Recently we played an informal (but paid) gig. Kind of like playing a session, but it was paid, and there were around 300 people listening, although we weren't the main focus of the evening.
It helped that we had a nice combination of players, with solid backing, and tune players that were familiar with the same tunes. I felt like I played quite well, even with the distraction of playing into a microphone, and it was a lot of fun.
It got me thinking about the most fun playing situations. We've had this discussion before, but I thought it would be fun to revisit. For me, some of the things that contribute to that level of enjoyment are:
* Playing with people that you're comfortable with
• Playing tunes that you know well
• Being relaxed enough to still have fun while you're playing for a crowd
• Having a good mix of instrumentation with backers that you can feed energy off of
You'll notice that the majority of those things have to do with comfort level.
I'm curious what other factors lead to that feeling of euphoria that we all strive for while we're playing. What does it for you?
Once we were in a very crowded part of town doing our weekly busking...... I was with some great friends (always fun) but the atmosphere felt different...... very "charged" somehow - and we were having a blast - more so than usual. I even commented on it.
Turns out there was a class in session in a room which was literally right above our heads........... they had windows open and were studying how to speak Gaelic! We were speaking their language!
I have to have had a good day that day prior to playing tunes in the evening. Also as Reverend said being comfortable with the people and the tunes...but also a good atmosphere in the pub of course. 'Backers' (I don't like that term!) who play really solidly but with the occasional unexpected or adventurous chord change... I dunno I'm just thinking out loud, I suppose altogether it's just the luck of being in the right 'place' at the right time, really!
I'd agree with everything Pete said, but would add that creating a musical connection with the people you're playing with is a major factor in getting that feeling of euphoria. There is a world of difference between sitting in the same room as a bunch of people playing the same tune and sitting in a room listening to each other and really playing WITH each other. It's like a drug high when you get it. Of course, when you don't have any connection at all, it can really suck. Like I had some amazing sessions in Camden Town and then when I returned home and played in the most disconnected session ever, I couldn't even deal with it.
To create that sort of connection, I think you need most people in the session to be on the same page in terms of what they want to play and also keep other factors like ego and territoriality to a minimum. If a couple people in the session want to only play with each other and tune out everyone else, it doesn't work. If some people only play, say Northumbrian tunes (a random example, of course) and others only play Irish tunes, it doesn't work. That sort of thing.
It is such a brilliant thing to have, though. Achieving that is one of the driving forces behind playing the music. It really is like an addiction to hard drugs.
Rev, What a nice topic for a thread. For me, the best playing is WITHOUT amplification equipment, even though I enjoy gigs, I don't enjoy that part. Beyond that, the right people are important, don't have to be the best players, but with good collaborative attitudes, who bring a sense of joy to the music. And if there are people around us, like in a session, positive attitudes of those people can certainly push us to a higher level.
I play live gigs 5 times a week, and for me the most fun is when at least half the crowd (or half the crowd directly in view of the stage) is really into what I am playing. The show always includes lots of drinking and rebel songs that are best as "sing-alongs", and when the majority of the room is joining in, it is almost like magic.
One of my recent gigs was in New York, and the ENTIRE crowd (no kidding) was joining in on every song. When the pipes and accordion kicked in for the breaks, the place would just go nuts! People were clapping and stomping and shouting so hard, the glasses behind the bar were shaking almost off their shelves. Awesome!
I'd just like to say that us solitary (comparative beginner) whistlers have our moments too.
I always had trouble with "Haste to the Wedding". Last week I played a tune through a few times and hard to think for a minute to remember the name. Yep, it was "Haste to the Wedding" without a falter. That made me happy. Next stop "The Kid on the Mountain"...
Your list is a good start, Pete--not sure I can add much to it. Except to echo that playing with friends is a blast. And this includes some people who connect the moment you meet them.
I also like Innocent Bystander's reminder that solo playing brings its own joys. Maybe not "euphoria" (depends on what you're smoking), but certainly a personal reverie and communion with the tunes.
