John M G
208 posts
May 21, 2018
5:51 AM
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It’s Never Too Late
I didn’t want to highjack the karaoke thread.
I thought I’d share my experiences of coming to playing in public as a late comer.
I’m now 65, I started playing harp in my early 20’s after coming to Australia.
I started off with square “how to” book that had a tear out flimsy vinyl tear out 45 record inside the back cover and a Hohner C harp and I was away.
That was way back in the early 70’s
Now it took a long while to make progress, all I had was the book and a growing collection of blues albums and over the years I improved.
Sometime in the late 80’s I had some really helpful lessons from Jim Conway of the Australian “Backsliders” fame. He guided me to a valve amp and got me a Green Bullet modified with a volume control I still have. I continued to improve and became that harp player that with a drink or two would have no fear of rejection. I thought I was better than I was and had never thought twice about asking if I could get up with a band on the odd occasions the opportunity presented itself. This wasn’t often, but alcohol was invariably involved!
My car at the time had a cassette deck. It would fast forward to a given track and so I had a number of tapes in the car and a set of harps in the car and I’d play and practice as I went from client to client. (No need to make comments on the drive and play, all been done on another thread, though since I have talked to the Highway patrol and they say technically if you have removed a hand from the wheel you are not in full control and thus have no defense if pulled over)
Anyway I improved but still never played with a band or with others sober!
I got married in 83 and gave up the booze. Gave up smoking on November 7th 94 which meant I couldn’t go to the pubs any longer and listen to live music, I couldn’t be tempted to take it up again.
So from 94 to 2014 my only playing was either in the car or at home. The bathroom has a basic set of harps and the acoustics are great! I continued to improve.
After we moved from Sydney to a small rural district an hour and a half south of Sydney my wife was reading the local paper one Friday night , it was about 6 pm and she saw an advert for the inaugural meeting of the Southern Highlands Blues and Bands Club, that night at 7 pm.
I went to the meeting and haven’t missed one since.
It was a life changing event. I’ve met so many great musicians that have evolved into good friendships. I can’t not mention Roy and Sharron and Gary Norwell who opened so many doors. This has led to other introductions to other musicians.
I’ve been and am involved in several band situations and play publicly on a semi regular basis. I’ve been invited to a number of jam sessions with some really great players and it’s nice that they like what I do.
I was encouraged to sing by one of the band members and now have a song list of 18 plus numbers I’ve managed to learn.
I’ve really taken on the challenge to become a better harmonica player and in these last year’s taken on the challenge of learning overblow and overdraw techniques.
Most of this information coming from reading posts here and the numerous YouTube tutorials by Adam, Jason and Lee Sankey and Will Wilde. I’ve found new music from the posts here and cannot express my thanks to these wonderful artists who share their knowledge so freely.
So if you’ve ever wondered if you should have a play in public, don’t think, just do it.
Don’t beat yourself up if you have a bad day and don’t play so well. Just be kind to yourself.
Learn from your mistakes and try and minimize them.
Learn new numbers and try and copy them.
Get singing lessons and find out if you have a voice worth listening to. I’m doing that now and found I’m a baritone/bass
I’ve found the software “Amazing Slow Downer” really useful, you can change pitch in cents!!! You can slow stuff down without a pitch change and you can practice the bits you want to learn without having to play the whole piece.
Get help from someone who knows what they are doing. I signed up with Jasson for a set of lessons.
And finally, get out there and take every opportunity you get to play. Never say no unless you know for sure that the people are jerks.
I go to open mic gigs, open jam sessions, play with a couple of bands, go to the folk club and do solo numbers and accompany others and of course go to the blues club every month.
Just get yourself out there and give it a go
I cannot believe the fun I’m having and the more you play publicly, ultimately if you also put in the practice, the better your playing will become.
Have fun.
Cheers JG
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jbone
2552 posts
May 21, 2018
6:08 AM
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Great post JG!
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Fil
380 posts
May 21, 2018
5:34 PM
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well said
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Phil Pennington
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eetechTom
38 posts
May 23, 2018
3:46 PM
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Thanks for the encouraging words, and back story. Maybe one of these days I will give it a shot.
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Future location of my really cool signature.
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BronzeWailer
2058 posts
May 23, 2018
4:25 PM
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Onya JG!
Glad you're having fun!
