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Working within Limitations
From Paul R on 1/18/2013 12:04:09 AM
This past evening I was at the bluegrass jam (Thursday nights at Ben's Pub). It's not an open mic, it's a circle jam, but we do get people who come upstairs to listen and applaud.
I forgot my finger picks! They're not for the banjo (I play clawhammer at a bluegrass jam!), but not having them forced me to play more flatpicking on the guitar. So it, in a way, helped, because it made me work harder in an area I'd not been working much.
It's an interesting contrast between the two jams, the circle jam on Thursday and the open mic up in Sunbury on Friday. There's more of an obvious "performance feel" to working with the mic, although it's more "showmanship" performance. Please the audience.
At the circle jam, though, you may not be putting on a show, but you are, because you're trying to impress your peers (especially the really good ones). In the circle jam, while, everyone's supportive and accepting, you're aware that this audience will spot your mistakes.
5 Comments |
 | David M says:
1/18/2013 9:34:00 AM
Glad you're still having a go Paul, this group has gone very quiet of late. Bad news about the picks..!! At least you had another option or two up your sleeve eh.. :-)
I only play bare finger anyway and found non-mic'd performances just not cutting it so have stopped bothering. Not been to the club for a year and a half now due to family illness taking well and truely over sadly. I did play a couple of tunes to my Brother's family indoors though on Boxing Day only for my sister-in-law to say 'Oh well Steve, come on we'd better be making a move now'...!! Good to know I'm still as entertaining as ever.. :-)
Best wishes Paul.......David
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 | Paul R says:
1/18/2013 10:25:31 PM
Hi David, Happy New Year!
Too bad about the family illness. I hope it gets resolved positively, if it's still ongoing.
Too bad also about your sister-in-law! It just shows that it takes all kinds to make the world.
I'm back from the Friday, open-mic, jam, and it was quite interesting. We had two people playing electric bass at the same time!
This night's experience showed that you have to be prepared to make changes on the spot. I switched songs because a certain person showed up, and he could sing harmony on another song. I just might start another thread here on that topic. (yes, I think I will!)
Hey, next time your sister-n-law cooks a meal for you, you could always suggest everybody go out to a restaurant. See how she feels!
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| David M says:
1/20/2013 3:01:14 AM
Hi Paul, a happy new year to you too.
What made the sister-in-law event even worse Paul was that we'd prepared hot buffet food for 5pm having arranged for them to turn up about 4 and they turned up at 5:20..!!!
Sadly, last year was all cancer/chemo/aneurysms and hospitals for Julia and Dad, good job I don't work, it would have been impossible otherwise, more aneurysm op's for Dad this year but here's hoping it's all done and dusted by Spring this year, not just the surgery but going to London every 5 minutes is really not my thing being a country bumpkin.
Sounds like you're very adaptable in more ways than one Paul and a good job too not knowing who might turn up..! I don't think I've ever heard 2 bass going at once through a tune, could easily be great or awlful..
All the best........David
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| Paul R says:
1/20/2013 5:44:34 PM
Yes, I hope this spring sees you all "out of the woods" as far as health issues go.
I'm pretty much a "city bumpkin" myself, being from Montreal and then Toronto. I'm playing with country people at the jam on Fridays, though, and I travel north of Kingston to get there. And one of the guys at the Thursday jam is an egg farmer, and one of the women was away because she attended a cow auction.
Two basses - I was surprised it sounded all right. It took a lot of concentration on the part of at least one of them.
Hang in there, David, and try to get to a jam again. The recreation may be a help.
Paul
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| David M says:
1/21/2013 2:12:33 AM
Cheers Paul, all the best........David
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