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Sir Rockabye
* Dog in the Sand *
USA
1158 Posts |
 Posted - 11/23/2003 : 11:39:58
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This upcoming Wednesday, the day before Thanksgiving, my band Willum and the Works will be playing our first show. Man, I've gotta tell you, I'm pretty nervous. I've never really performed in front of an audience before and have no idea what to expect. If anyone has any advice, feel free to give it. I need all of the help I can get. By the way, If you are interested in coming by to see us perform, we'll be playing at the Bloomfield Avenue cafe in Montclair NJ. (www.bloomfieldavecafe.com) The show begins at 6:00 and we go on at 6:15. Come on out, it will be a rockin' time.
"How many stars girl, can you both count, and then classify?" |
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the swimmer
* Dog in the Sand *
USA
1602 Posts |
Posted - 11/23/2003 : 12:51:20
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Although it sounds cliche....be yourself. Don't try to act cool. Cool people never act...they just are...(i.e. Frank Black).
Relax.
Remember you are a monkey and their is an invisible organ grinder on the side of the stage. When you start up the music....dance monkey DANCE. You are nothing but a monkey performer there to entertain people. You are there to serve them. Once you do that, it's up to them to decide whether they like you and want to worship YOU and be YOUR fan...till then...you are a little dancing monkey.
Remember to Breathe.
Remember you aren't in a competition with anyone...if some people don't like your music...it's their perogative. Always some people will. Always, some people won't. Always some people will never know you even exist.
Don't talk amongst yourselves on stage and not look at, and/or engage the people in the audience. (Remember you're a little entaining monkey)It looks bad.
Lift with your knees, protect your ears (I am an example of what happens when you DON'T do those things, so really...I wish someone told me those things and I LISTENED AND DID IT)
Leave em wanting more...your songs and your sets shouldn't be overlong...people will like it a million times more if you don't play enough rather than play too long. (Unless you're a hippy jam band and everyone's to stoned and stinking of patchouli to care...in that case...play on, dog.)
Mach Schau
Good luck man and let us too far away to go know how it went. |
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cindy lou
- FB Fan -
141 Posts |
Posted - 11/23/2003 : 13:16:25
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| you got to change around what the swimmer says! your not the dancing monkey but the crowd is and you got the special time to make them act silly. do you like your songs? do you trust yourself? if not it don't matter you can fake it and have alot of fun. to throw in a cliche "be yourself" and you can't go wrong. even if they don't like what your doing your show will be a success because it is really important to get your first show the fuck done. |
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cindy lou
- FB Fan -
141 Posts |
Posted - 11/23/2003 : 13:16:59
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| p.s. good luck! |
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Sir Rockabye
* Dog in the Sand *
USA
1158 Posts |
Posted - 11/23/2003 : 14:37:17
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Haha, thanks for the ideas. Yeah, I guess that the old cliche is cliched for a reason. I'll have to give it a try although "being myself" is probably a bad idea in this situation. I'm usually quite shy and reserved amongst strangers. One thing to look forward to will be the dancing though. I've been studying the Talking Head's "Stop Making Sense" tape and for those of you unfamiliar with it, it contains some of the goofiest dance moves from a show ever. David Byrne's style appears really hard to recreate, so I'll probably just come off looking like some idiot. Should be fun none the less.
"How many stars girl, can you both count, and then classify?" |
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mun chien andalusia
= Quote Accumulator =
Italy
2139 Posts |
Posted - 11/23/2003 : 15:49:41
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you must have a couple of drinks first,helps always.
 join the cult of errol\and you can have a beer\without having to quit smoking
www.superabound.altervista.org |
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mun chien andalusia
= Quote Accumulator =
Italy
2139 Posts |
Posted - 11/23/2003 : 15:50:26
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and good luck.
join the cult of errol\and you can have a beer\without having to quit smoking
www.superabound.altervista.org |
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the swimmer
* Dog in the Sand *
USA
1602 Posts |
Posted - 11/23/2003 : 15:56:53
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When I say "dancing" monkey, I didn't mean dancing literally..I just meant..You are supposed to entertain.
You know..just have a good show.
And wear a GIGANTIC suit.
jk |
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Sir Rockabye
* Dog in the Sand *
USA
1158 Posts |
Posted - 11/23/2003 : 16:02:02
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The gigantic suit would be great. Oh, mun chien, it would be a bit difficult to get some drinks seeing as how I'm still a minor, but thanks for the advice.
"How many stars girl, can you both count, and then classify?" |
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mun chien andalusia
= Quote Accumulator =
Italy
2139 Posts |
Posted - 11/23/2003 : 17:09:06
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they 'll let you perform (if you get paid is child labour i suppose)but they won't let you have a drink?americans will never finish to surprise me.anyway i hope that you have a great time.let us know how it went.
join the cult of errol\and you can have a beer\without having to quit smoking
www.superabound.altervista.org |
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El Barto
= Song DB Master =
USA
4020 Posts |
Posted - 11/23/2003 : 21:23:48
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Remember: people are there to see *you*. That should be enough to keep you leveled. Have fun with it.
 "I joined the Cult of Clops / If I were you, I'd sleep with one eye open." |
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the swimmer
* Dog in the Sand *
USA
1602 Posts |
Posted - 11/23/2003 : 22:18:49
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quote:
Originally posted by El Barto
Remember: people are there to see *you*. That should be enough to keep you leveled. Have fun with it.
