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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