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I have had the distinct pleasure and tremendous opportunity over time to sit in with some jazz groups in small intimate gigs. If I would have pulled out the fake Book it would not have been received well. So I would just Fake it. Maybe times are changin. Just sayin. I think this brings up a good point and that is it depends on what and whom you are playing with. Small jazz intimate gigs, especially with pro musicians, frown on books on stage. So do rock groups, especially those 'musicians' that jump around the stage like they have ants in their pants. However acts with a large repertoires may want some help and/or reminders. Our wedding band had a list of 350 songs that we had in one book but we also had fake books just in case. Another reason to learn to read music. YMMV
Life is short so make sure you spend as much time as possible on the Internet arguing with strangers.
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For newer songs during our band days Janice would tape a card to her old '18 with maybe a one or two word hint for each line of the song. She could get several songs on a file card and she had eagle eyesight. Worked for her.
Bud
Our albums and singles are on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube Music, Pandora and more. If interested search on Janice Merritt. Thanks! Our Videos
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For newer songs during our band days Janice would tape a card to her old '18 What might "her old '18" be?
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If you forget the words, do what the pros do ---- mumble  Isn't that exactly what 'scat' was invented for? It don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing
(Doo-ah, doo-ah, doo-ah, doo-ah, doo-ah, doo-ah, doo-ah, doo-ah)
BIAB & RB2026 Win.(Audiophile), Windows 10 Pro & Windows 11, Cakewalk Bandlab, Izotope Prod.Bundle, Roland RD-1000, Synthogy Ivory, Session Keys Grand S & Electric R, Kontakt, Focusrite 18i20, KetronSD2, NS40M, Pioneer Active Monitors.
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For newer songs during our band days Janice would tape a card to her old '18 What might "her old '18" be? 1943 D-18 Martin
Our albums and singles are on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube Music, Pandora and more. If interested search on Janice Merritt. Thanks! Our Videos
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"The bigger problem for a lot of us as we age (include me in this sentiment) is that the teleprompter needs to be on the Jumbotron for us to read it"
I think within Eddie's lifetime Google Glass will solve his problems with size of text - if they could just make it look like a cool pair of sunglasses - nobody has to know !!! The glasses even move with your body - so think about how much more natural you can be on stage !!!
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Wow yes you folks seem to be from the same school of thought that I am. Put on a good show, have a memory jogger if forgetfulness or nervousness is present.
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Hi, in the genré of barbershop singing
you´ll never see any notes or words
distracting the contact with the audience !
I have to admit, though, that singing
in a quartet or chorus gives you the
necessary confidence as it is unusual
that all singers runs out of words
simultaneously !
The immediate eye contact with
your audience is important as
you can´t convey emotions as good
othervise ?
Cheers
Dani
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When playing at retirement homes I realize that I need to split the computer screen between BIAB and lyrics, from a separate program. The reason being that the thought of that age group knowing the lyrics better than me is a strong possibility
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eddie1261
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eddie1261
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I think within Eddie's lifetime Google Glass will solve his problems with size of text They better hurry. I'm 64!!
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It's not much of a discussion when everyone's in agreement, so I thought I'd take the other side...
1) I've never seen a professional concert pianist use music. A lot to remember there, so it can be done.
2) Any form of prompt ties you to one spot on the stage - movement is part of performance and helps create atmosphere. We saw Tina Turner live only a few years ago when she was 69. There's no way she could do that act with a teleprompt.
3) If you have to concentrate on reading the words, it takes away some of the concentration you could be putting into the performance.
I realise I'm well outnumbered, here, but just sayin'...
ROG.
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Rog, they're all good and noteworthy points too.
The single difference might be that these are generally big acts, big shows, big expectations and come at a (usually big) price.
Nevertheless, all valid points.
Trev
BIAB & RB2026 Win.(Audiophile), Windows 10 Pro & Windows 11, Cakewalk Bandlab, Izotope Prod.Bundle, Roland RD-1000, Synthogy Ivory, Session Keys Grand S & Electric R, Kontakt, Focusrite 18i20, KetronSD2, NS40M, Pioneer Active Monitors.
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I think there is a disconnect in terminology here. Big name “artists” like Streisand, Springsteen, etc. have dozens of people running sound, lights, and pyro. They have people that tune their guitars. They also have an audience who came to see them specifically. It's a world apart from banging out covers in a raucous pub.
We've been using a computer onstage for years, and I have never had anyone complain that it was cheating.
IMO, when you're using tracks, the worst thing that can happen is not forgetting lyrics- it's getting out of sync with the tracks. Talk about a nightmare.
