topic. We then
>>improvise a full song (often humorous) based on whatever topic they
>>suggest.  Talk about a crowd pleaser and tip / drink getter. It's
>often
>>the highlight of the evening for both the band and the appreciative
>and
>>amused audience. Our regulars have even begun requesting that we do
>it.
>>We're considering making it part of our usual routine regardless of
>>crowd size. 
>>
>>What do the rest of you do to keep the spirits up on an off night
>>crowd-wise?
>>
>> - Blake
>>_______________________________________________
>>Harp-L is sponsored by SPAH, http://www.spah.org
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>>http://harp-l.org/mailman/listinfo/harp-l
>>

Chris Michalek

www.michalekstrone.com
CD Available
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/michalekstrone