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Hi Mark- I liked what you wrote- it's a very important subject. I think there is always a balance between the show part and the music part. Especially today with our visually oriented society, the audience responds to both (subconsciously or consciously). It's all part of the communication with the audience. This happens in all music making and it is a part of experiencing a live performance- and it always has been. For those who don't want to be distracted visually, they can always shut their eyes. I remember being at a very famous music school in New York and taking a class on "aesthetics of music". Basically the teacher hated anything that took away from the music- different clothes, too much movement, any different lights. Now, this was a classical music school, but for me, coming from a pop environment, it seemed strange. Of course no one had the guts to say that they felt differently, but one day I got tired of it and I simply asked- if it is so distracting to have visual interference in a performance, then why don't we just play with the lights off? She didn't give me a good one except to site "tradition" Anyway like I said- I think balance is key but who are we to say what balance is for other performers? Some will be more visually oriented and use it as their communication, others will be more music - only oriented. It's one of the things that make us different performers from others. Either way, whether we like it or not, the audience will be watching AND listening and we have to deal with it our own personal way. With respect Kevin Gallagher http://artists.mp3s.com/artists/319/kevin_r_gallagher.html ----- Original Message ----- From: "Mark Sottilaro" <sine@zerocrossing.net> To: "loopers" <Loopers-Delight@loopers-delight.com> Sent: Tuesday, June 11, 2002 2:13 PM Subject: Pay attention > > Mark Hamburg wrote: > > > > When the drum machines get turned on, > > the audience stops paying attention. > > I think this brings out an interesting point about loop based performances, and > performances in general. Stop paying attention to the music, or two what you're > doing? Often when we play we show video, or work in conjunction with a video > artist. Often I'll play an art opening. Basically, I don't want people to pay > attention to me. If I did, I'd have some sort of Bowiesque stage show, but that's > not my bag, man. I didn't even like Loopstock. I'm much sooner have people > listen but not watch. I'm boring to watch. Come to think of it, all the > performers at Loopstock were boring to watch. There, I said it. But not to me. > Why? Because I'm interesting in the gear and how it's being used. I'm >an > educated consumer, so I can go, "Oh, I see Bill's using mutlitrack Repeater > looping with it slowed down 50% ooooo interesting...." The average >person in a > cafe or club could care less. Band interaction is fun to watch, but most of us > seem so busy nursing our gear, that gets clouded. Percussionists (Hi >Jon, Rick!) > are for sure more fun to watch, as they're at least animated. > > I played an Oracle Corporate event last month, and the main comment was, "Oooo > what are you doing with that blue thing?" They were interested in the Alesis > AirFX. Another person said, "Oh, we like acts like this. We usually >have those > other guys... with the virtual xylophone..." (Buchela Lightning played >by Chris > Hedges) Not, "wow, those guys music was great." Not, "Hey I like the fact that > you can loop your guitar parts." They comment on the little motion they saw, or > the very obvious new technology. > > So I say, don't be paid attention to. Have your music paid attention to... or > not. Make an acoustic environment. Have your music be the star. That's what DJs > do. I've never heard a DJ complain that they weren't being watched. Why are we? > > Mark Sottilaro > >