I have been playing for 16 years or so fiddle, and always with accompanist but lately due to scheduling and whatnot, have thought of playing solo when accompanist is not available, as an alternative to not playing at all.
What is involved other than picking the best tunes you know and putting together a setlist that you can play through any errors.
I usually make errors in playing especially after the third or fourth Guinness but also get more fluidity. We play without sound system.
What‘s the drill, just loosen up and play through the list and down the dark beer?
I should add that I have done a fair amount of busking and park playing, solo, and then take more risks in playing stuff that I don’t play at gigs.
I rarely, if ever, take solo gigs...I just find it too difficult to play for an audience without accompaniment. I just think it sounds empty. Busking by myself is easy enough, but I don't do it otherwise.
I've done some of this over the years, on various instruments, including fiddle. It's very freeing--no need to worry about whether your partner will follow on every change of key, mood, tune type, etc. Airs get their full due.
Remember that this is how the music has been played for eons.
Yes, if you get distracted or just have a bad day, you can loose the thread of the tune in mid-flight, and there's no one to give you cover. Had that happen no few times, though much less now than in the early days. Your busking will have prepared you for faffing along till the tune comes back. I can recall twice when I just stopped cold--just started up again. No one seemed to mind all that much, and it wasn't like I was auditioning for Albert Hall. And I saw Johnny Cunningham stop short in solo concert once--we all forgave him instantly (and that was a room half full of musicians).
And the money is good.
Recently did a duo gig, and ended up playing several solos while the other guy dealt with something suddenly more important than the gig he'd asked me to sit in on. I took it as an opportunity to play some tunes he doesn't do, and to stick with one tune in particular 6 times through, layering in variations. At night's end, the emcee thanked us and asked the audience to give a hand to my mate and "his accompanist." (I played melody all night.) We got a good laugh over that.
My only rule of thumb for soloing is to start out with something that I know stone cold, frontwards and backwards. That sets the stage for the rest of the night--puts me and the audience at ease straight off. I guess the only other thing to consider is to vary your intensity a fair bit--relax with some easy-going pieces. It lets you and your listeners rest, and sets off the higher-energy pieces.
The good. frees you up, lets you be creative, great for your confidence.
The bad. if you go back and forth with ensembles or sessions, you have to make sure you "don't take a right when the other players are taking a left" and don't be too assertive in setting pace and expression.
The ugly. Don't drink and solo. I've always felt that you get fearless after a few cold ones when you work alone. In this ancient times, you only had to worry that someone might have had a tape recorder to memorialize how fearless you were.
With the internet generation of YouTube and Camera phones, alcohol induced fearlessness will gain you perpetual notariety.
Playing solo - advice needed
Playing solo - advice needed
How many of you play at gigs solo?
I have been playing for 16 years or so fiddle, and always with accompanist but lately due to scheduling and whatnot, have thought of playing solo when accompanist is not available, as an alternative to not playing at all.
What is involved other than picking the best tunes you know and putting together a setlist that you can play through any errors.
I usually make errors in playing especially after the third or fourth Guinness but also get more fluidity. We play without sound system.
What‘s the drill, just loosen up and play through the list and down the dark beer?
I should add that I have done a fair amount of busking and park playing, solo, and then take more risks in playing stuff that I don’t play at gigs.
-dogma
# Posted on September 17th 2007 by dogmageek
Re: Playing solo - advice needed
I rarely, if ever, take solo gigs...I just find it too difficult to play for an audience without accompaniment. I just think it sounds empty. Busking by myself is easy enough, but I don't do it otherwise.
# Posted on September 17th 2007 by irishfiddler32
Re: Playing solo - advice needed
I've done some of this over the years, on various instruments, including fiddle. It's very freeing--no need to worry about whether your partner will follow on every change of key, mood, tune type, etc. Airs get their full due.
Remember that this is how the music has been played for eons.
Yes, if you get distracted or just have a bad day, you can loose the thread of the tune in mid-flight, and there's no one to give you cover. Had that happen no few times, though much less now than in the early days. Your busking will have prepared you for faffing along till the tune comes back. I can recall twice when I just stopped cold--just started up again. No one seemed to mind all that much, and it wasn't like I was auditioning for Albert Hall. And I saw Johnny Cunningham stop short in solo concert once--we all forgave him instantly (and that was a room half full of musicians).
And the money is good.
Recently did a duo gig, and ended up playing several solos while the other guy dealt with something suddenly more important than the gig he'd asked me to sit in on. I took it as an opportunity to play some tunes he doesn't do, and to stick with one tune in particular 6 times through, layering in variations. At night's end, the emcee thanked us and asked the audience to give a hand to my mate and "his accompanist." (I played melody all night.) We got a good laugh over that.
My only rule of thumb for soloing is to start out with something that I know stone cold, frontwards and backwards. That sets the stage for the rest of the night--puts me and the audience at ease straight off. I guess the only other thing to consider is to vary your intensity a fair bit--relax with some easy-going pieces. It lets you and your listeners rest, and sets off the higher-energy pieces.
# Posted on September 17th 2007 by Will CPT
Re: Playing solo - advice needed
...... maybe less beer?
(oooh don't shoot me now!)
# Posted on September 17th 2007 by morning star
Re: Playing solo - advice needed
Heh, another good rule of thumb: never drink faster than your audience....
# Posted on September 17th 2007 by Will CPT
Re: Playing solo - advice needed
been doig it for years on various instruments.
The good. frees you up, lets you be creative, great for your confidence.
The bad. if you go back and forth with ensembles or sessions, you have to make sure you "don't take a right when the other players are taking a left" and don't be too assertive in setting pace and expression.
The ugly. Don't drink and solo. I've always felt that you get fearless after a few cold ones when you work alone. In this ancient times, you only had to worry that someone might have had a tape recorder to memorialize how fearless you were.
With the internet generation of YouTube and Camera phones, alcohol induced fearlessness will gain you perpetual notariety.
# Posted on September 17th 2007 by zippydw
Re: Playing solo - advice needed
Good luck!
# Posted on September 17th 2007 by jig