Succeeding in the Performing Arts: Difference between revisions

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Discussion: [http://bose.infopop.cc/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/6806048934/m/2751069215 Green Room]

== Hydration ==

The stage is a very de-hydrating environment.

We recommend that you keep hydrated all day before a performance.

Avoid sudden hydrating before the show unless you have breaks planned accordingly.

When we are dehydrated we are not at our best -- a fact proven in many studies. It is also not good for general heath.

If you must sip from plastic water bottles of water on stage do so discretely, for example during the initial applause after a song. Sipping from a bottle when the audience's full attention is on you -- for example when you are talking between tunes to them -- is often awkward for the audience.

Discussion: [http://bose.infopop.cc/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/6806048934/m/3211010315?r=3211010315 Hydration]

== Larger Than Life ==

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Discussion: [http://bose.infopop.cc/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/6806048934/m/9781009415 Larger Than Life]

== Less Is (often) More ==

We find it uncomfortable to keep audiences in their seats for more than about 45-60 minutes and we find performing artists often going over this limit.

Audiences need time to stretch their legs, get a drink, go to the restroom, and talk.

Artists too need the break.

We think intermissions should be brief and crisp. Audiences should know when the next set will start, either by a friendly flashing of the lights, or an announcement of some kind.

We are wary of the artist that has much more to say than the audience member can absorb.

We note certain infrequent exceptions: when the audience/artist is in rapture and you can hold them there, time does not matter.

Discussion: [http://bose.infopop.cc/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/6806048934/m/2711042515 Less Is (often) More]

== Liquids on Stage: Ground Your Liquids ==

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Discussion: [http://bose.infopop.cc/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/6806048934/m/7811054515 Ground Your Liquids]

== Making BIG Mistakes ==

Not unlike the "Game Tapes" Thread under this same topic, in order to be your best, you must always put it out there. Don't be timid. I believe that almost all of your success is dependent on confidence. From that stems "the rest".

This is especially true in rehearsal. Go for it! If you're not sure of a note, so what? Get it out there so you can actually hear it, then you can fix it. Maybe you don't know how. If nobody else can hear your mistake, then they can't help you either.

~~== Physical Preparation ==~~

If you make a mistake during a gig, don't linger on it. GO ON! You'll screw up something else to be sure if you think about the last mistake. Of course, if you are confident in what you are doing, you'll no doubt sell it, and your audience won't know anything was wrong.

~~=== Hydration ===~~

~~Ken-at-Bose<ref>~~[http://bose.infopop.cc/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/6806048934/m/~~3211010315?r~~=~~3211010315#3211010315 Ken~~-at-~~Bose Hydration]</ref>~~

Get in the habit of making big mistakes. They'll be much more noticeable to you and more quickly fixed.

Discussion: [http://bose.infopop.cc/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/6806048934/m/1271074515 Making BIG Mistakes]

== Packing Your Own Parachute ==

We've learned that it's always worth the extra effort to quickly set up your rig before you leave for the gig, then pack it yourself so that you are almost guaranteed that you won't have left anything and that things will work on the gig end.

We call this "packing your own parachute" -- an old term from the military used in the literal sense. If your parachute doesn't open, whom do you have to blame?

~~The stage is a very de-hydrating environment.~~

~~We recommend that you keep hydrated all day before~~ a ~~performance.~~

Discussion: [http://bose.infopop.cc/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/6806048934/m/6771009415 Packing Your Own Parachute]

~~Avoid sudden hydrating before the show unless you have breaks planned accordingly.~~

~~When we are dehydrated we are not at our best -- a fact proven in many studies. It is also not good for general heath.~~

If you must sip from plastic water bottles of water on stage do so discretely, for example during the initial applause after a song. Sipping from a bottle when the audience's full attention is on you -- for example when you are talking between tunes to them -- is often awkward for the audience.

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== Setting the Stage ==

~~== Larger Than Life ==~~

Discussion: [http://bose.infopop.cc/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/6806048934/m/4081035515 Setting the Stage]What you do to 'set the stage' for your performance?

~~Ken-at-Bose<ref>~~[http://bose.infopop.cc/eve/forums?a=tpc&f=6806048934&m~~=9781009415&r=9781009415#9781009415 Ken-at-Bose Larger Than Life]<~~/~~ref>~~

~~Sometimes, when we see a performer backstage or in~~ the ~~wings, they look "larger than life" or even a little garish. The makeup may look overdone, or~~ the ~~clothing too, well, big.~~

~~But there's a long tradition in~~ the ~~performing arts of compensating~~ for ~~the emptiness of the stage and distance of the audience by exaggerating wardrobe, makeup, hair, etc~~.

