Alembic Guitars Club
Connecting => Miscellaneous => Topic started by: edwardofhuncote on December 30, 2016, 07:50:16 AM
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Two for me this year....
First is to lose 40 lbs, and run another race (competitively) by or before my 48th birthday in June.
Second is going to be a work in progress... the short version is; I need to improve my 'Stage Presence'.
This is something I've been aware was lacking in my performance for a while, but until recently, I've always been more of an anchorman bass player, and not really responsible for frontperson duties. Or maybe I've just been lazy. Whatever the reason behind it, that role is changing with this-coming season, as our neo-oldtyme band New River Bound is trying to expand beyond the comfortable little niche' as a semi-formal Appalachian String Quartet, and become more of an 'entertainment' group, showcasing some original music and songwriting in a more cogent way.
I drew some inspiration from actress Barbara Eden's 2011 autobiography, "Jeannie, Out of the Bottle". Early in her life, she initially wanted to become a singer, (and eventually, did) but her Mother noticed something was missing. Listening to young Barbara sing, she commented- "...your notes are perfectly pitched and placed, but I can tell, you don't mean a word of it." So she suggested her daughter take some acting classes. The rest is television history of course, as Barbara became famous for playing memorable, some would say, unforgettable characters more so than singing.
The lesson I took away was this... I need to connect with an audience better, even if it means I play a character while onstage. No idea what that character might be yet, or how it may develop, only that I'm going to work on it just as earnestly as those 40 lbs of laziness.
And for what it's worth, I've had an autographed picture of Jeannie in my case for 20-some years... and a smoke-green Christmas 1964 Jim Beam decanter bottle in the practice room longer than that. I know she's around there somewhere... ;D
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Greg,
All the best with your new year's commitments! Hot Rize/Red Knuckles and the Trail Blazers might be something to observe (videos) for some ideas.
Happy New Year!
Rob
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Think about the acting lessons, Greg; I started college in '74 as a theater major, planning to be an actor. It turned out there was a small problem with that - I sucked - but my acting training stood me in good stead as a Scout leader and, later, teacher, and I seem to recall Bill saying he had theatrical training as well, which helps him in court.
Most of the players I've known who had good stage presence seemed to be playing an amped-up version of themselves, so that may be a direction to look at for your "character".
And 40 lbs? Damn, I'm jealous - I need to do that 3 times.......
Peter
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Is it New Year's again?Ah yes.New Year's.HAPPY NEW YEAR'S EVERYBODY.
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Happy New Years folks !
I can see myself free of nicotine soon, that's gonna feel good.
I need to gain 40 lbs...wish me luck ::)
Greg,
I could send you the Exploiter for a while, nothing like a pointy bass to up the ante 8)
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Good for you Elwood.I've replaced my traditional nic/cig habit(after 39 years 11 months)with a new pacifier with vaping.Even though I still intake nicotine it's much better than tobacco and I've even stepped down my nic intake and I feel and breath much better now.
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Good for you Elwood, and smokin_dave (uhhh... make that- vapin'_dave). ;) I quit nicotine October 20th, 2004. (don't ask why I remember that) Wasn't easy, but definitely worth it. Then came the 40 lbs. ::)
I actually have given some serious thought to seeking acting instruction Coz. I know a lady... a local violinist, who is also an amateur actress. I think she might come closer to understanding what I need to do here, by virtue of also being a musician... should be able to steer me in the right direction at least.
Will follow up on that in a couple weeks.
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Why wouldn't you remember, Greg? Mine was 03:36 CST, Feb. 3, 1980.
Peter
(edit to read "CST" instead of "CDT" because I can never keep straight which half of the year that foolishness is in)
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I can't give you an exact date for when I quit smoking but it was in the early fall of 1989. The neighborhood guys would get together once a year to do a weekend of trout fishing in a reservoir west of town. There was more drinking than fishing and knowing I was going to feel like hell for a couple of days I figured that was as good a the time to quit any. This was also around the same time that my employer banned all in door smoking which helped with the psychological aspects of quitting.
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For me I want to lose 20 pounds so I can get back into a bunch of clothes that currently don't fit, including my SNAKESKIN JACKET!-total Nic Cage baby! and the other thing is to keep up with finishing projects and getting things done, which I've been doing, so I gotta make sure I don't let off the gas, which is a little too easy to do...
for the 'stage presence' thing, think of your instrument like your superhero power belt or something; it makes you MORE...personally I'm not really outgoing and the idea of getting onstage by myself would be terrifying but somehow adding an instrument and bandmates changes everything...friends have even said I'm totally different onstage...hope that helps...and remember that people went out of their way to PAY MONEY to see and hear you play; that should put a little swagger in your step! Tony
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I'm in the "must play my Alembics a lot more" camp. Hm, doesn't sound too bad now does it?
