Re: [Harp-L] re: Zen Harmonica
Well, I dont play the harmonica but I'm a big fan. From a fan's perspective,
I think its far more entertaining to see the harp player having fun up on
stage. The first person who comes to mind is a Chicago harp player named Dan
Beaver. He plays and tours with John Primer and his band. Dan is so much fun to
watch. He's really quite a humble fellow. It's not an ego thing. It seems
very natural and fun. He looks like he's truly having a great time. He brings
energy to the stage. He's fairly young and has an infectious smile on stage.
He smiles and points to people in the audience and just has fun, but he
doesn't over do it either. Especially if someone like Buddy Guy pops up on stage
with him. He knows when to have fun and at the same time be respectful to the
other musicians. He's truly a ray of light in theses dark blues clubs. The
audience feels that, and responds to it and everyone has fun.
Another guy I really was mesmerized by was Joe Asselin from The Kilborn
Alley Blues Band. If you're not familiar with them, they were nominated for Best
New Artist Debut at the 2007 BMA's. Joe is pretty young too. The whole band
is fairly young, especially in blues years, but you wouldn't know it if you
heard them. Anyway, Joe is a bit more serious on stage than Dan Beaver, I just
spoke of... but he moves around to the music and really gets into it too. And
he's the best dressed one on stage. He was amazing to watch. Honestly I sat
there with my mouth opening, watching him thinking "Wow"
Your stage presence, or whatever you want to call it, is more important to
the fans than you may think. You could be a fabulous harp player but as a fan,
I won't be as entertained watching you if you are a mannequin, no matter how
good you are. I want the whole package:)
Just one little Brat's opinion...
Chicago Brat
Knowledge is Power
www.myspace.com/chi_brat
www.myspace.com/rufrecords
PS Randy, Don't worry... our kids, God kids, they will think everything we
do is dorky! Don't take it personally.
>>In a message dated 5/15/2007 12:51:10 P.M. Central Standard Time,
mfugazzi67@xxxxxxxxx writes:
I like Ice's advice.
I've found moving around on stage to be very
distracting for me. I know that it is much easier for
me to drop the ego when I have my focus. That usually
means I am not moving around.
I one time read a book about how some use moving
around as a crutch to making music. I used to stand
pretty still out of nerves. Especially when I first
started gigging. Then I went through a stage where I
thought I should make sure I was moving around a lot.
Then, as I started to "get it", in terms of harp
playing, I went back to standing still (now with
confidence and some convivtion).
I also think that the more elaborate I play something,
the harder it is to play it well if my body isn't
focused. When I catch myself in the zone, or reflect
back on that experience, my body is definetly still.
Not Derek Trucks still, but close. I can't find my
space by dancing around. I don't even tap the beat
with my feet anymore. I am probably pretty boring to
watch.
When I am not playing, I'll actually try to engage in
some standing meditation. But then again, when the
harp isn't in my mouth I also need to work the crowd.
If my ego is getting to me, I'll stop, close my eyes,
and focus on my breathing. That always help. I find
it very easy to find the space and groove when not
playing. Now doing that with the whole time the harp
is in my mouth...
However, to each his own. It is not the means that is
important. Ice offers a great place to start, but I
can't disagree with others' results from moving to the
music. That is a personal thing.
Mike
> --- In harp-l-archives@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx,
> BiscuitBoy714@... wrote:
>
>
> Let me be a country boy for a minute. (I'm missin'
> KY today) 'Aint
> this one
> o dem "if you gotta ask, you'll never know kinda
> thangs'? I can't be
> onstage
> without movin' to the music. I even went so far as
> to give tribute to
> James
> Brown at a Rib Fest one time before I realized what
> I was doin'. You
> know that
> foot slide thing he did? My Godson told me it
> looked corny, so I told
> him
> "yea but it felt so good and all the old people in
> the crowd knew
> what I was
> doin'." When in doubt, hang with the bass player
> and get off on the
> groove.
> That's my way of doin' it.
> Randy
> BiscuitBoy Blues
>
> In a message dated 5/15/2007 9:30:06 A.M. Eastern
> Daylight Time,
> rainbowjimmy@... writes:
>
>
> Iceman wrote:
> "When in a state of "not playing" on stage, relax,
> let the arms hang at
> your sides, and consciously (at first) force
> yourself to become an
> active
> listener who really enjoys what is going on
> musically."
>
> Absolutely. And if you want, you can dance.
>
> Rainbow Jimmy
> http://www.spaceanimals.com
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