> I'm glad both of you brought this up, I meant to mention it myself in my
> earlier reply. Talking during a performance is NOT a cop-out. On the
> contrary, it is a very important part of being a performer. It's the
skill I
> *really* wish I were stronger in (and if anyone, say Barra, has
suggestions,
> I'd welcome them).
I'll tell you one thing I've done. I've made a list of little fun comments
that will fit music situations. (Short jokes, or brief stories.) I review
them before performing.
I try not to "script" my conversation with the audience, because I want it
to be "conversational". And I smile. I look directly at people and speak
to them, then shift to someone else. I try to communicate "intensity" of
feeling. I will tell them how I felt when I heard a particular song, or why
it's special to me. (Always keeping it brief.)
I'm fortunate to know some of the people who have written tunes we play. I
tell the audience that this tune was written by a 84-year old farmer from
Hastings, MI, or give some other frame of reference so they can "see" it
from my vantage point. I'll say "Listen to the part that sounds like.." or
"Imagine that you're..." People do as they are told and they'll "listen" or
let they imagination take off.
And I'll let myself get emotional. Sometimes I'm so intense that I feel
tears in my eyes, but so does the audience.
Sharon Skaryd
(now you know why I'm a Dreamer-Minstrel)
-- ======================================= web site -- http://www.cris.com/~Skaryd e-mail address -- skaryd@cris.com =======================================