Some thoughts on solo performance...?

[sgs4u]

Rob, nice to see your presence again!I also thought this guy was pretty special

[southpaw]

{unclenches chin, comes out of an entranced gaze} Well.. I see i've got my work cut out for me.Thank you all for the gems of information. Creativity, + using technology to come up with something, is where my mind had an "AHA" moment. I've got a few ideas i will develop. Some great insight here folks. Thanks again! Got a bit of work to do... Cheers!Jamie

[ernstinen]

Holy Smokes! Those videos put things in perspective. I've been woodshedding recently 2-4 hours a day -------- I'd better make it 8-10 hours a day! Ern

[ddusty]

Thanks Steve, it's good to be back, although I will be on the road all of next week so I will be missing again It's funny, i go between being really motivated and really frustrated watching these guys. I always have too many interests/distractions to get that good at anything. It seems once I can gig out with an instrument with a lot of comfort, I am trying another one. The pedal steel has been keeping me up nights nowadays. i think that will keep me busy for a while, darn thing is like a helicopter!Rob

[ernstinen]

Hey Jamie,I was just thinkin' of you and your solo performance idea.Mazz sent me awhile ago this mp3 of Jimmy Webb doing "Wichita Lineman" solo on piano and voice, with a little guitar added.I believe this PROVES that if you write GREAT songs and are a passionate and gifted performer, you CAN do a solo that will blow people away!Check this out:http://www.box.net/shared/7jxuj72804Raises the hair on my arms, and brings a tear to my eye! Best of luck,Ern

[ggalen]

Ah, Jimmy Webb. Along with Burt Bacharach, one of my strongest heroes and influences.His use of chord color is just so inspiring and wonderful.Thanks for that, Ern.

[diogenes]

I quit my day job in 2007 to do music full time. My main source of income was solo acoustic gigs which I quickly grew to despise. More often than not it was playing to people who didn't care if you were there or not. Now I play in 3 bands one of which is just a duo (myself and a drummer). From my perspective almost anything is better than playing solo. It's just not my cup of tea. Playing solo always seemed like a great idea because I always loved playing and singing acoustic versions of my favorite songs, but when you have to play for 4 hours it's just not the same.

[ggalen]

diogenes,That's what I was talking about earlier...the bar or restaurant gig for solo artists. Those can really be hard to handle when no one is listening to you.Some people say, "well, I am going to MAKE them listen", by talking at the crowd ,or playing louder. That's not a solution. You cannot force interest. People get irritated. And rightly so, if they came to have a conversation and a good meal, or a drink.

[ernstinen]

Mar 13, 2009, 5:23pm, ggalen wrote:Ah, Jimmy Webb. Along with Burt Bacharach, one of my strongest heroes and influences.His use of chord color is just so inspiring and wonderful.Thanks for that, Ern.Thanks, Glenn! Yea, that is so amazing I'm at a loss for words.Mazz told me that Jimmy Webb did a solo album a few years ago that this song is from. Pretty great stuff from a guy that was "just" a songwriter. He can sing and play piano GREAT! Why he didn't do it before, we'll never know.Good on ya, Jimmy Webb! Ern

[ggalen]

Ern,Here is a GREAT link to Jimmy Webb talking about songwriting, and playing some songs as well... it's on the Songwriters Hall of Fame website:http://www.songhall.org/video/event/C22/Some of my favorites are the video about "Beautiful chords" in songs, and about songs of his that were never hits, but he thinks should have been...And the album Mazz mentioned is called "Ten Easy Pieces"...