Well, I'm about to embark on my new solo acoustic project... I have many years onstage experience with bands, but I've done this in the past (10 or 11 years ago) and I remember it as a lonely gig, nobody to help cover up the clam-notes and flubbed lyrics, 50 of them and only one of you, that kind of thing.
Anyhoo, does anybody have any helpful hints for me? Specifically, is there a particular type of song that works best? Do people seem to want a bang-em-up entertainment extravaganza or just mellow background music to wind down by? I have a few X-rated songs, will they work? And perhaps most importantly, what should I charge as a fee (PM me with that info, please, NO NUMBERS ON THIS PUBLIC FORUM THANK YOU...)?
I do have some idea as to what's going on... my friends like the Hurricanes, Backdraft, Half Tempted and all are generous enough to let me share their stages from time to time... but my last acoustic gig was at the long-defunct Flintstones Bottle Club in '91, so there will be rust issues, I'm sure.
BTW, I hope to have lots of guest musicians sitting in, in fact, I'm really looking forward to that part, so if you see the strummer show out and about, and you are a regular here, you have a standing invitation, and bring your acoustic. This means YOU BadDazeRob, Hurricanes, TJKelly, Chiksinga, FatVin, Backdrafters, Halftempted and everybody else. JP, don't show just yet, in case I suck at it!-------->JMS
Acoustic start-up hints...
I think the trick is to have a million songs to suit whatever the particular crowd wants. You could probably try to be selective in the venues you go to also to asure they are not too mellow and want a dinner music kinda thing or the opposite, wich is probably the hardest.... trying to play acoustic to a crowd thats used to hearing full bands.
I think acoustic can be pretty tough and won't give you the same fullfillment as a band. We started an acoustic thing about 3 years ago, at first we were doing actual acoustic songs and that just seamed to make the whole night to mello, then we tried adapting other ( more upbeat )songs to acoustic and it did make it a little more fun.
Facing West should give you some good advice, He's been part of a few really good acoustic duo combinations.
I think acoustic can be pretty tough and won't give you the same fullfillment as a band. We started an acoustic thing about 3 years ago, at first we were doing actual acoustic songs and that just seamed to make the whole night to mello, then we tried adapting other ( more upbeat )songs to acoustic and it did make it a little more fun.
Facing West should give you some good advice, He's been part of a few really good acoustic duo combinations.
The best advice I can give is quite frankly the same advice I always give and that's this: Keep It simple and be who you are. It might take an audience a while to get what you are trying to do so do what YOU do so at least it's honest. It's different every night sometimes they wanna relax and mellow out, sometimes they wanna sing along, sometimes they want it down and dirty. DO what YOU do and they'll catch up.
As to sitting in? When and where
As to sitting in? When and where
Blooz to Youz
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facingwest
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A few pointers that I could give are as follows:
- Keep it fresh and entertaining with people. Joke with them and be yourselves. Remember, they can walk out and go to just about any other bar to find entertainment, but it's up to you to keep them in their bar stools.
Do it more on a personal level by talking with people, handing them schedules, and find out what they want to hear. Schedules are just as important as anything else. How many times have you heard someone say that they had a great time the night before listening to someone, but don't remember who the band was? By that person putting that schedule in their pocket, you can be sure if they like you, they'll be back.
Flying solo sometimes isn't the way to go for something like this because a sidekick makes that much of a difference (vocal harmonies and someone to give you a break singing lead, depth in the music, guitar solos, etc..). There is definitely a better interaction with the crowd because of this.
As far as a song selection, make sure your core of music are popular favorites people can sing along with and relate to. Because playing acoustic is already layed back, do NOT play something depressing. People want to have a good time and not want to go home after listening to you and hang themselves.
The more variety of songs you know, the better. Try not to pick 20 songs from 1 band and play them in one night. Unless the crowd really likes the band, try to keep it at a max of two.
As long as the establishment doesn't have a problem with dirty/filthy songs, they're usually a crowd pleaser. Make sure you ask before you play them first though or you'll find yourself without a booking.
Be willing to try and play part of a song. This is something I would've never recommended till I saw how it worked. People really don't care because they want to hear their song. (I do NOT recommend this one for a full band.)
Even though you absolutely hate a song, play it if they want to hear it. Honestly, your opinion isn't really what matters if you want to keep people interested in you. Can anyone say FREE BIRD?!?!
Thanks, I appreciate the help. Actually, I would have like to go out as a duo, that was the original plan, and the truth is, I've had offers to play with some really good people (and actually rehearsed with some great ones), but my schedule for rehearsal keeps getting interrupted by the day job, and that's just not fair for the other guy in a duo. Eventually I realized that I'd have to go it alone if I wanted to go at all.
Hopefully, those good pickers will show up from time to time, just for the sheer fun of it, like I do with their projects. Sort of an open mic night, but without the karaoke singers.
And Vin, as to the when and where, I'll make sure to post it here, first gig will be at Jarheads, still firming the date, but likely in 2 weeks or so. Bring the 'Dawg, too, he's the man.----->JMS
Hopefully, those good pickers will show up from time to time, just for the sheer fun of it, like I do with their projects. Sort of an open mic night, but without the karaoke singers.
And Vin, as to the when and where, I'll make sure to post it here, first gig will be at Jarheads, still firming the date, but likely in 2 weeks or so. Bring the 'Dawg, too, he's the man.----->JMS
Doh! Believe it or not, that is the one song I taught the other guys EXACTLY the way I heard it in my head, drum parts and all, and once I taught them, I never played it again! I've been sitting trying to figure it out, and I can play it, but it's way harder than I remember! Oh well, I'll get it. Thanks, man, that song was written in 1988, I think, and it's a real ego boost to think that somebody remembers it still. I wrote it for this girl whose name I can't remember, only that she was hot and she pissed me off a lot. Joni something. I remember she told me she gave me herpes, and I freaked out and went to be tested, and she was totally mind-f*cking me, it wasn't true, but I sure did get upset. Ahh, the fun a rock-n-roll singer can get into. Anyway, I got a good song out of it, and thanks for making my day.----->JMS
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facingwest
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