mastercaster
198 posts
Jan 20, 2016
7:39 PM
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Well I thought I'd throw this out here and see what you guy's suggest .
We probably all have run into someone who get's onstage and tries to do his thing , close his eye's , and his ears .. and just let's go , without paying any attention to the band , audience etc .. someone who has No tone and makes the harp sound like c$#p .. is totally oblivious to the interaction goings on … A legend in his own mind ..
How to help enlighten someone like this ?
The small town I live in is a tourist destination on a tropical island in the southwestern pacific,
There are 4 pretty good bands here that will let tourists get onstage if they want .. this guy really sucks (no pun intended) at playing ... I'm no William Clarke , but I got good tone and some chops and know bandstand etiquette …
The guy's in the bands are to polite to say anything, they grin and bear it .
Last night was bad .. so here I am venting …
I've been living here almost 20 years , am fluent in the local language, this guy has been coming here for quite some times and so for quite some times I have held off not saying anything …
Usually I would just grin and bear it .. however it's getting to me. The guy is old enough where he should know better imo , probably mid 50's like myself .
I like to help folks play better if possible .. (key words in that sentence) .. if possible.
Comments , suggestions ?
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slaphappy
158 posts
Jan 20, 2016
8:40 PM
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I dunno man, you can lead a horse to water..
maybe just keep on with the let it go and walk out for some air next time he get's up. if it's been going on that long there's likely no hope IMO and you'll just seem like a jerk if you say anything.
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4' 4+ 3' 2~~~
-Mike Ziemba
Harmonica is Life!
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eharp
2296 posts
Jan 20, 2016
9:10 PM
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If you have something to offer, ask him.
If he aint interested, let it go.
The bands can deal with it, you should be able to, also.
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indigo
210 posts
Jan 20, 2016
9:11 PM
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If you are a local and know the band surely you must have some clout.
Polite way to do it would be to buy him a beer and sit down for a chat,then show him a video of him on stage.
If he still doesn't get it...do the impolite?
I get the point though that this a tourist situation and to the Venue owners he is a paying customer therefore his happiness is paramount..tricky
situation in that case.
We holiday in that region quite often,hope it isn't me ;-)
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JInx
1148 posts
Jan 20, 2016
9:29 PM
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sounds like you've outgrown your peers. Get yourself to a better stage
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Barley Nectar
1069 posts
Jan 20, 2016
9:55 PM
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We have a guy like that here. Little Peter we call him. When he shows up, most people quit playing. Jams around here don't have a host band. Some pack their gear and leave! He still does not get it. What is the answer, maybe a shot of hot lead!..BN
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indigo
211 posts
Jan 20, 2016
10:14 PM
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Barley see above..and Hot Lead is only legal in the States ^
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mastercaster
200 posts
Jan 20, 2016
10:45 PM
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Thanks everyone for your comments , it is a bit tricky , the band does not like it , but , they can't refuse him .. I'm western living in se asia , not a local .. the guy's do and have looked to me for new song material , stage presence suggestions etc over the last long spell of years .. so ya personally involved .. to a point.
@Indigo - not a local , even so I do have a bit of 'clout' , but , the last thing I will do is to interfere with business .. no-good for anyone ..
Though we haven't met .. I'm pretty sure it isn't you … unless you were at club LOL last nite ? ?
@BN , much as I like and am tempted when he plays to follow your suggestion .. hehe … am looking for a peaceful solution .. ..
Maybe there isn't one as a unsupported big ego is a m f'r to deal with …
@eharp , actually the bands have to deal with it .. they don't like it at all , last night both of us were onstage, and, every member of the band at one time or another was looking frustrated and with pleading eye's asking me for help .. off stage the topic came up as well .. I'm the only white person , he's also caucasian … understand now ?
@Jlnx , nope , not going anywhere soon , i'm real happy the bands are all pretty good pickers , and long time friends , + they are the only acts around , just real lucky to have them all, 10 years ago there was only 1 good show. ..
@slaphappy , problem is your correct .. it's been going on for long enough , but kind of came to a head last nite .. i can be a jerk haha , but don't want to go there ...
Last Edited by mastercaster on Jan 20, 2016 10:47 PM
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didjcripey
1011 posts
Jan 20, 2016
11:24 PM
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Be grateful for the opportunity to develop patience.
Let him have his moment on stage; it probably means the world to him.
and I wouldn't be surprised if at least some of the punters thought he was amazing
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Lucky Lester
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SuperBee
3262 posts
Jan 21, 2016
1:12 AM
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If he's scaring the punters away, it's a problem.
Otherwise...I dunno, make friends, talk harp, get him to show you his favourite lick, or talk about his idols...I dunno...there'll be an opportunity to teach him something by accident...without 'teaching' him anything...sounds like he has no idea..but I agree don't challenge his dignity and spoil his day/life...on some level he'll know he has no idea, but he may just not know it yet...
