Posted: 09 December 2004 at 5:21am | IP Logged

Me and a couple friends signed up to do a little beatboxing session at a local biblio-cafe.  At first we were nervous, because the crowd was small and consisted of mainly an elderly crowd that (we assumed) wouldn't enjoy our art.  That soon changed, as more and more teens from our school ended up squeezing into the cafe (it was hard to walk around what with all the students there.)

We were also nervous because we had barely rehearsed.  So I told them we were going to basically improvise our entire routine.  So we did just that.. mostly..

The whole time, I felt humiliated.  While somewhere in the back of my mind I knew we had a quality broadcast over the amplifiers (we were equiped with beta58 mics!), it didn't sound right.  I couldn't hear the bass that my friend was supposed to be humming.  I couldn't hear some other elements either.

Our performance ended quite abruptly with two of us finishing a simple beat at the same time, dropping the microphones a little bit, looking at each other as if to say "uhh..?", then shrugging to allow the audience to clap.  As it turns out, we got an encore.  And the spectator's enjoyed our show 10 times more than we'd expected them to.  All performances that night are being mastered to CD -- there was also someone taping the entire night.  I've reserved a copy of the CD, and will gladly upload our performance to mp3unsigned.

I've also noted that after the first performance (of anything, really), you lose that sense -- and end up never being nervous again.

I've learned much from this experience!  Hoorah!

Posted: 09 December 2004 at 6:56am | IP Logged

woohoo Jono!

Posted: 09 December 2004 at 11:26am | IP Logged

Oh I bet you'll be nervous again! like 5 minutes before your next show and about halfway through your second song when you realise people are like... staring at you and stuff! Must admit performing live is a great builder of character and I always have great respect for people who clamber up onto that stage. Its a big step up from the bedroom mirror.

Can't wait to hear it!

Dave

Posted: 09 December 2004 at 12:00pm | IP Logged

God yeah, I've only ever played live around four or five times in my life, and that was back in the 80s. I'd want to hide behind some equipment now, and have no lights shone upon me whatsoever, but back then I was fronting a punk band - it's true that you can basically hear sod all whilst on stage, as you are primarily concentrating upon your own iinstrument/performance, plus your ears selectively filter out other none essential elements, and finally the speakers are facing away from you, so you don't get the downwash. The audience are just a moving blur somewhere in front of you that you only register in an abstract sense (I did anyway).

You've made a great milesone now - and it certainly took guts, but I think that you will enjoy the next one more. Glad it went well for you.

Posted: 09 December 2004 at 12:37pm | IP Logged

Good Work Fella!!

Personally I love the live thing, I've been playing gigs for about 15 years (with a break obviously).  I tried giving it up when I started 'Los Guys', thinking it would be just studio project, but I just can't help myself, I love gigin.

I have a collection of photographs, of stages that I've played, ( sad I know, but it keeps me amused), Chech out the Melkweg, Amsterdam.

10 points if you can spot the Los Guys CDs