OPEN MIC

[Steve314]

I'm looking for some objective (or subjective, take your pick) opinions concerning the sound of my 314 last Saturday at Open Mic.

I'd installed the Schertler BLUESTiCK pick-up in the guitar sometime ago, but last Saturday was the first time I'd run it through a sound system.

From my vantage point on the stage, I'd say it sounded fine, but I'd be interested in hearing how the guitar sounded "in the house".

Thanks much...

Steve

[cpmusic]

As I recall, Steve, it sounded very natural. But between my relief at not screwing up and all the the great music being played, I'm afraid I wasn't listening too critically to the tech side of things. :)

One thing I can tell you, though, is that in my own experience, my guitar sounded very good on stage, and it was amplified with just an external mic. In fact, the sound guy said the acoustics there are so good that the monitors almost aren't needed and are kept to a very low volume. What I'm getting as it that if you were happy with the sound, then it was probably good.

[Cynbrad]

Steve - I thought that your guitar sounded great. It was very natural as cpmucsic has already stated. It also sounded balanced and full. I personally enjoy your performance; it was awesome! Thanks for sharing it with us. :)

[tbondo]

Steve,

I thought the sound was fine...also thought you did a great job delivering the song...kicked a**, in other words.....

[SonShine]

Steve:

Again, great job on the song. I thought it sounded good, but IMO I thought it lacked a bit of clarity compared to some of the others that were played (i.e. just a bit muddled). I don't think it sounded bad, but just different.

Hope that "clears" it up a bit ;):roll:

[W5BLT]

Steve,

Not only did the 314 sound great, I loved you're song. Then again, I'm a sucker for them "oldies" and you did "Tree Top Flyer" justice!

[Cisco]

Steve
I had to leave before I could hear you perform. But on another note I have been thinking...Why did I bomb so badly ? Is it cause I stink ? To quote my wife exactly after " Dude, what the hell was that ? That was the worst I have ever heard you do " !!!!! I have come to the conclusion that since I didn't practice that song one second at all during the time before TS and just decided to do it at the last minute....It had taught me a lesson...PRACTICE is not overrated !!! Anyway I've re-begun to take my guitar lessons and will do better next time. Off of your subject but ....

Ron

[Lisa]

Steve,
Your guitar sounded GREAT. You did a terrific job on that song.
It was FUN to listen to it. The guitar itself had great clarity and yet had plenty of bottom end for that tune. Well done!!!

Cisco, stop being so hard on yourself. We could all tell that you were nervous. As I said to you on Open Mic night, "bravo!" to you for getting up there. It is a scary thing to play in front of your "colleagues". When you are playing in front of non-players you know they don't hear every nuance or flub-up. I could tell by the first few minutes of your performance that you are a good player and you just "froze up" Wish I could tell you it's never happened to me, but it has. It is a terrible feeling, but I guarantee that you learned a valuable thing from it, and THAT is progress.

Keep at it, you're a great player (and more importantly a wonderful person)and I know you're gonna "wow" us at the next open mic. :)

[cpmusic]

Cisco, I agree with Lisa. I could tell that you know what you're doing, and that it was just a bad case of nerves. And I don't think there was a person in the room who didn't understand completely. Be cool -- you did fine.

[J.R. Rogers]

Originally posted by Cisco
Steve
I had to leave before I could hear you perform. But on another note I have been thinking...Why did I bomb so badly ? Is it cause I stink ?

Ron, don't feel bad. I didn't see your performance because I was picking wood at the time, but it could have hardly been worse than mine. I was perfectly in tune, got up on stage, put the capo on, and the bottom 3 strings went all out of tune. Sounded awful. To top it off, I was hearing different tone coming out of the house system than I was hearing coming from the soundhole of the guitar, because the monitors weren't turned on during my performance. On the bright side, I did hit all the notes right. Too bad it sounded like I was killing a cat. :) As the song progressed, I started pushing down on the high strings really hard to make them go sharp and compensate for the out of tune bottom strings. I don't think it helped.

J.R.

[Mike A.]

All I know is as soon as I hit my first chord up there, I was SO happy with the way my guitar sounded through their system, I got the chills. I even heard a few people ooh and aahhh. THAT'S when I got nervous. It went through my head that now I was going to have to live up to that tone and play awesome. Well, the first mistake came along, then another, then another, all the while my right hand getting more "jumpy". My left hand didn't know anything was different about playing that song that night, but my right hand was shakin' like a dog crappin' peach pits!

