Subject: [Harp-L] Audience response

[EGS1217@xxxxxxx]

Hi Robert:
 
Since you're at SPAH I believe you're talking about one or  more 
performances either at the Blow-Off or during an evening  performance?
 
 
Let me explain it this way since it's your first SPAH: even the top pro  
players still find it intimidating to appear in front of an audience of  their 
peers. Ask any of them: they know THAT audience in particular can hear  
what a typical audience cannot so it makes even the tiniest flub or error 
hugely  magnified (at least in their minds). Conversely, a good performance in 
front of  such a 'critical' audience can be considered even better than it 
actually would  be 'on the outside'. As one brilliant player told me: I know 
that in that  audience are people who can do everything I can do--only better, 
and  they've been doing it far longer. Of COURSE I'm nervous! 
 
 
It also just might be that the person playing is held in immense  respect 
by his/her peers, is very well known by the other members there and/or  has 
something 'else' going on in his/her life about which you have no idea, so  
the applause could be given for the added courage it took to get up on  that 
stage to play - even 'adequately'. Possible?
 
 
SPAH isn't about showing off or 'fresh, new and difficult'. The BEST part  
of SPAH is in the connections and camaraderie--the friendship and bonding, 
and  even in the ordinary playing of those who might never have gotten 
onstage  before. 
 
 
Elizabeth
 
"Message: 1
Date: Thu, 16 Aug 2012 16:49:45 -0500
From: Robert Hale  <ynfdwas@xxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [Harp-L] Audience response
To: harp-L  list <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>

What is it that brings an audience to  their feet, cheering for a harp solo 
that was adequately done, but not  particularly fresh, new, or difficult?

Robert@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx from my  iPhone