I am asking about anything that you do to prepare the audience for your show.

~~We know~~ a ~~performer who has special shoes for playing. He's~~ a ~~frontman~~. ~~And~~ the ~~shoes are BIG --~~ way ~~too big for his feat~~. ~~And yet, when you see him on stage, everything~~'s in ~~proportion. He takes~~ the ~~shoes off after~~ the ~~show and would never wear them to drinks or dinner. They'd stand out as odd~~.

I am careful about the visual impression. In smaller places there can be artwork, kitschy decorations, light streaming through a door to a storage space, and the occasional mop handle intruding on the scene on stage. I try to clear all of that out of the way, or at least be aware of what might be peeking out from behind my head. I've played in front of some pretty strange artwork and the visual impression of some goth creature glaring down at me from behind was completely incongruous with the music.

~~Ken~~

Taking control of the aural experience (playing your tracks through the L1™ before you start) seems like a great idea. It certainly beats gesticulating wildly and mouthing a plea to turn down the stereo at someone behind the bar. But it also seems like a good way to set the tone of the room. It is so clearly different when the music is coming from one direction or another. Having the music come from your L1™ just makes so much sense. So does choosing the music that you will follow.

~~== Packing Your Own Parachute ==~~

~~Ken-at-Bose<ref>[http://bose~~.~~infopop.cc/eve/forums/~~a~~/tpc/f/6806048934/m/6771009415 Ken-~~at~~-Bose Packing Your Own Parachute]</ref>~~

~~We've learned that~~ it~~'s always worth the extra effort~~ to ~~quickly~~ set ~~up your rig before you leave for~~ the ~~gig, then pack it yourself~~ so ~~that you are almost guaranteed that you won't have left anything and that things will work on~~ the ~~gig end~~.

~~We call this "packing~~ your ~~own parachute" -- an old term from the military used in the literal~~ sense. ~~If your parachute doesn't open, whom do~~ you ~~have to blame?~~

In places with small stages, there may not be any controllable lighting. Do you bring any with you? I've noticed that LED lights looking relatively inexpensive, cool, and lightweight. Anybody using something like this?