BronzeWailer's YouTube
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groyster1
3179 posts
May 28, 2018
4:37 AM
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love playing on stage
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kudzurunner
6483 posts
May 28, 2018
5:00 AM
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Nice post, JG. Your thoughts about all this remind me of a saying that I heard in a New Age workshop about 20 years ago: "It's never too late to live the life you might have lived." The idea is that many people a) let fear and other sorts of negative judgments inhibit them from taking risks that might have huge payoffs in longterm personal satisfaction; and b) that one of the saddest things in the world is an unlived-out dream....somebody who gets to the end of their life filled with regrets for the thing or things they didn't do but that they deep down always wish they had done.
One characteristic form that negative thinking takes is, "Oh well, I'm too old to do that now." In almost every case, that's just ego talking: a hardened self-conception. We commonly use "ego" to denote an inflated ego, but ego comes in all shapes and sizes. Sometimes ego is just a familiar, comforting shell, not overly large, that we strap on in the morning. We CLAIM to wish that we were daring enough to do the things that other, "braver" people did--such as, for example, getting up and playing harmonica in public--but the truth is, we're quite comfortable ensconced in our own mediocrity. Except, of course, "comfort" masks an ache deep in the soul that says, "There must be more to life than this."
You went for it. Now you're reaping the benefits. Thanks for the report.
Last Edited by kudzurunner on May 28, 2018 5:03 AM
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kudzurunner
6484 posts
May 28, 2018
5:02 AM
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It turns out that the epigram I quoted above has many different iterations:
inspiring quotes
George Eliot's version, at the very end, comes closes to what I heard.
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Beyond the Crossroads: The Devil and the Blues Tradition
Last Edited by kudzurunner on May 28, 2018 5:05 AM
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The Iceman
3584 posts
May 28, 2018
7:18 AM
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I've discovered that the universe grants your wishes....
"I'm too old to play in public"
The Universe answers "As you wish"
"I'm never too old to play in public, learn something new or continue to grow"
The Universe answers "As you wish"
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The Iceman
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groyster1
3180 posts
May 28, 2018
7:33 AM
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no stage fright for me........its a rush
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JInx
1370 posts
May 29, 2018
5:06 AM
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It’s never too late, but it might be too soon. Down with noise pollution
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jbone
2557 posts
May 29, 2018
10:57 AM
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We've played a BBQ here in Tulsa a couple times and Friday we'll be at an American Legion just off downtown.
The real itch is to get back on the road, hoping for next year.
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Rontana
469 posts
May 29, 2018
12:29 PM
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I've never quite understood the desire to perform in public. It must be something in my DNA. I love playing for my own enjoyment, or maybe having a casual backporch jam with a friend - but the thought of entertaining a bunch of strangers just leaves me flat.
I have done it, just to see how it felt (on guitar and drums, not harp) and it did nothing for me.
Thus, I'm glad there are others who do get a jolt from playing out. Otherwise, I'd be stuck listening to myself all day.
Different strokes, I reckon.
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"Humor is always the first victim of political correctness."
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CarlA
939 posts
May 29, 2018
1:02 PM
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^+1
I think Jinx hit the nail on the head as it pertains to the majority of harp players.
Last Edited by CarlA on May 29, 2018 1:06 PM
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jbone
2560 posts
May 29, 2018
3:16 PM
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Rontana, I would have to agree. I was born a ham and have spent a lot of my 63 years honing the skill. The last 30 years have been on stages with harps and audiences. Early on-CarlA- I was in that majority of players. I got on stage much too early, but fortunately I was teachable and actually learned, not just skills, but manners.
Playing for people, getting that good response, has been soul food for me for a long time.
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nacoran
9858 posts
May 30, 2018
1:14 PM
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JInx, at the average open mic around here I'd say half the time I'm the only harp player there. Half the audience is non-musicians- poets, comedians... most of the other harp players you run into are Dylaning it up with a rack. The audience eats it up if someone goes up there and can bend a note.
Now, at a harmonica showcase, a harmonica competition without lower tiers for beginners and such, maybe I can see someone starting out bowing out, but at a normal open mic just by getting up on stage you end up meeting people who will help you get better. I've met very good musicians (record deals, radio play) who have recently picked up harmonica and can't get a clean single note use them in shows and be happy with how they sound (and have the crowd like it.)
