Re: [Harp-L] Relaxing while playing (response to Joe)
Hard to believe Joe,
I sort of imagined you as a fire-and-brimstone style preacher layin' it down in no uncertain terms. A one man scorched earth policy.
Oh well, I guess if you REALLY got Sinatra to do it your way, then that's good enough.
Doug H
----- Original Message -----
From: joe leone
To: Harp L Harp L
Sent: Tuesday, June 29, 2010 4:45 PM
Subject: Re: [Harp-L] Re: Relaxing while playing
I think that in line with this subject, the word anxiety should be
mentioned. Now if it were 19 years ago and I went to my first spah, I
could have played. I was better back then. In fact I DID play, and
every subsequent spah. But only open mic. So what am I talking about?
Well, back when no one knew me, it would have been just like down
here where I play. No one would know me and I wouldn't be too
anxious. I have played instruments other than harmonica. But I am
playing to people who are (basically) NOT musicians, and especially
not harmonica players.
True story. I actually get sick before I play an audience of
harmonica players. It was a couple of years ago and I was on stage
about to start my part of the evening show and just then who comes
and sits down in the front row right in front of me? Peter the mad
cat Ruth. Ok, if not for the fact that I had taken a muscle relaxant
(nerve pill), I would have frozen up solid. But somehow I got through
my 6-7 tunes. They're the ones on you tube.
The crowd requested an encore. So I butchered through that. They
asked for ANOTHER...but I was too frazzled. I had to get out of
there. So when I escape to the hall. who pulls me aside and wants me
to listen to his rendition of 'Buddy can you spare a dime'. None
other than Peter the cat in the hat Ruth. First of all I was very
honored that he would choose ME to hear his new rendition, and
secondly, he gave me a chance to catch my breath, settle down, and
let the butterflies fly.
Maybe it's just me but playing for an audience OF harmonica players
is really the height of anxiety, BUT then again, those people are
there because they LOVE harmonica, and chances are they aren't going
to chew your head off. I suppose the thing that scares me is that
since I am no shrinking violet when it comes to voicing my opinion
(s), that I just assume that everyone is as blunt as I am. And
that's scary.
smokey-joe & the Cafe s (some say he got Sinatra to do it HIS way)
( the sun comes up late on Sept. 10...just in case his birthday party
goes late).
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