Blog - occasional, random thoughts on music - June 2015
Notes on performing
1.6.2015
When I started playing in public for the first time - in the mid-1960s - the venues that I chose were folk clubs, first in the north of England, then in London. Without over-simplifying matters, in those days there were two routes the budding guitarist could take: as a performer on acoustic guitar in folk clubs, or as an electric guitarist in a band playing in clubs and pubs. I bought an acoustic guitar, so the folk club was my first choice. Later on, as I hooked up with other musicians and played in various bands both acoustic and electric, I spent a lot of time playing in folk clubs, working mens' clubs, pubs, etc., in the early days, and latterly in sessions and for functions such as weddings and birthdays.
The folk club scene in the 1960s and '70s was very different from today's scene, and the main difference is one of approaches to performing. I stopped playing in folk clubs for almost thirty years - doing amplified band work in that time - and, when I popped back in to it about eight years ago, was amazed to see the proliferation of music stands, with performers working from folders of music. I never used a crib sheet or a music stand when I first started performing, and neither did anyone else. The scene was very competitive and you had to be of a reasonable standard just to get a floor spot in a club. The secret was to practice and practice to such an extent that you could stand up and perform your stuff from memory and with everything in place. I recall my first public performance - just a couple of songs in a college folk club - with shaking fingers and a thumping heart. But I got through it from memory. Furthermore, the audiences and club organisers seemed to be tougher in those days, and I recall being roundly criticised by one organiser at the end of a university folk club evening for not being practised enough!
Audiences and organisers are much more tolerant these days, which might be a good thing, but perhaps the pendulum has swung too far. I've actually stopped going to some "folk" venues" because the standard of performance is so poor, with the inevitable music stand, the shuffling through folders of music, the peering at the music while singing - still with hesitation - and the lack of contact with the audience. I find it very boring.
Here's my advice on being a competent and confident solo performer:
1.6.2015
When I started playing in public for the first time - in the mid-1960s - the venues that I chose were folk clubs, first in the north of England, then in London. Without over-simplifying matters, in those days there were two routes the budding guitarist could take: as a performer on acoustic guitar in folk clubs, or as an electric guitarist in a band playing in clubs and pubs. I bought an acoustic guitar, so the folk club was my first choice. Later on, as I hooked up with other musicians and played in various bands both acoustic and electric, I spent a lot of time playing in folk clubs, working mens' clubs, pubs, etc., in the early days, and latterly in sessions and for functions such as weddings and birthdays.
The folk club scene in the 1960s and '70s was very different from today's scene, and the main difference is one of approaches to performing. I stopped playing in folk clubs for almost thirty years - doing amplified band work in that time - and, when I popped back in to it about eight years ago, was amazed to see the proliferation of music stands, with performers working from folders of music. I never used a crib sheet or a music stand when I first started performing, and neither did anyone else. The scene was very competitive and you had to be of a reasonable standard just to get a floor spot in a club. The secret was to practice and practice to such an extent that you could stand up and perform your stuff from memory and with everything in place. I recall my first public performance - just a couple of songs in a college folk club - with shaking fingers and a thumping heart. But I got through it from memory. Furthermore, the audiences and club organisers seemed to be tougher in those days, and I recall being roundly criticised by one organiser at the end of a university folk club evening for not being practised enough!
Audiences and organisers are much more tolerant these days, which might be a good thing, but perhaps the pendulum has swung too far. I've actually stopped going to some "folk" venues" because the standard of performance is so poor, with the inevitable music stand, the shuffling through folders of music, the peering at the music while singing - still with hesitation - and the lack of contact with the audience. I find it very boring.
Here's my advice on being a competent and confident solo performer:
- practice your repertoire thoroughly before you perform it in public
- practice so that, no matter what the circumstances are, you can put the song across
- go through the song or tune in your head at every waking opportunity, over and over again
- leave the music stand and the folder of music at home
- make eye contact with the audience - sing at them and for them - engage them
- if you falter, don't start again from the top - skip the hard bit and keep going