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JInx
1149 posts
Jan 21, 2016
1:27 AM
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Modulate to a new key midway through his solo. If he doesn't get the message, Throw a cymbal at him.
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Last Edited by JInx on Jan 21, 2016 1:31 AM
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R2D2
30 posts
Jan 21, 2016
6:24 AM
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Gotta be cruel to be kind sometimes.
The hook works ................
If you can't bear to be honest and lay it out to the guy, you'll have to learn to bear it or move on.
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bluemoose
1110 posts
Jan 21, 2016
1:41 PM
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How about get a couple of beers, ask him to bring his harps to a quiet back corner and tell him you want to work on a duo harp call and answer set. During the next jam tune both of you figure out the key, pick your harp (tell him why you picked it, 1st,2nd or 3rd) and tell him you want to start by trading 4's. Count through the (hopefully 12 bar) together note the changes. Start with you do 1 bar, count for 1 bar, he does one bar, count for 1 bar, back to you, etc. When you get that working change it up, 1 bar each, 2 bars each with count of 2 in between, etc.
Force him to listen, think and have fun. Gently correct any note/bend/breath issues.
We did similar exercises when I took some group lessons with Keith Bennett here in Vancouver.
We also played a game where you played a bar, counted a bar and then played EXACTLY what you played first bar...or you were out.
MBH Webbrain - a GUI guide to Adam's Youtube vids
FerretCat Webbrain - Jason Ricci's vids (by hair colour!)
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Goldbrick
1274 posts
Jan 21, 2016
2:49 PM
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I have played with folks who feel they play just fine
People humor them and they have no desire to get better. He is an adult
Take a walk while he plays or go to a different venue when he is in town
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STME58
1522 posts
Jan 21, 2016
3:54 PM
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When I heard this on the radio I thought of the harp world and it does relate, obliquely, to the situation in this thread here is a link to the OT thread I started. This guy is so bad it is comical, but he does seem to know it.
Last Edited by STME58 on Jan 21, 2016 3:55 PM
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Littoral
1348 posts
Jan 21, 2016
3:55 PM
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How about making a video him playing and then let him watch it, and listen with head phones? If he still thinks it's ok then you'll have to try some of the tougher methods.
I have a friend that I'm preparing to tell about how important it is to really tune her guitar. She did a 2 hour solo gig and nobody told her. It was just off enough to be not right.
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bonedog569
968 posts
Jan 21, 2016
6:07 PM
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We've got nice folks on this site. Superbee, Bluemoose, Littoral, - sweet suggestions. I'd have the devil on one of my shoulders wth the hook and hot lead solution, - the social worker (I've got a bachelors in it - Whoopee!) on the other - with those other, kinder options. I'd tend to go with Superber's approach, unless he was at my place - at my jam, - in which case I have no problem being direct. Watch a youtube together during the break, of someone doing it right- not overdoing it. and point out aspects of their approach you admire.
Has he ever complimented your playing? That could be an opening.
Unfortunately, this is exactly the kind of thing that gives all of us who pull out a harp a bad name.
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http://noamsmusic.tumblr.com
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snowman
124 posts
Jan 22, 2016
9:11 AM
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ask him ' hey lets do one together and trade licks--have the band play something thats "A" material for you--let him go first ,he's gonna want to want impress you so,he'll do his best stuff' then yr turn just play stuff u know he can't find on the harp---Im not even talking ob or od---just regular notes--when they play immediately b4 and after u- u can see their shoulders droop---and an appropriate look of being humbled--u havn't said a negative word--- some guys however are in such 'delusion of grandeur' that they still won't get it--when I start thinking " you know I/m really getting this" I listen to A Gussow--J Ricci-Jim Mcaughlin-Pat Ramsy-- Sugar Blue==ROD PIAZZA-- iI realize "No you still have, a huge amount to learn" For me thats the beauty of it---always open minded ALWAYS LEARNING---keeps me goin-- When I slow down a Pat ramsy lick to learn--then burn it to cd to practice in car- 2 monthes later I can hit the notes,maybe even same speed--but its still not that musical--it takes me about a year, with breaks in between sessions----to make it musical,with my own feel---muscle.ear memory etc---Then I remember wow -Ramsy gussow Ricci---Piazza had been playing that bit for 10-20 years---that keeps my mind and ego in a good place--the other night I was playing in casino--a drunk who was given a very old 'comet or some kind of octave harp' stood in front of stage playing--THANKFULLY, IT TRULY WAS SO BAD, THAT IT WAS HILARIOUS'--SECURITY FINALLY GENTLY DID THEIR THING--
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