PG Music Home Forums General Discussion Off-Topic What constitutes live performance?

Pat, that is my point in a nut shell. I know no one here means to be snooty about it, but in reality it comes off that way. It is just human nature, to think that if they don't do it my way it is the wrong way, and therefore inferior.

Take your point of bluegrass, many of us came up on it in some way or another. I grew up listening to the Oprey, and folks like Bill Monroe, and such. But other than a few big names mainstream America does not recall many artist in that genre, 'cept maybe the Dirt band. HHhhmmm bluegrass, and country mixed with a touch of rock, and roll?!?!

As far as your point about a solo guitarist/vocalist I have heard some great ones. Some who play jazz standards, classical ditties, folk tunes, Pop/rock/country standards, and many are pretty darned good, a few that were outstanding, but many are just okay. Their guitar playing was average, and vocals just about the same. Now i have heard some one man bands that were stunningly incredible, versatile, and very entertaining. What go me into creating a one man band setup was a cruise my wife and i took about 10 years ago. There was a guy, with about 3 different nice guitars, and a small laptop running a sequencer, Cubase i believe, that was routed through a Yamaha synth, and a couple rack mounted effects, and that dude could play anything, he was a very accomplished guitarist, but he sounded like a 5 piece cover band that had decades of polish. People were sitting around filing every seat around listening to every set he played.

After spending a few years early on in a band that never agreed on song list, lead singer turns, and practice times, then several years sitting around playing my guitar for any who would listen i decided to develop a show even if it was just for fun. about the time i got my system running properly, and i found BiaB, i was asked to play a going away party for a dear friend. It had been years since i had really played for people other than a with few close friends here and there, or my parent anniversary party a few years back duo-ed with my brother in law on fiddle.

I was shocked when i found myself in front of about 150 people. I played a set of about 15 songs (all i had prepared) rather than 20 or so listeners, and 130 milling around doing other things. I found myself with a pack house standing room only situation. People were amazed at what i had put together, and i received a ton of compliments. I was asked back the next time a good friend moved away. and that time put together a full show complete with another 16 songs solo, and another 6 or so with guest artist.

I am sure that is i sat there and play nothing but the guitar and sang folks would have politely listened for a while then slowly started to lose interest and i would have been forced to compete with a talking crowd. Rather than that i had the front row clapping, and the back rows dancing!

Point to be made. This software has given me something i always wanted. An opportunity to entertain, and entertain well. I gotta say the crowd was live even if i wasn't!