From: someone@anywheret.net   
      
   "Jim D"  wrote in message news:2019010515203862348-Not@ThisAddresscom...   
      
   > First, you learn how to play  ...   
      
   > then to be successful, you need to learn WHAT to play.   
      
   Originals! ;)   
   --   
      
   > Canton, where I live ( sorta ) has a thing they do called " first fridays   
   > ".  It's the first friday of each month, and is a sort of street festival.   
   > An attempt to bring people back to the downtown area for night time   
   > entertainment. So the pricey high end bar/food places that normally serve   
   > business lunches have music.  That included us.   At least last night.   
   > The band's " other guy " does a regular first friday gig downtown with his   
   > duo partner ( which isn't normally me ).  Last night some chick solo act   
   > cancelled at the last moment, they called Tim, opps, let his name slip   
   > :-), he called me to go along. His normal guitar second guy wasn't   
   > available for some reason.   
      
   Interesting gigs in your neck of the woods - I wish they'd have something   
   like that around here.   
      
   > We had a freekin' great night, at least if you consider the money made as   
   > a measure.  Got paid extra by the place, and made nearly as much more in   
   > tips.  Ha, the two of us came out of there with more money than a normal   
   > band gig.  He was happy.   I'm just tired.   
      
   But of course no rehearsal, something I'd find on the stressful side ;)   
      
   > The place was packed, from before we got there until the end. Waiting list   
   > for tables.  Some street artists carving huge ice sculptures outside on   
   > the street.  Fun gig.   
      
   That's the kind of weird part, summertime activities in the winter...or were   
   the gigs inside? ;)   
      
   ---   
      
   > Here's the lesson.  Some guy came up, flashed a nice bill in front of T,   
   > and ask for an old rock song.  T didn't know it.  I did :-)   So the money   
   > goes in the tip jar, and I sang the song.  Hang on Sloopy, in case anyone   
   > cares.   
      
   Oh no, not again ;) One of the other bands I was in relatively recently, a   
   band of Deaf Drunks, they were always  doing that worn out Stale tune.   
      
   > Followed that up with Tommy James' Hanky Panky, tossed in Pink Cadallic,   
   > did some Rod Stewart romance song, sang Chris Stapleton's Tenn Whiskey ...   
      
   Oh no again! Another band that specialized in STALE was always doing   
   Tennessee Whiskey, until even they got sick of it.   
      
   > we had the place going, and not by playing some deep, serious stuff.   
   > Heck, I'd have sang Girls Just Wanna Have Fun if I'd have had the lyrics   
   > handy.  We did do Stand by Your Man ... us, a two guy duo ....   
      
   With my happily former Stale band, it was "Stand By Me"...YUCK!!!   
      
   > Here's the point.  Read the crowd.  If they want old worn out happy tunes,   
   > sing em.  If they yell out something, and they're obviously enjoying   
   > themselves, throw gas on that fire.   
      
   All while trying not to Throw Up! ;)   
      
   > Our job, as - entertainers - is to make a party happen.  That's what dj's   
   > do. They " get it ".  Our job, in places like that is NOT about playing or   
   > singing something to make them, to impress them with how good we are.  Too   
   > many musicians never realize this.   
      
   What they don't get is that FRESH is better than STALE!!!   
      
   > Concerts are about you   
      
   If they're done Right, they're about Awesome Music and the Vibe that goes   
   with it!!!   
      
   > ... playing restaraunts or high end bars are about them having fun, and   
   > tipping the guitar player.  Dj's play party music.  They create a fun   
   > atmosphere.   
      
   I've experienced that  Stale Kills the fun but Fresh is Awesome!   
      
   > That's what we did last night. Well, at least I did. I'm not sure T ever   
   > realized what happened.  He'll get his regular partner back next time.   
   > They'll go back to sad hippiee or James Taylor tunes, and throw in a war   
   > protest song now and then for a break :-) They'll do fine. Or at least ok.   
      
   But it'll still be Stale.   
   ------   
      
   > as for me, back to my regular crew, tonight is square dance night.  I   
   > really wanted that RedNex Cotton Eyed Joe ready, but playing last eve used   
   > up the time I would have worked on touching it up ... so that waits for   
   > next week. Which is ok, we have months of sd's left this year.   
      
   I'd rather be a leader than a follower. This looks like depending on others,   
   Real Artists, to supply the material as though Only they can do it, or   
   there's nothing to play.   
      
   > Band girl seems ok.  Talked to her a while ago.  Females are fickle. Just   
   > have to accept that.   
      
   Always  depends on the Individual.   
      
   > Learn how to sing, then if you want to make any money, learn what to sing.   
      
      
   JimD   
      
   I say learn what to WRITE, then DO IT!!!   
      
   Ouisie   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)