Tuesday, June 6, 2017

What Did You Miss This Week? (Week 490 #535)

Get Spotted!!!

Following great performances last night, Joe reiterated the need for and value of having a spotter in the audience when you play. Choose someone and practice this in B1. It gives you volume feedback and so much more. We talked some too about the mechanics of this - what do you do if you're the spotter and your performer is not seeing or hearing you? Joe says it's absolutely fine to slip onto the stage (or the carpet in B1) and poke at someone or whisper in their ear. If your help can make for a better performance, go for it!

An in-class microphone failure last night too gave us opportunity to talk about the importance of dealing with such things smoothly on stage. Check all gear when you first get up on stage. But if failure happens despite your checking, move to another microphone as needed. Learn to recognize and solve "problems" as they happen.

Conversation went to other questions about performing too. What do you do if you launch at the wrong tempo? Joe's advice? Make lemonade. You need to learn from these mistakes so you don't do them again. In any case, don't stop and restart and don't attempt to change the tempo mid song. Learn and don't let it happen again!

Class Notes

  • Be there - Dennis Gruenling will be a special class guest next Monday, June 12. If you're in Chicago, you're welcome to sit in for the class.


- Grant Kessler, B1 Blues Crew