[Harp-L] Subject: Re: Harp-L Digest, Vol 59, Issue 8 /Was Sydel/ Now Stage Fright

[EGS1217@xxxxxxx]

Thanks for that, Richard...it's going to help me a lot too..if and when I  
finally manage to get myself out on a stage. I've gotten all sorts of good  
advice on Slidemeister too, but it's nice to hear that brilliant performers  such 
as Red Skelton who slayed his audience, could be so filled with stage  fright 
before a performance that he actually got sick...wow.
 
I'm not quite that bad. I simply lose all my air which makes it practically  
impossible to play, then.   SmoJoe's told me he gets ill..to the point  where 
he really didn't want to accept some offers to perform at conventions,  since 
he thought he might let down not only the audience, but the people who  wanted 
him to play..and as a friend and huge fan of his, I've been trying to  talk 
him out of his 'staying back in the audience' attitude.  He's such a  great 
player, whenever anyone hears him their ears perk up and they inevitably  ask 
'just who is that' who is playing. 
 
THAT to me, is the sign of someone 'out of the ordinary'. Aren't many  around 
with that ability...actually Jason and you both fall into that category  
too...along with some others I know from the conventions: Phil  Caltabellotta, 
Jimmy Gordon, Joe Filisko, Jimmy Conway, Rosco, Cara Cooke,  Madcat...Wally 
Peterman, the aforementioned Paul Davies....quite a few other  people...who 
immediately make my head turn when they play...
 
 I don't want to name everyone I feel that way about for fear of  leaving out 
some other great players I like ...but with hundreds of people  attending,  
those who stand out are in the minority and are to be  encouraged and 
cherished....even some who aren't making a living playing  harmonica, or who might 
still be considered at amateur level.  
 
It's like a good voice..hearing someone who is distinct and 'different'  
..'recognizable' ...they are few and far between, so are the ones who should be  
encouraged and promoted, to my mind....even if they're hiding what might be a  
serious case of stage fright.
 
I so envy those who feel comfortable and natural onstage and in front of an  
audience.  Wonder how one ever gets that way.
 
By the way...I believe I'm finally going to buy a device which will  
transpose all of the footage I took from last year's SPAH performances onto  DVD's.  
At that point I will either snail-mail or email copies to the  performers for 
their approval before giving them to SPAH or  posting them anywhere else, and 
for their files...but will probably be  quite a while after this SPAH before I 
can finish it all  up. 
 
 I did catch most, if not all of your performance as well...but with  the 
camera I used, I haven't been able to play it back since..I have a new DVD  
videocamera for this year..and once I get things done properly, hopefully I'll  
have something good for you..as well as the last second playing (awaiting your  
ride to the airport) with Jason outside with him practicing his first attempts  
at chord playing.  It was impromptu and quite brilliant.
 
I apologize for the long delay, but have been dealing with an injury which  
has set me back, some.
 
Elizabeth
 
Message: 11
Date: Sat, 05 Jul 2008 10:06:44 -0400
From: Richard  Hunter <turtlehill@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [Harp-L] Re: Harp-L Digest,  Vol 59, Issue 8
To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
Message-ID:  <486F7FF4.2020200@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Content-Type: text/plain;  charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

Joe Leone wrote:
<Actually, I am  better as a guest or last minute add in. Before I play
<told Paul Davies I couldn't go  on. Tall Paul (MR. diplomacy that he
<is) talked me out of it, and I  finally did go on.

Red Skelton had a weekly live variety show on TV for  something like 10 
years, and before every single taping, he threw up. Then  he'd go out 
and do an hour of brilliant comedy. I doubt the audience ever  knew that 
performing was so nerve-wracking for him.

If you're not  nervous before you perform, you're not paying attention. 
Not paying  attention is more dangerous to the quality of the performance 
than a case of  nerves.

Regards, Richard Hunter
hunterharp.com
harmonica blog at  http://myspace.com/richardhunterharp
Latest mp3s always at  http://broadjam.com/rhunter


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