Re: [Harp-L] Re: who do you play for

["Haka Harri" <harri.haka@xxxxxxxx>]

Hi Jim and all of you on Harp-L,

That is a great example of what it's all about. I agree that this has been a great thread. In what I do for a living we focus first and foremost on the customer. Likewise in musical live performances, at least in my mind, most inmportant is the audience, be it one person or a full arena.

Thanks everybody for another year of interesting reading and lots of help in learning more about this fascinating instrument and music in general. Merry Christmas to all of you harp lovers.

Harri
Finland


> Great thread, great comments from all. Here is my $0.02 worth...
>    
>   One thing I had to learn was to take compliments 
> graciously. Resist the temptation to tell the complimentor 
> how badly you played. The truth is that unless you REALLY 
> screw it up most of the audience has no idea. They don't know 
> what you intended to play. Just smile and say thanks. 
>    
>   I do feel a little funny when people come up after I play 
> and tell me how great I was and that I'm the best harp player 
> they've ever heard. Have they never heard a GOOD player? I'm 
> intermediate at best and I have to just bite my tongue and 
> smile and say thanks. I have an overwhelming urge to go get a 
> Sonny Boy or Little Walter CD and make them listen to it!
>    
>   Who do I play for? Last week my duo (guitar and harmonica) 
> played at a coffee shop. It was nearly empty all night. Hard 
> to stay motivated playing to an empty house. The door to the 
> outside was open and at one point a guy came in to tell me he 
> heard us playing 'Doolin Dalton' by the Eagles and that he 
> loves the song and really enjoyed it. That's the person I was 
> playing for.
>    
>   Jim McBride