Music Before the Money

In a previous blog I gave you a chilling account on how we used to learn songs before the advent of the tape machine. We would dump a couple of quarters in the jukebox and play the same song 6 times. Then, we would compare notes and fill in the blanks with whatever we thought would fit. To learn the solos took a lot more concentration. For this we really needed the record.

The key was to take a 45 and put the speed at 33rpm or an LP down to 16. Then you could hear the individual notes of a fast player like Alvin Lee or Johnny Winter. But it was not a perfect art and there were still gaps to fill.

Seen an artist in concert was a good way to see how the guitar player commanded certain licks. (Eddie Van Halen used to protect his unique style from other LA guitarists by turning his back on the audience) I saw Gordon Lightfoot in 1976 and sat up front so I could watch him play Don Quixote.

In Concert and Don Kirschner’s Rock Concert night on T.V. was another way to get the lowdown on licks. Because it was live sometimes the artists never played it like the record but you got to see how they held their guitar and even what pickup position they were using ontheir Strat ot Les Paul. However, there was really no way to see what the keyboardist was doing because he was always surrounded by banks of keyboards. For the most part each one only did one thing.

The came the videos and DVDs which are really great. If you live in a decent-sized town you can even borrow them from the library. I got an instructional video showing how to play Jerry Lee Lewis chops and it opened up my rock piano style immeasurably.

A few weeks ago my daughter showed me how she plays a Five for Fighting song. I was really impressed and asked her where she learned it and she pointed me to You-Tube. As it turned out there were 5 or 6 entries on the band and one lone guy from Sweden who was demonstrating how to play the step-by-step. This was the guy who taught her how to play the tune.

I wanted some more Jerry Lee and there are dozens of videos showing him performing in all stages of his career and other piano players demonstrating his style. Of course I watched a few of these and it perked up my playing again. Then I went on to Floyd Cramer and Chuck Berry. In all I blew 5 hours watching You-Tube and and running to the piano.

This is a great site for instruction. In fact there are a few teachers who give demo and then ask you to subscribe to their instructional videos. The prices are nominal, like a year’s worth of grabbing whatever you want for the price of a month’s lessons in a studio - and you get to learn what you want.

My next pedagogical endeavor will be the piano solo in The Way It Is by Bruce Hornsby.

Tonight, this is the greatest place in the world!”

- How Jerry Lee Lewis greets his audience in almost every show.

There’s an old saying that goes something like this: “There’s only one chance for a first impression.” So that’s why the first song of the night should be something with which you can set the pace of the night, or afternoon.

So many times I go out to see an act and he, she or they start out mellow or bluesy and when the first song is finished half the audience is gone. I know this very well because it’s happened to me - and the sight never gets easier to bear. You can blame it on the mental appreciation of the crowd in the place, or you can pat yourself on the back because you “got rid of the deadwood (I’ve honestly done this in the past), but it all comes down to this: Do you know your audience?

I played an average of 6 nights a week, 45 weeks a year for 29 years. That’s from 1975 to 2004. The vehicles used for this marathon were 3 rock bands, 2 showbands, 1 duo and just myself. With bands is simpler because people expect you to start out with a bang. With the showbands we tended to “warm up the audience” because they were there to see a show. But with a single, especially a piano player, it’s a lot tougher. You have to have the song and the talk coordinated.

Greet Them Like They Are Your Your Best Friends

However, the first point I want to make is your arrival. I suggest you come into the room with a big smile and make eye contact with as many people as you can. Make them feel that this is the only place you’d rather be. Then sit down at the piano - or take the stage - like the venue is your own front room. Remember, if the audience doesn’t know who you are they are as tentative of you as you are of them. Get a few of them on you side right off the bat with, “How’re you doing?” or “That’s a great tie!” A few well-placed remarks, accompanied by a gracious smile, goes a ong way to warming up the crowd.

Make the First Song Count

For example, if you have a rowdy bunch who are ready to party they don’t want to hear how witty you are or that you can play a very busy version of Scotch and Soda. They want party music. So I would give them Jerry Lee Lewis, fast Beatles (I Saw Her Standing There) or some ’80’s stuff like Dire Straits. Then I would fire off a few more remarks, “It’s great to see you all here tonight!”

Remember, the people want a show. They can get great music off the web anytime they want and their iPods are constantly streaming tunes. But you are live, an entertainment form that people rarely see anymore.