Regards,
Bob
Last edited by 90 dB; 09/02/15 03:43 AM. Reason: Just for fun
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I think there is a disconnect in terminology here. Big name “artists” like Streisand, Springsteen, etc. have dozens of people running sound, lights, and pyro. They have people that tune their guitars. They also have an audience who came to see them specifically. It's a world apart from banging out covers in a raucous pub.
We've been using a computer onstage for years, and I have never had anyone complain that it was cheating.
IMO, when you're using tracks, the worst thing that can happen is not forgetting lyrics- it's getting out of sync with the tracks. Talk about a nightmare.
Regards,
Bob Well said, the only thing I will add is that they also do the same tunes in the same order on every show for years in some cases. Plus in an hour show they may do 10 - 15 of these repeated songs at best. I see it occasionally from the so called "purist" on one of the eConcert venues I play. A remark here and there about how some performers/me rely to much on tracks and a monitor to read music and lyrics. Then I see that same "purist" do the same 1 hour show every day playing the same 10 - 12 songs in the same style and tempo and strumming pattern. Hell, if you do the same show everyday all of your life you should never need a monitor or sheet music. Just my 2 cents. Later,
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The real question at hand here is whether or not to let other people make your decisions for you.
Obviously, if you're up to the task, don't use any kind of prompts. There's no doubt that looks better, and will make the most favorable impression (assuming you don't screw up.)
But if you have a desire to play music in front of audiences, and you DON'T have the memory to pull it off... you basically have to choose between doing whatever it takes to make it possible...
... or give in to the nay sayers who pronounce that your plan isn't viable. I think the road to a frustrated existence is travelled mainly by people who willingly surrender their autonomy to public opinion.
As I look back over my life and consider the difference between people who accomplished things and those who didn't... it was far less a difference in ability than it was a difference in self-confidence. Those who were afraid of public opinion would never put their heads on the chopping block long enough to go through the necessary learning curve.
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I see it occasionally from the so called "purist" on one of the eConcert venues I play. A remark here and there about how some performers/me rely to much on tracks and a monitor to read music and lyrics. Then I see that same "purist" do the same 1 hour show every day playing the same 10 - 12 songs in the same style and tempo and strumming pattern. Hell, if you do the same show everyday all of your life you should never need a monitor or sheet music.
Just my 2 cents.
Later, hahahahhaa! Danny, I know exactly who you are talking about, and you NAILED it!
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Obviously, if you're up to the task, don't use any kind of prompts. There's no doubt that looks better, and will make the most favorable impression (assuming you don't screw up.)
But if you have a desire to play music in front of audiences, and you DON'T have the memory to pull it off... you basically have to choose between doing whatever it takes to make it possible...
.
Thanks, Pat. I think that about sums it up for me. The only rider I would add is that amongst those who choose not to learn the words and chords, I believe there are two groups - those who simply can't and those who won't bother putting in the time and effort it takes. ROG.
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I did vocal coaching for a while and we did concerts every term. We weren't allowed any prompts. If we messed up we messed up. I think most people can learn to perform without prompts. (Having said that some people forgot their lyrics a lot more than others). BUT we were expected to learn a song over FOUR WEEKS and never to work on more than two songs at a time!
I am simply too impatient. If I can't learn a song in half an hour I am not interested. I usually use scrolling lyrics with chords in them on my iPhone. I have a little gadget that attaches to my mike stand. This all helps me get up to speed very quickly and at least to a stage when I can perform the songs in public. I find the more I play the songs in public the less I need the prompts.
Next year I am planning to perform at the Grahamstown arts festival, doing the same set of songs for 50 minutes everyday for a week. I will definately not use any prompts for that.
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I have a little gadget that attaches to my mike stand. This all helps me get up to speed very quickly and at least to a stage when I can perform the songs in public. I find the more I play the songs in public the less I need the prompts.
Indeed, part of this discussion is a "which came first, the chicken or the egg?" consideration. I find that practice decreases my dependency on visual aids... but time in front of an audience is a necessary part of that practice. and it's something you can't get from practicing at home. The visual aids give me the confidence I need to face an audience. If the material had to be completely memorized before I got on stage, at age 62 that would effectively undermine my goal of performing. Ever. I don't want to end up as one of those people who practices forever and never performs.
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I don't want to end up as one of those people who practices forever and never performs.
Indeed Pat! This is something we definitely don't want. I played with a guy once. We practiced once a week, every week for a whole year and at the end of that year we had about 12 songs and still not a single gig in sight! Plus we had all the aids for backtracks and lyrics etc.Gave up on that one after that. As I said, I am not the most patient person on earth.
Last edited by JosieC; 09/03/15 02:37 AM.
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