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Looper's Delight
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Take up golf. You'll like looping by comparison. On Sun, Jan 8, 2012 at 7:37 PM, Dennis Moser <sinsofmachaut@gmail.com> wrote: > All I can contribute to this conversation is the following, lyrics > from Steely Dan: > > "You gotta go back, Jack, > Do it again …" > > Best, > > Dennis > > http://soundcloud.com/usrsbin > http://audiozoloft.com > http://usrslashsbin.angrek.com/ > > > > On Sun, Jan 8, 2012 at 11:37 AM, David Gans <david@trufun.com> wrote: >> >> >> I have developed a practice of "no bad gigs": taking each performance >> on its own terms and giving what is required. My attitude is that any >> time I am being paid to play, or I have been invited to play, it is a >> good thing and there is something to be gained form the experience: >> money, applause, practice, what not to do next time, etc. I play lots >> of different kinds of gigs. Some scenes are more song-oriented, e.g. a >> house concert where my own compositions are the central focus; at the >> Farmers' Market gigs (which I love), I play lots of familiar songs - >> old favorites from my youth, etc. and I'm free to do a 20-minute loop >> piece because no one is there specifically to hear me and I am just >> incidental to the market experience. And so on. >> >> Next Saturday I have a gig at the Iron Springs Pub in Fairfax, >> California. I played there the other night with Rubber Souldiers, a >> "Beatles jam band" I do for fun (and money) with a couple of other >> guys. We had a fine time, with a good crowd, and between the modest pay >> and a full tip jar my share was $117. Saturday's gig will be different: >> the 49ers' playoff game will be happening at the same time, in another >> part of this one big room. The owner of the brewpub wants me to do it >> anyway, and sort of apologized in advance for the weirdness I am likely >> to experience. I have talked about my "no bad gigs" philosophy with him >> before, and I said I'll be fine. My wife and I will have a nice meal, >> I'll take home a few bucks, and I'll probably spend a good part of the >> 2-hour gig doing loop improv, which I will record and (if all goes >> well) develop into a new piece. The football fans will not pay >> attention to me, and I will return the favor. There will be a few other >> people in the room who are listening to me and not watching the Niners, >> and that will be sufficient. >> >> I come from the Grateful Dead music culture, which has a long tradition >> of recording everything, so I have a long-term practice of listening to >> my performances to find out what worked and what didn't. These days the >> technology makes it super easy to listen to last night's show on my way >> to today's. I am pretty good at listening in a detached way, and I know >> I hear a lot more flaws than the audience is likely to notice. As long >> as my own standard is higher than the one I have to meet as a >> performer, I will continue to improve. I am pretty much at the top of >> my game these days, so I hardly ever hear anything cringe-worthy in >> these playbacks. For me, the question has more to do with, Did I gig >> the gig what it needed from me? >> >> >> >> >