From: someone@anywheret.net   
      
   "JimD"  wrote in message news:201803021524119145-email@nowherecom...   
      
   > I kinda went off the track on that last one, never answered the question.   
      
   > Are our jobs dances, or fiddle contests ?   ( any sort of instrumental   
   > contest fits the idea )   
      
   > Plenty of room for both.   
      
   Music should Never be Any kind of Conflict, and that includes a Contest -   
   too WAR-like (Make Love, not  war!) and instead should Always about Love,   
   and the  Love Vibe!!!   
      
   > The trick, the " how not to be stupid "  thing, is to realize which it is   
   > we are doing.   
      
   That should be easy enough to tell.   
      
   > We're not being hired to impress any happen to be there, out of work   
   > musicians in the crowd.   It's really just that simple.  People like my   
   > friends who hate HOW we play are all about the " contest ".   
      
   That's Disgusting! It's *supposed* to be about the Music!   
      
   > They see bands as some sort of athletic event.   
      
   It could be, IF the song calls for it...but Pure Motives Must Always be the   
   order of the day!   
      
   > A place to show off how fast or loud or whatever, it is you can be.   
      
   The ONLY thing they should be showing off is the Music!   
      
   > So tracks annoy them, as that is a " cheat ".  And no, I'm not talking   
   > specifically to Ouise here.  She's in that camp perhaps, so be it.   
      
   Tracks used for a Live performance are a Cheat quite simply because they're   
   not Live...that's all there is to it.   
      
   That may seem 'unconventional' to some but that's nothing new, I've always   
   been unconventional, and that also applies to Jamming...which for me means   
   doing it Properly - ONLY after Thoroughly and Intimately Knowing the   
   material as a result of Very Extensive Practice and Rehearsal.   
      
   It's a LOT like an auto race that uses existing roads and highways instead   
   of a nice neat track built specifically for the purpose, which means that   
   the racers Must First get to Know i.e. Practice driving the course so that   
   when they're 'jamming' i.e. maneuvering in their own unique ways at high   
   speeds to get an advantage over the other drivers, they won't end up in a   
   flaming pile of wreckage as a result!   
      
   > I have people I've actually met, that I run into who feel this way. They   
   > are either ... not working musicians ... or ... barely working musicians.   
      
   Maybe they play venues where Honesty is more appreciated.   
   I know I wouldn't care to play at any other!   
      
   > The few full time players I still talk to don't have any problem at all   
   > with tracks. Or harmonizers. Or electric drums.  Or electric guitars.  Or   
   > led lights instead of old hot halogens. Or mixers that are controlled by   
   > Ipads.  Or using an iPad for lyrics.   
      
   The only Fakery is with the 'tracks' and harmonizers.   
      
   > There must be something there.   Some people want to go watch a contest.   
   > Some people want to dance.  Some people even, just want to listen.   
      
   I vote for LISTEN!!!   
      
   > Trying to suit all those will drive you nuts.  Pick one group, and play   
   > for them.   
      
   I'll Always pick the Listeners!   
      
   > Some musicians, like me, just want to sing and play and make people happy,   
   > and to do that in the easiest, nicest, least hassle way we can find.   
      
      
      
   Jim   
      
   I also want to sing and play and make others happy - but I also want to be   
   happy myself while I'm doing it!!!   
   And whether it's more or less of a hassle means Nothing to me just so long   
   as it's the Best way!!!   
      
   Ouisie   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)