Oh well, it was a fun, humbling experience and I'd love to have another go at it!

-Mike A.

[tbondo]

One of the highlights of the TS was seeing and hearing everyone play....Probably none of us were real happy with the results (I know my family members weren't....my question was "how bad did I suck?" and Becki was real upset about her song....). But it was such a pleasure to be there and hear all of you that all of that just doesn't matter....I mean, the first hole is the toughest on the golf course, no matter how easy it is, and the first song (first verse?) is the same. I say hurrah to everyone who stepped on the stage (incl. BobT and his bro-in-law), and let's play a whole lot more next time.

[Steve314]

Thanks for all the input everyone. I think the BLUESTiCK is gonna' be a keeper. Over all, I was pretty happy with the sound on stage but, as I said, I was looking for an "in-house" perspective. Thanks again.

As for how nervous everyone was, I think it's normal. I comented how nervous I got between the stairs and the chair, and that was no lie. It was amazing. I love playing guitar and performing, but there was something about performing in that room in front of that crowd which made me nervous.

When I hit that last verse, the world was coming apart for me onstage. I hit the third fret instead of the second, and I never really recovered. Kinda' like a high diver putting a little too much "oomph" behind a sumersault, and going just a bit too far over; you can never get it back, regardless of how hard you try.

When I got done playing, though, I was humbled at the applause. It was the same feeling I used to get when I would play gutar in front of family and friends at my Mom's house years ago. It didn't matter if I screwed up or not, they appreciated the fact that I had the nerve (or lack of good judgement) to do it.

It was kinda' the same at Taylorstock...

Steve

[Lisa]

But it was such a pleasure to be there and hear all of you that all of that just doesn't matter....

I'll second that, Tom. I can truly say I enjoyed everyone. The fun of it is getting together and sharing, we don't have to be perfect to achieve that.

Becki, you exhibited poise and confidence, you should be proud. Not many people your age would have come across on stage the way you did. I think it's cool that you and your dad both gave it a go and played your hearts out.

J.R., you noticed your out-of-tuning WAY more than we did. Your playing was wonderful, very soothing, smooth playing. Tuning with the capo on is a great idea, but I'm sure you felt rushed and didn't think of it. It would be Murphy's Law that the one time you didn't tune with it on, the capo would knock it off a bit. We could still tell you are a good player.

Steve, I have no idea why you feel you bombed the last verse, the whole song came off very well.

Mike A, your performance was very good, from our perspective it sounded very full and well done. The one time you made a noticble mistake, you handled it like a pro and started right back where you left off, not many can do that without freaking.

All in all, the Open Mic night was great and I think everyone who did it could sit and pick apart their performance until the cows come home, but folks, that is counterproductive. It is a nerve-wracking thing to get up in front of people and play. I think everyone who did it needs to take a bow. Remember, we are our own worse critics. I didn't see anyone there with a "auditory microscope" picking apart the performances. I'd love to play as well as some of you!


Hats off the the TGF's who performed!!! You didn't let intimidation steal a great experience from you!
:)

[Steve314]

Originally posted by TaylorSmitten
You didn't let intimidation steal a great experience from you!


Nor did we allow it to stand in the way of better judgement...:roll:

Steve

[cpmusic]

Originally posted by TaylorSmitten
All in all, the Open Mic night was great and I think everyone who did it could sit and pick apart their performance until the cows come home, but folks, that is counterproductive.

Yes, it was, yes, I could (and did), and yes, it is. Actually, I'm surprised I didn't screw up more, but that's why I chose a song I was so familiar with. My mouth was as dry as the desert and I wasn't as musical as I would like to have been, but overall I'm grateful just to have finished without "rewriting" the song, if you know what I mean.

I think everyone who did it needs to take a bow.

Absolutely. It was an extra dimension in getting getting to know everyone, and I look forward to playing with all of you eventually...or, at least, those I can keep up with! There is some really fine talent on this board.

[meridian]

.my question was "how bad did I suck?" and Becki was real upset about her song.... --tbondo

I was in the wood room listening to BT hold court when most of you all were onstage. I am sorry I missed that, but didn't want to miss hearing what Bob was saying either!

I didn't hear Becki play, but she was pleading with me to tell her how bad she sucked! So I obliged her and she was very grateful. Teenagers!:roll:

[rsimper]

Man oh man did becki ever suck. Im glad you agree with me on this one...she asked me too, and boy, did I ever let her have it!

Some people just dont have a clue, so others have to give it to them in black and white...she flat out sucked :D