Did my first Open Mic tonight

JedimasterPaul · #1 08-28-2004, 09:40 PM

Got together in Delaware with two guys I met through the Celtic Guitar Talk forum. We played guitar all afternoon and then had a little mic time at an Ice Cream shop.

We each got to play 6 tunes, then we did something together.

It was cool - now I've played for folks before in church, but that is a pretty friendly place. This was my first time in playing in front of total strangers.

I played a John Renbourn arrangement (Bunyan's Hymn) in Open G, two Pierre Bensusan arrangements (in DADGAD of course), a tune called The Britches that I heard on a fiddle CD and then arranged in OPen G, and two of my own arrangements in DADGAD of celtic classics (Sheebeg/Sheemor & Lord Inchiquin)

The other guys played a variety of tunes from celtic to jazz to blues.

Hopefully one of these days I'll be able to make it to an AGF gathering.

meridian · #2 08-28-2004, 10:40 PM

Congrats Paul! That's a great thing to do.

Have never done it myself and probably won't!

PeaVine · #3 08-29-2004, 08:07 AM

Careful, Paul...

It can be addicting

Unk · #4 08-29-2004, 08:15 AM

I did an open mic ONCE, with the smallest group of people I've ever seen in a coffee shop. I felt like my body was registering an 8.0 on the Richter scale although the kind hearted open mic hosts who I had grown to know said I did fine. I can see it becoming an addiction, if only I could get past that initial paralyzing fear. I envy those of you who don't have that problem. I intend to try it again but I know that I need to commit to doing it enough times to realize that I won't, in fact, die if I make a mistake or look nervous.
Congrats on the performance. I'll bet you were jazzed afterwards.

JedimasterPaul · #5 08-29-2004, 06:51 PM

Thanks for the well wishes.

What we did was take turns playing two tunes, for about an hour. Went round three times. What I found was that I was more nervous playing the tunes I learned out of books. I felt much more comfortable playing the tunes I arranged myself - ergo, gonna be working on more arrangements.

The other two guys only played their own stuff, either originals or arrangements. Great stuff.

I do have some pictures, and when I get back from vacation I'll put them on my 'website'.

ps - I played my Lowden of course, one gentleman played a Goodall CJ (sitka/rosewood), and the third gentleman had two guitars: Martin OOO-15s and OM-18V.

jim_n_virginia · #6 08-29-2004, 08:10 PM

Hey Paul how did you manage all the different tunings? Did you tune up to different variations (open G to DADGAG etc.)

I only have one guitar and it seems like it takes me too long to change tunings.

Congrats on the playing out, it is addictive and a LOT of fun and can be used to tried out different material before playing in front of a paying crowd.

JedimasterPaul · #7 08-29-2004, 08:52 PM

1st two tunes were in Open G -

second two tunes were in DADGAD - just raised the low G to A and drop the B to A real quick after I finished the 1st two tunes, then fine tuned it when my turn came again.

third set of tunes were also in DADGAD.

lastly, we a 3 guitar version of Planxty Irwin. The other two guys did fingerstyle stuff on that. I felt that 3 guitars doing fingerstyle on that tune was one guitar too many so I retuned to EADGBE, got out the pick and strummed. I guess it sounded OK considering we just threw it together that afternoon - but the idea was to have some fun, and we did that.

Shpeil · #8 08-30-2004, 06:53 AM

Fantastic stuff! They say that the more you do it, the less nerve wracking it becomes. (I aim to put this to the test, once I've plucked up the courage...)

Out of curiosity, which Pierre Bensusan tunes did you play?

cocobolo_guy · #9 08-30-2004, 09:13 AM

Way to go Paul........

Jaminn · #10 08-30-2004, 05:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JedimasterPaul

It was cool - now I've played for folks before in church, but that is a pretty friendly place. This was my first time in playing in front of total strangers.

Way to go Paul. I have a hard time even in church. If I am playing with our church band, I am fine. But once I had to do a couple of little lead breaks on mandolin, and my picking hand was shaking so much by the time I got to the second break, I almost couldn't play. I mean, it's not like they are going to start throwing beer bottles or something. I wish I could get past that.

JedimasterPaul · #11 09-02-2004, 09:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shpeil

Out of curiosity, which Pierre Bensusan tunes did you play?

I played some of his celtic stuff, namely 'Return to Fingal', and 'Murtagh McKann (except for the key change)

I've been working out of 'The Guitar Book' - a great book!

I'm also trying to learn 'The Alchemist', but so far have only got down the 'A' part. HIs stuff is challenging, but worth it.