Yup.
I work these types gigs, third row work looking at the back of the heads of the 'talent', and music stands/stools are sometimes an issue. BTW I've laid charts on the stage floor too.
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Charts (or not)?
- Thread starter paulpos
- Start date
Yup.
I work these types gigs, third row work looking at the back of the heads of the 'talent', and music stands/stools are sometimes an issue. BTW I've laid charts on the stage floor too.
scotch
It's not rocket science!
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scotch
It's not rocket science!
- Nov 12, 2006
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- Disclosures
- Please see Profile for Endorsement disclosures
Like some others have touched on I'd say it depends on the type of music as well as the situation. No one going to a high energy punk/rock and roll show is going to want to see a guitarist/bassist on stage with a music stand and notes.
Regardless, the singer was happy with your performance. Why bother yourself with what one heckler thought? You had a legitimate reason for not being able to fully learn each song from memorization, and playing the songs correctly is more important than image.
Regardless, the singer was happy with your performance. Why bother yourself with what one heckler thought? You had a legitimate reason for not being able to fully learn each song from memorization, and playing the songs correctly is more important than image.
I encountered this issue with one of the bands that I play in.
The bandleader/guitard was upset that I used a chart for 1 song even though I didn't use charts for the other 35 songs. He is a control freak and the chart issue was just the tip of the iceberg.
I believe that those who are comfortable with charts onstage have more of a "musician's mentality/attitude" eg jazz, classical etc.
Those who don't want charts onstage have more of a "rockstar attitude".
The bandleader/guitard was upset that I used a chart for 1 song even though I didn't use charts for the other 35 songs. He is a control freak and the chart issue was just the tip of the iceberg.
I believe that those who are comfortable with charts onstage have more of a "musician's mentality/attitude" eg jazz, classical etc.
Those who don't want charts onstage have more of a "rockstar attitude".
That because the band is miming to a "live" recording they made earlier - it might look and sound live, but it just wouldn't work in TV - they always record the musical sound separately and just have a vocal mic on to give the illusion.
Yes - people who have a "rockstar attitude" think that written music/charts inhibit their creativity - whereas real musicians know this is total rubbish!!
Personally, I've found that people who are not able to read written music/charts inhibits their ability to get paid work ^_^.
My nickname for myself has been chart boy. Especially for jazz shows.
I recently did 4 shows with a Canadian singer Emm Gryner. We have ore shows together in the Fall. I decided that she probably wouldn't want charts on stage so played the tunes over and over. The first gig I was more nervous than I've been in a while: big crowd, big artist, no safety net. It went well and we are adding more and more tunes as time goes by and trying to keep memorizing them. I don't think she would have minded either way but I thought it better for the gig.
I've got some shows with Colleen Brown this fall and her tunes are quite different in where the changes fall but I intend to memorize hers as well.
I still use charts for a lot of things and will never stop but it felt great to do a show without music for the first time in years. Used to to it all the time as a kid. Does the 44 year old brain work differently?
I recently did 4 shows with a Canadian singer Emm Gryner. We have ore shows together in the Fall. I decided that she probably wouldn't want charts on stage so played the tunes over and over. The first gig I was more nervous than I've been in a while: big crowd, big artist, no safety net. It went well and we are adding more and more tunes as time goes by and trying to keep memorizing them. I don't think she would have minded either way but I thought it better for the gig.
I've got some shows with Colleen Brown this fall and her tunes are quite different in where the changes fall but I intend to memorize hers as well.
I still use charts for a lot of things and will never stop but it felt great to do a show without music for the first time in years. Used to to it all the time as a kid. Does the 44 year old brain work differently?
Musicians worry about getting the music right.
Rockstars worry about getting "the look" right.
Sometimes we get lucky and get to see Entertainers that can actually do both.
Rockstars worry about getting "the look" right.
Sometimes we get lucky and get to see Entertainers that can actually do both.