I recently read a post (can’t find it again!) where someone complains that “Beatle festivals” are bogus because no surviving Beatles ever go to them. He goes on to say that the fact that former Beatles personnel and friends - people who knew the members of the group - are invited is a travesty. These people, the post goes on to say, “feed off the Beatle name.”

My spin on this is that these Beatle events are not Star Trek conventions. Ringo and Paul are not like “Mr. Sulu” and “7 of 9″ (or Klingon #6 in The Wrath of Khan). Whatever their reasons for not wanting to come to these events honoring their glory days I think it is their business.

Shatner a Convert 

It is reported that William Shatner’s attitude toward Star Trek conventions was disdain or, if he wanted to go, he’d in the day of his appearance, go straight from the airport to the stage, and then leave as quickly as possible. However, when he went on an extensive tour to promote Generations, he became (in the words out his book, Get a Life!) “Ebenezer Scrooge on Christmas morning.”

Now, maybe Ringo and Paul will wake up one day and realize that they want to go to a few of these events to feel what their legions of fans felt for them. I mean it’s not like they are going to have their hair ripped out. (Hell, some of these fans are getting around with walkers). But it is their choice.

A ’60’s Carnival 

However, for the fans and performers occasion like these give them the chance to get together with like-minded people and re-live some of the highlights. I really doubt that many of the fans were around during Beatlemania - and some have never seen the movies - but they are grand affairs where, for one brief time of the year, you can relive a time that changed the world. Because, it’s not just Beatle-everything, it also encompasses the styles and events that were going on at the time.

So, give it a go! List of Beatles Events in 2008

I’ve been on a mailing and emailing rapport with Pat George, the owner of the Entertainment Agency in Boston, for 16 years. I only worked for him a couple of times (due to domestic concerns) but Pat books all over the world.

What I do remember during that time was how good he was at supporting his entertainers. On NewYear’s Day 1995 the cruise ship I was working on got walloped by a huge storm, causing injuries to the passengers and damaging the boat. The boat went into dry dock and the company was going to take off the 10 day lay-up off my pay (I actually worked for the bosun repainting lines on the car decks just to keep from getting bored). Pat immediately told the cruise line that he would suspend every act going forward if I wasn’t paid. And I was was!

Pat books numerous piano players, pub entertainers and bands and his venues range from the U.S to Russia with stops in Dubai, Europe and the Caribbean.

For more information on Pat’s company: The Entertainment Agency

THE ENTERTAINMENT AGENCY | 172 Main Street | Spencer MA 01562-2117 USA
Phone +1 508 885-6911 | Fax +1 508 885-6912 | Email enquiries@entagency.com

In 1994-95 I went over seas to play in Iceland and Norway. The trips were arduous to say the least because the Canadian and American agents knew very little about geography. For example, they originally had me flying into Oslo to catch a cruise ship in Bergen (MV Color Line). Something didn’t seem right with this so I got out a trusty atlas. Sure enough, as I figured, Bergen was on the other side of the country. And even though Norway is not a big country transportation is big deal because of the mountains and long fjords.

The second leg was up to Loen which took 20 hours by bus through long tunnels through the mountain and across and around a few very long fjords. It was beautiful country but I knew I wouldn’t get there in time to play the first night of the gig.

However, I would recommend these experiences to all performers because this is what being a musician is all about. The people I met and circumstances I encountered in a 6-month period would fill volumes.

One of the great characters I met was an agent named Mirko Fistravec who situated in Groeningen, Holland. At the time I knew this about him: He was from Bulgaria, booked acts in Norway and Europe, lived in Holland and was married to a Norwegian girl. As well, he was great company!

Over the years we’ve corresponded even though, with a family, I could not get over to take some of his great gigs. Since then the internet has broken open the global gigs for entertainers, a fact that I am resigned to. In essence, I was ten years too early! I would highly recommend my readers who are interested to contact Mirko. Now he books in Dubai, Russia, etc.

One of these days I’m going to meet Mirko. Because even though it was 13 years ago I still consider him one of my favorite people!

Contact info:

MF Music Nederland
Mirko Fistravec

office: Poelestraat 24C * NL-9712 KB Groningen * Netherlands
web : http://www.mf-music.com
e-mail: info@mf-music.com

tel. : + 31-50-3122874 fax : + 31-50-3144310
mob. : + 31-653-236404

http://www.mf-music.com or http://www.mf-music.nl