----

@@ Line 156: / Line 156: @@
 Discussion: [http://bose.infopop.cc/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/6806048934/m/2751069215 Green Room]
+== Hydration ==
+The stage is a very de-hydrating environment.
+We recommend that you keep hydrated all day before a performance.
+Avoid sudden hydrating before the show unless you have breaks planned accordingly.
+When we are dehydrated we are not at our best -- a fact proven in many studies. It is also not good for general heath.
+If you must sip from plastic water bottles of water on stage do so discretely, for example during the initial applause after a song. Sipping from a bottle when the audience's full attention is on you -- for example when you are talking between tunes to them -- is often awkward for the audience.
+Discussion: [http://bose.infopop.cc/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/6806048934/m/3211010315?r=3211010315 Hydration]
 == Larger Than Life ==
@@ Line 167: / Line 180: @@
 Discussion: [http://bose.infopop.cc/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/6806048934/m/9781009415 Larger Than Life]
+== Less Is (often) More ==
+We find it uncomfortable to keep audiences in their seats for more than about 45-60 minutes and we find performing artists often going over this limit.
+Audiences need time to stretch their legs, get a drink, go to the restroom, and talk.
+Artists too need the break.
+We think intermissions should be brief and crisp. Audiences should know when the next set will start, either by a friendly flashing of the lights, or an announcement of some kind.
+We are wary of the artist that has much more to say than the audience member can absorb.
+We note certain infrequent exceptions: when the audience/artist is in rapture and you can hold them there, time does not matter.
+Discussion: [http://bose.infopop.cc/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/6806048934/m/2711042515 Less Is (often) More]
 == Liquids on Stage: Ground Your Liquids ==
@@ Line 179: / Line 204: @@
 Discussion: [http://bose.infopop.cc/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/6806048934/m/7811054515 Ground Your Liquids]
+== Making BIG Mistakes ==
+Not unlike the "Game Tapes" Thread under this same topic, in order to be your best, you must always put it out there. Don't be timid. I believe that almost all of your success is dependent on confidence. From that stems "the rest".
+This is especially true in rehearsal. Go for it! If you're not sure of a note, so what? Get it out there so you can actually hear it, then you can fix it. Maybe you don't know how. If nobody else can hear your mistake, then they can't help you either.
-== Physical Preparation ==
+If you make a mistake during a gig, don't linger on it. GO ON! You'll screw up something else to be sure if you think about the last mistake. Of course, if you are confident in what you are doing, you'll no doubt sell it, and your audience won't know anything was wrong.
-=== Hydration ===
-Ken-at-Bose<ref>[http://bose.infopop.cc/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/6806048934/m/3211010315?r=3211010315#3211010315 Ken-at-Bose Hydration]</ref>
+Get in the habit of making big mistakes. They'll be much more noticeable to you and more quickly fixed.
+Discussion: [http://bose.infopop.cc/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/6806048934/m/1271074515 Making BIG Mistakes]
+== Packing Your Own Parachute ==
+We've learned that it's always worth the extra effort to quickly set up your rig before you leave for the gig, then pack it yourself so that you are almost guaranteed that you won't have left anything and that things will work on the gig end.
+We call this "packing your own parachute" -- an old term from the military used in the literal sense. If your parachute doesn't open, whom do you have to blame?
-The stage is a very de-hydrating environment.
-We recommend that you keep hydrated all day before a performance.
+Discussion: [http://bose.infopop.cc/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/6806048934/m/6771009415 Packing Your Own Parachute]
-Avoid sudden hydrating before the show unless you have breaks planned accordingly.
-When we are dehydrated we are not at our best -- a fact proven in many studies. It is also not good for general heath.
-If you must sip from plastic water bottles of water on stage do so discretely, for example during the initial applause after a song. Sipping from a bottle when the audience's full attention is on you -- for example when you are talking between tunes to them -- is often awkward for the audience.
@@ Line 215: / Line 247: @@
 {{:Scouting the Venue}}
+== Setting the Stage ==
-== Larger Than Life ==
+Discussion: [http://bose.infopop.cc/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/6806048934/m/4081035515 Setting the Stage]What you do to 'set the stage' for your performance?
-Ken-at-Bose<ref>[http://bose.infopop.cc/eve/forums?a=tpc&f=6806048934&m=9781009415&r=9781009415#9781009415 Ken-at-Bose Larger Than Life]</ref>
-Sometimes, when we see a performer backstage or in the wings, they look "larger than life" or even a little garish. The makeup may look overdone, or the clothing too, well, big.
-But there's a long tradition in the performing arts of compensating for the emptiness of the stage and distance of the audience by exaggerating wardrobe, makeup, hair, etc.
+I am asking about anything that you do to prepare the audience for your show.
-We know a performer who has special shoes for playing. He's a frontman. And the shoes are BIG -- way too big for his feat. And yet, when you see him on stage, everything's in proportion. He takes the shoes off after the show and would never wear them to drinks or dinner. They'd stand out as odd.
+I am careful about the visual impression. In smaller places there can be artwork, kitschy decorations, light streaming through a door to a storage space, and the occasional mop handle intruding on the scene on stage. I try to clear all of that out of the way, or at least be aware of what might be peeking out from behind my head. I've played in front of some pretty strange artwork and the visual impression of some goth creature glaring down at me from behind was completely incongruous with the music.
-Ken
+Taking control of the aural experience (playing your tracks through the L1™ before you start) seems like a great idea. It certainly beats gesticulating wildly and mouthing a plea to turn down the stereo at someone behind the bar. But it also seems like a good way to set the tone of the room. It is so clearly different when the music is coming from one direction or another. Having the music come from your L1™ just makes so much sense. So does choosing the music that you will follow.
-== Packing Your Own Parachute ==
-Ken-at-Bose<ref>[http://bose.infopop.cc/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/6806048934/m/6771009415 Ken-at-Bose Packing Your Own Parachute]</ref>
-We've learned that it's always worth the extra effort to quickly set up your rig before you leave for the gig, then pack it yourself so that you are almost guaranteed that you won't have left anything and that things will work on the gig end.
-We call this "packing your own parachute" -- an old term from the military used in the literal sense. If your parachute doesn't open, whom do you have to blame?
+In places with small stages, there may not be any controllable lighting. Do you bring any with you? I've noticed that LED lights looking relatively inexpensive, cool, and lightweight. Anybody using something like this?
 ----