[Harp-L] Making LOW VOLUME work on a gig

[IcemanLE@xxxxxxx]

Most bands set up on "stage", look towards the audience as a separate  
entity, and then play AT them, working hard to get their attention and keep it.  
Loud volume is the cheap/easy way to force themselves on the audience.
 
Scarier is enticing the audience to join in the musical experience - this  
means you rely on actual talent to get across. Enticing the audience means  
treating them not as a separate entity, but as part of the whole experience. You  
want them to want to listen to you. Most importantly, you give them the choice 
 whether to listen to you or not.
 
One philosophical approach that has worked well for me is to get the band  to 
reconnect amongst themselves and play for their own enjoyment - as if they  
are acoustically jamming with each other - not for money, but for the joy  of 
creating, and creating in the comfort of their own living room. The only  
difference is, instead of getting together in their living room, they get  together 
at this venue on this stage. The audience becomes nothing more than a  few 
hundred personal friends who stop by the house to enjoy the music.
 
The result, when it works, is magic.
 
Try it - not once, but at least three times (to work out the bugs and relax  
into this idea). Too many attempt it once, half heartedly, and then are  
somewhat relieved to announce "This just doesn't work".
 
The Iceman



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