One of my favorite rushes at a session comes from playing tunes we know well, but in fresh, seredipitous sets--unexpected but "just right" changes from one tune to the next.
I simply adore it when punters shyly approach me with, "Could you play that one where...."
The children who finish their homework so they can come hear the fiddlers.
The family with the father in a wheelchair who comes every week to hear us play. You know you're putting some sunshine into a tough week.
The adorable young newlywed couple where the husband approaches me to offer me money to serenade his wife with "a romantic song." I serenaded with "When A Man's in Love, He Feels No Cold," and told the husband to put the donation in the tip pile for the waitstaff. (P.S., the wife was thrilled.)
Watching a crowd of folks stopped for a pre-rap concert drink getting into a type of music they've never heard before: "Hey, this stuff is cool"
Approaching tables to inform families with children, "You know, we really like dancers," and having our instrumental session turn into a real ceilidh.
We just made the hard decision to part company with one of the members of our four-person group. It was one of those things that immediately felt so good, the thought was "why did we put up with the disagreements for so long and why didn't we do this sooner?" And we invited a new person into the group with different musical tastes who played different instruments, and who has a wonderfully cooperative attitude. And creatively, things have just exploded, new songs, new tune sets, lots of laughs, even new approaches to old stuff. Good times!
Most fun playing
Most fun playing
Recently we played an informal (but paid) gig. Kind of like playing a session, but it was paid, and there were around 300 people listening, although we weren't the main focus of the evening.
It helped that we had a nice combination of players, with solid backing, and tune players that were familiar with the same tunes. I felt like I played quite well, even with the distraction of playing into a microphone, and it was a lot of fun.
It got me thinking about the most fun playing situations. We've had this discussion before, but I thought it would be fun to revisit. For me, some of the things that contribute to that level of enjoyment are:
* Playing with people that you're comfortable with
• Playing tunes that you know well
• Being relaxed enough to still have fun while you're playing for a crowd
• Having a good mix of instrumentation with backers that you can feed energy off of
You'll notice that the majority of those things have to do with comfort level.
I'm curious what other factors lead to that feeling of euphoria that we all strive for while we're playing. What does it for you?
Pete
# Posted on October 29th 2006 by Reverend
Re: Most fun playing
Once we were in a very crowded part of town doing our weekly busking...... I was with some great friends (always fun) but the atmosphere felt different...... very "charged" somehow - and we were having a blast - more so than usual. I even commented on it.
Turns out there was a class in session in a room which was literally right above our heads........... they had windows open and were studying how to speak Gaelic! We were speaking their language!
# Posted on October 29th 2006 by nonesuch
Re: Most fun playing
I have to have had a good day that day prior to playing tunes in the evening. Also as Reverend said being comfortable with the people and the tunes...but also a good atmosphere in the pub of course. 'Backers' (I don't like that term!) who play really solidly but with the occasional unexpected or adventurous chord change... I dunno I'm just thinking out loud, I suppose altogether it's just the luck of being in the right 'place' at the right time, really!
# Posted on October 29th 2006 by Lizzy
Re: Most fun playing
I'd agree with everything Pete said, but would add that creating a musical connection with the people you're playing with is a major factor in getting that feeling of euphoria. There is a world of difference between sitting in the same room as a bunch of people playing the same tune and sitting in a room listening to each other and really playing WITH each other. It's like a drug high when you get it. Of course, when you don't have any connection at all, it can really suck. Like I had some amazing sessions in Camden Town and then when I returned home and played in the most disconnected session ever, I couldn't even deal with it.
To create that sort of connection, I think you need most people in the session to be on the same page in terms of what they want to play and also keep other factors like ego and territoriality to a minimum. If a couple people in the session want to only play with each other and tune out everyone else, it doesn't work. If some people only play, say Northumbrian tunes (a random example, of course) and others only play Irish tunes, it doesn't work. That sort of thing.
It is such a brilliant thing to have, though. Achieving that is one of the driving forces behind playing the music. It really is like an addiction to hard drugs.
