1) Playing solo, you can't rely on killer beats or sheer gut-thumping volume to convince the unconverted. Alone and exposed on an emotional tightrope (with no safety net) you have to win people over with guile, great tunes and sheer force of personality. That needs all the help you can get. You can learn loads by watching other performers, good or bad. Either steal their techniques or make sure you learn from their mistakes. And visuals, presentation, lighting - even the seating plan - all drastically affect the way your performance gets across: much more than with bands. Very few solo artists bother with this stuff, so if you put in enough thought, preparation and commitment, you'll wipe the floor with the opposition every time.
Aurgh! My secret is out!!! :) Seriously, this is how I've performed for all these years. It's always a two stage process- first you have to get their attention to be effective at all- and that requires you to *BE ENTERTAINING*. Which means thinking ahead a bit, and working....
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ericcoleman
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Date: 2009-03-12 07:23 pm (UTC)Aurgh! My secret is out!!! :) Seriously, this is how I've performed for all these years. It's always a two stage process- first you have to get their attention to be effective at all- and that requires you to *BE ENTERTAINING*. Which means thinking ahead a bit, and working....
Excellent article, Eric. Thanks.