I think it's possible to develop an ear for playing that makes it hard to listen to beginners, but that's usually because you've spent thousands of hours listening to great harp players. The harmonica isn't a fiddle. You can pick it up and in a few minutes, as long as you have the right key, you can add to the music and it will sound okay to most people, and there probably aren't a ton of people who have spent thousands of hours listening to Little Walter in the average audience.
I've heard terrible guitar players get up and play. Terrible singers. And most of them have fun... and if you go to an open mic regularly you can see them get better week after week. They meet other musicians, get asked up to play/sing with other people, talk afterwards, form bands...
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Nate
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First Post- May 8, 2009
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JInx
1372 posts
May 30, 2018
5:17 PM
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Yeah, I get that. It's just not for me. For some reason, Im just not down with the whole, "everyone gets a trophy" spirit of today.
My buddy, he loves to sing Karaoke...has so much fun. But to my ear, OMG he's awful, beyond awful. He gets applauses after his first song, but after a couple, even the most generous in the audience can barely give up some love. It's embarrassing lol
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Last Edited by JInx on May 30, 2018 5:24 PM
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John M G
209 posts
May 30, 2018
6:28 PM
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Jeez Jlnx
I get it you hate, as I do, crap playing. But that isn't what this thread is about and you've taken it off topic.
I hate Dylan's playing, it hurts my ears. I cannot for the life of me understand why Jagger or the rest of the band let "I'm Just Your Fool" make it onto their last album. I cannot think of a worse bit of harmonica playing. But please don't respond to that. This is NOT about shitty playing.
I’m sure you weren’t practicing in the womb and arrived in the world as a fully competent expert harp player! It’s too easy to jump on a post and pour crap on it with negative comments. It’s a bit like a harp player than never knows when to STFU and stop playing or playing over vocals and everyone else’s solos in my opinion.
This is not about beginners, there’s a wealth of information everywhere these days to help them and much from the contributors to this board.
THIS is about those harp players that over a long period of time have PRACTICED , LEARNED SONGS, ACQUIRED SKILLS but have never made them public for whatever reason.
It's to encourage THEM to get out and give it a go, even if they are well into middle or old age.
The last 4 years have given me such a wealth of musical moments that I can honestly say I can die a very happy man. I am so much richer for these last years in spirit and new friends, certainly not money though.
If I can inspire even just one other person to follow my lead I’ll have put something back. And giving feels good.
And bugger it! I am not going to die wondering! The clock is running way too fast for that now.
Save all you cynicism for the politicians, lawyers and bankers!
Cheers JG
Last Edited by John M G on May 30, 2018 7:00 PM
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JInx
1374 posts
May 30, 2018
6:54 PM
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Go figure, I think Dylan's playing is perfect, and I loved the Stones blues album.
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John M G
210 posts
May 30, 2018
8:08 PM
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Jlinx
All I'm trying to do here is ENCOURAGE other practiced players to consider getting out and playing in public.
That's what this topic is about.
It really isn't about how good or bad they are or other players are, that’s a totally subjective and unquantifiable issue just a matter of taste………………………..mostly!
I have to ask though, would you encourage any beginner to buy the Stones Blues album and listen to Jagger’s playing on “Just Your Fool” as any kind of example of what you should aim to sound like!?!?!? You only have to listen to a few bars of Little Walter to go holly shit, what the hell was Jagger thinking!
This is to specifically let those players who have some chops know that there are some REALLY POSITIVE things that can happen.
That if you do it, it can be life changing and life enhancing. It can bring a whole bunch of other unknown opportunities.
I made it 100% clear you have to have put in the groundwork before you try and this topic was aimed at those people who have BUT HAVEN’T YET PLAYED IN PUBLIC
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jbone
2562 posts
May 30, 2018
9:16 PM
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@ Nate-I've heard terrible guitar players get up and play. Terrible singers. And most of them have fun... and if you go to an open mic regularly you can see them get better week after week. They meet other musicians, get asked up to play/sing with other people, talk afterwards, form bands... That's my history.
@ Jinx- I'm with you, Dylan did and does exactly what he sets out to do on a harp.
But I absolutely see where M G is coming from. I believe that part of our mandate as artists- ANY kind of artists- is to inspire and encourage.
@M G, you can let this post stand as it is, you have made your point very well. It's so very cool to have that feeling of accomplishment that includes playing well in public. I can also die a happy man based on my music adventures. Just not too soon I hope, there is a lot I want to do yet!
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