"I joined the Cult of Clops / If I were you, I'd sleep with one eye open."
Wrong...unless they're the friends and family you invited...or you have some large following because of recordings being circulated...
most of the people there (since it's your first show and inevitably you have no "name" yet) are there to see/hear music.
So play it, monkey boy, and entertain the people. Make them buy beers and other stuff from the place you play at and then you'll get to play again.
It doesn't matter how good you are. |
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WolfManMikeLonely
= Cult of Ray =
USA
936 Posts |
Posted - 11/24/2003 : 08:15:19
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Don't think about it. Just have fun. Forgive me if you already answered this but what exactly do you play in the group? In my experience though the more you think about things, the more you get nervous, the more you fuck up. Just play, have fun, be energetic but sincere I swear if I see another group that is flailing around and it's so obviously a put on I might puke. Also, don't forget to warm up a little and if you're a singer especially don't eat too much before you perform.
"Hey fuck you if you don't like it."
-Johnny Thunders |
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WolfManMikeLonely
= Cult of Ray =
USA
936 Posts |
Posted - 11/24/2003 : 08:17:27
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Oh yeah and don't be too hard on yourself if you make a mistake. Musicians always seem to beat themselves up because they can "do it better" let me tell you the majority of the time especially when people don't know your material they don't know if you fucked up unless you let them know. Just beware of being too hard on yourself after the show because that can make you pretty depressed and nobody wants that. Enjoy yourself, it's what playing music is supposed to be about.
"Hey fuck you if you don't like it."
-Johnny Thunders |
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Cult_Of_Frank
= Black Noise Maker =
Canada
11687 Posts |
Posted - 11/24/2003 : 08:30:35
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Yeah, the instrument you play makes a big difference. You can add a lot of flare to drums, you can do all sorts of cool stuff on the guitars, you're automatically cool if you're playing brass, but what about on the keys? That's a tricky one. Hopefully you don't play keys. :)
 "Join the Cult of Frank / And you'll be enlightened" |
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bedrock_barney
= Cult of Ray =
United Kingdom
871 Posts |
Posted - 11/24/2003 : 08:34:22
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You could take your top off like Zia McCabe does in The Dandy Warhols. That'd get 'em cheering.
 "I have been enslaved by the Cult of Ming / He is ever so merciless...unlike that nice Mr Black." |
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rockathon
- FB Fan -
241 Posts |
Posted - 11/24/2003 : 08:42:01
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| stick a sock in your crotch |
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apl4eris
~ Abstract Brain ~
USA
4800 Posts |
Posted - 11/24/2003 : 10:10:58
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Or like the lead singer of the Cows, you could stick a manequin leg in your pants and wank off on it, slowly pulling it out of your pants. That feaked me out.
I guess it really depends on the style and message of the music, most of all.
Buckaroo Banzai's band in the movie is all dressed up in Gigantic Suits, and they all are chilled and cool, like the Blues Brothers. Remember Cab Calloway and also the 50's era R&B and rock n' roll - they knew all about style and showmanship!!! You can act like you know what you're doing and you'll eventually believe it. And everyone else will too.
That David Byrne thing is right on - I can't remember who said it, but they described him as "Superwhite" and it's true. He was on "Sessions at west 57th?" recently - they were doing a terrific cover of Kraftwerk's "The Model", and he was dancing kinda like Rich Gilbert/a robotic jive monkey. That could be a great inspiration! Have your own brand of fun - when you are on stage the world is your oyster, and yours to create.
I've never been in a band, but many of my friends have. I'm just giving my 2 cents worth of observations from many years of deeply loving live music and what I've heard from the people I've known in bands. Good luck! |
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rockathon
- FB Fan -
241 Posts |
Posted - 11/24/2003 : 10:24:45
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| that Byrne session was fabulous |
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Brackish Girl
~ Soul Eater ~
Ireland
1750 Posts |
Posted - 11/24/2003 : 11:42:12
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good luck! i have no tips cos i have never/probably will never go on stage. just remember what you're playing and don't look down at your guitar or whatever. unless you're a lead guitarist, which means you can.:)
 "I joined the Cult of Trippy/...what was i singing again???" |
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rockathon
- FB Fan -
241 Posts |
Posted - 11/24/2003 : 11:56:30
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| also, learn to juggle disparate items, like a tennis ball, a chain saw and a bowling ball. people love that shit |
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Sir Rockabye
* Dog in the Sand *
USA
1158 Posts |
Posted - 11/24/2003 : 12:13:54
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These are all great tips. For those of you who were wondering, I play bass, and don't really sing much, so I really have no excuse but to dance around like some kind of "dancing monkey." My biggest fear is probably messing up, but as WolfMan said, as long as I don't show it, no one should pick up on it. Something to look forward too will be playing cactus for a bunch of non-pixies fans. My band's been practicing it for a few weeks for the tribute, so we figured if we have time at the end of our set we'll give it a try. But really, thanks for the tips, should come in handy.
"How many stars girl, can you both count, and then classify?" |
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theonecontender
= Cult of Ray =
Canada
565 Posts |
Posted - 11/24/2003 : 13:52:16
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| Liquor. but not too much.... |
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