P.S. I misses you, Pete!!!!!
# Posted on October 29th 2006 by TheSilverSpear
Re: Most fun playing
Rev, What a nice topic for a thread. For me, the best playing is WITHOUT amplification equipment, even though I enjoy gigs, I don't enjoy that part. Beyond that, the right people are important, don't have to be the best players, but with good collaborative attitudes, who bring a sense of joy to the music. And if there are people around us, like in a session, positive attitudes of those people can certainly push us to a higher level.
# Posted on October 29th 2006 by AlBrown
Re: Most fun playing
I play live gigs 5 times a week, and for me the most fun is when at least half the crowd (or half the crowd directly in view of the stage) is really into what I am playing. The show always includes lots of drinking and rebel songs that are best as "sing-alongs", and when the majority of the room is joining in, it is almost like magic.
One of my recent gigs was in New York, and the ENTIRE crowd (no kidding) was joining in on every song. When the pipes and accordion kicked in for the breaks, the place would just go nuts! People were clapping and stomping and shouting so hard, the glasses behind the bar were shaking almost off their shelves. Awesome!
# Posted on October 29th 2006 by IrishJim
Re: Most fun playing
I'd just like to say that us solitary (comparative beginner) whistlers have our moments too.
I always had trouble with "Haste to the Wedding". Last week I played a tune through a few times and hard to think for a minute to remember the name. Yep, it was "Haste to the Wedding" without a falter. That made me happy. Next stop "The Kid on the Mountain"...
# Posted on October 29th 2006 by Innocent Bystander
Re: Most fun playing
Your list is a good start, Pete--not sure I can add much to it. Except to echo that playing with friends is a blast. And this includes some people who connect the moment you meet them.
I also like Innocent Bystander's reminder that solo playing brings its own joys. Maybe not "euphoria" (depends on what you're smoking), but certainly a personal reverie and communion with the tunes.
One of my favorite rushes at a session comes from playing tunes we know well, but in fresh, seredipitous sets--unexpected but "just right" changes from one tune to the next.
# Posted on October 29th 2006 by Will CPT
Re: Most fun playing
Yeah, I like the "connecting with someone you just met" feeling too... And playing with old friends (not that I'm calling you old Will)
Miss you too Em, but there's some great music over there, so I keep telling you that you won't miss us for long!
Pete
# Posted on October 30th 2006 by Reverend
Re: Most fun playing
I simply adore it when punters shyly approach me with, "Could you play that one where...."
The children who finish their homework so they can come hear the fiddlers.
The family with the father in a wheelchair who comes every week to hear us play. You know you're putting some sunshine into a tough week.
The adorable young newlywed couple where the husband approaches me to offer me money to serenade his wife with "a romantic song." I serenaded with "When A Man's in Love, He Feels No Cold," and told the husband to put the donation in the tip pile for the waitstaff. (P.S., the wife was thrilled.)
Watching a crowd of folks stopped for a pre-rap concert drink getting into a type of music they've never heard before: "Hey, this stuff is cool"
Approaching tables to inform families with children, "You know, we really like dancers," and having our instrumental session turn into a real ceilidh.
This world really, really needs more live music.
# Posted on October 30th 2006 by cathrynb
Re: Most fun playing
Isn't it a great feeling when you can see people watching you and there's such a big smile on their faces..............
........Or when you've just started a session and someone walks in who you just know will just lift the whole night........
# Posted on October 30th 2006 by mikemcdaid
Re: Most fun playing
........when The Music takes over and everything else goes away.
# Posted on October 30th 2006 by flutedoog
Re: Most fun playing
We just made the hard decision to part company with one of the members of our four-person group. It was one of those things that immediately felt so good, the thought was "why did we put up with the disagreements for so long and why didn't we do this sooner?" And we invited a new person into the group with different musical tastes who played different instruments, and who has a wonderfully cooperative attitude. And creatively, things have just exploded, new songs, new tune sets, lots of laughs, even new approaches to old stuff. Good times!
# Posted on October 30th 2006 by AlBrown