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<snip> . . .
for the 'stage presence' thing, think of your instrument like your superhero power belt or something; it makes you MORE...personally I'm not really outgoing and the idea of getting onstage by myself would be terrifying but somehow adding an instrument and bandmates changes everything...friends have even said I'm totally different onstage...hope that helps...and remember that people went out of their way to PAY MONEY to see and hear you play; that should put a little swagger in your step! Tony
^^^ like/ agree ^^^
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My main goal for this year is to do a gig playing the music of Return to Forever then a Stanley Clarke music gig. After that I want to gig more with different bands to expose myself to a more diverse range of music. Learn more theory.
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I guess my big resolution is to try to be more kind. I also want to drop 20 pounds and will work toward that goal. Really, I suppose, I want to be more happy and the best way to get there is to make the people around me more happy.
I'd also like to somehow acquire a 5 string Alembic at some point, but I'm not making that a resolution because there are so many things competing for a dollar these days and I don't see that improving anytime soon.
John
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I should have added one other resolution to play more gigs; this could be tough as Vancouver is in one of its down phases of venues right now and all of us are socially inept in one way or another or so busy that it looks the same...tony
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Well, I got an unexpected jump on the weight-loss goal, but not in a good way. A weeks' worth of sick docked me almost 10 lbs, but also got me a ride to the doc-in-a-box, (my slang for Urgent Care) and straight on to the ER from there. ::)
Looks like I'm going to make it though... will know more after I balance the checkbook. :D (hurts too much to laugh)
I've had a lot of time to think about stuff though, and have come up with some ideas to try out with this on-stage persona reset. Not only that, but a surprise booking came in for NRB later this month, so I'll get the chance to test drive a few lines. Biggest problem right now - I haven't played a lick in 6 days. :(
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Yikes. Hang in, my friend. You get your chops back pretty quickly, rest assured - and if you don't, well, then you just have to practice more!! ER... man, that sucks.
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Greg; hoping your recovery is quick and full.
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Greg! Be well, buddy! Way to look on the bright side, though (re the weight loss - you're 25% there).
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Much better, Thanks Mica- now that I can finally breathe without coughing fits... Goal #1 is progressing slowly, but in the right direction. I did pick a couple pounds back up after re-hydrating, :P but for a net loss of 5 lbs so far.
On the other thing; improving stage presence-
So the first outing was last Friday night... going solely on the feedback of others and my gut feeling, I scored maybe a 5.5 out of 10. Obviously it'll be an ongoing work-in-progress, but it felt good having carefully planned, or at least outlined what I was going to say and do between songs in the set.
After some reflection, I also believe this also is a key factor: There's a rhythm to delivering monologue, just like there's a rhythm to a song... it's often a mixed meter. Timing is everything... you have to space these things out for maximum effect, just like organizing a set list so that it flows well. Another thought: If I'm not sounding comfortable telling the folks what's about to happen, how can I expect them to be comfortable when it does? All I can say is there was a confidence there that had been missing. It was easier than I thought.
I'm getting some more feedback/critique from friends of the band too. Will throw it all in the hopper and see what comes out. ;D
Also made plans to work with my friend, who is an actress, for some pointers. We're collaborating (musically) on an upcoming show with someone else this-coming Spring anyway. ;)
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After some reflection, I also believe this also is a key factor: There's a rhythm to delivering monologue, just like there's a rhythm to a song... it's often a mixed meter. Timing is everything... you have to space these things out for maximum effect, just like organizing a set list so that it flows well.
I do believe you just grabbed the pebble, Grasshopper.
Peter
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Just had to add to the conversation this quote I read today from actor, Bill Daily. These words just flew off the page at me, and is almost word-for-word what I've been trying to verbalize. A little background first... before he was Howard Borden on "Newhart" or Major Healey on "I Dream of Jeannie", (which he says were basically the same sidekick character) Bill Daily was an accomplished jazz bassist. In this particular 1975 TV Guide interview, he was asked about his sense of comedic timing.
He replies;
"The rhythm... it's everything man. Comedy is rhythm, comedy is time. Look at the top comics... either they're musicians or they have some background in performing music. Music, man, it's the KEY!"
He then goes on to list over 20-some well-known actors and comedians who either are, or were musicians.
I knew there was a connection between the two. I suppose that's the good news... the bad news, well... I'm more aware that there's still a lotta' work to do. Fortunately, New River Bound has a few good gigs coming up this Spring. A fence to swing for. ;)
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The awkward CAN be part of the stage persona and can be played for laughs if you want, but you'll figure it all out; some performers never get truly comfortable being onstage, but they find a way that works...my guitar player has been onstage for 30+ years but he still needs a few drinks to go onstage; not drunk or anything, just needs a bit of liquid courage which I find kinda funny as he seems more extroverted than I am...