I think there's a right answer, which is to do that which allows you to best confidently do the gig and deliver the musical goods. If that occurs in your case by having the charts up there on stage as a reference point, then by all means, do that. I'd worry a LOT LESS about whether someone thinks you LOOK like a "greenhorn" than SOUND like a greenhorn. In the end, I think that serving and delivering the music will carry the day much more than image.
scotch
It's not rocket science!
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Not true! At least, not always...
I notice you're from the UK. This might explain something. For some reason, in the UK, Canada, and Europe (as well as Japan and S. Korea)- it is standard procedure to perform "full-playback" or "playback w/ live vocal" on televised shows. For example, I've appeared on 'Top Of The Pops' where indeed I was playing along to the recording. Jules Holland, on the other hand, you actually do play live!
Here in The States', however, "full-playback" is the exception to the rule. Yes, sometimes, an act will "fake it", but most actually play live. I've done most of the big shows on U.S. tv (Letterman, Leno, Ellen, Conan, Good Morning America, etc...) and we have always performed live- no playback or pre-recording!
Some of the shows (Conan O'Brien's former show, for instance) do allow you to go in and punch-in any 'fixes' after the taping. I never have, but the option is there.
I'm not sure why the trend is different in other countries, but the pattern definitely exists! I'll be performing on the Canadian CMA Awards in a couple of weeks. Full Playback.
And the band is really good! Oh well... that's how they do it every year.
That music stand in the photo ain't holding manuscript paper, it's probably lyric sheets.
John
Personally I use them and don't feel that they are a crutch. I have had objections from other musicians but those are generally players who don't read. Even on my relatively simple R&R gig I have a sheet with titles, keys, thumbnail of changes and any arrangement notes or lines but it sits on a floor stand. The C&W gig has everything in Nashville and again it is in a binder on a floor stand.
That's why I have a music stand and charts - so it is the little fiddly things that I forget - so not the actual tune or chord changes. It's - how many times do we do this bit, what happens after the solos, how does it end etc. etc.
I remember being in a group and the drummer said to me - you're not reading that music, why have you got it there? And I explained that it was all these little things about arrangements of the tunes.
So - quite often, you can play the same tunes with different bands and there are little differences that you just can't remember unless you write it on the chart!!
Personally I can't stand seeing music stands on stage unless it's an orchestra. I feel like I'm watching guys who haven't internalized the songs are and there to bang out some tunes, collect their money and go home.
I read music, treble clef, bass clef, read and play classical guitar music.
Here's a funny story of the last time I used any kind of charts...
I was 18, I learned about 30 songs in two weeks but had problems with some of the middle bits. I wrote out changes for some and taped them to the back of our PA speaker. The song in question was "Bitch" by the Stones. The song comes, I'm ready to look over at the changes for the middle, the red stage light come on and...my sheet of paper is now totally blank! Seems I wrote it out in RED INK and of course red ink becomes invisible in RED LIGHT. Thought I was was gonna die from embarrassment
After that I made it a point to learn my song well before I start singin' .
I read music, treble clef, bass clef, read and play classical guitar music.
Here's a funny story of the last time I used any kind of charts...
I was 18, I learned about 30 songs in two weeks but had problems with some of the middle bits. I wrote out changes for some and taped them to the back of our PA speaker. The song in question was "Bitch" by the Stones. The song comes, I'm ready to look over at the changes for the middle, the red stage light come on and...my sheet of paper is now totally blank! Seems I wrote it out in RED INK and of course red ink becomes invisible in RED LIGHT. Thought I was was gonna die from embarrassment
After that I made it a point to learn my song well before I start singin' .
That's the skill of the professional - making it sound convincing when you're seeing it for the first time ever or making it sound fresh when you've played the chart so many times that you're sick of the sight and sound of it
.... or if you've had a bad day, or are p*****d off with life in general, or the music you're playing is garbage, and/or the band you're playing with sucks, and/or and the audience don't care anyway.....
You're a professional, so smile and carry on.. ^_^.
