OK
I wrote this twice already and lost both versions - I must post it - DARN!!!! This is crazy and my dogs won't stop barking and possibly the sky is falling!!
SO - The subject is "Volume Wars"!
As a performer in bars, restaurants & such there is a constant battle of "volume". What is the appropriate volume for the venue. Well, this is nothing new and I have experienced all sorts of situations. On a few occasions I have stopped singing into the mic and just sang to the ceiling so as to not bother anyone. Really hard for electric guitar players - no guts - and drummers have no bounce back playing with brushes - makes for a long night!
Anyway - it is just how it goes and I am fine with it, because it is how it is. But ---- Here is the deal.
We played a new venue the other night where I was given a lecture at the end of the night about volume. I was told that we would make more tips & really win over the crowd if we were much softer. The lecture went on to extol the praises of a few performers who are extra good at playing at no volume. The lecture also included a segment on tunes - that I should attempt to play all tunes no matter what - even if I don't know them - sort implying that I ought to know all tunes! Hmmmmmmmm ( Oh - btw - we actually made the tips we were told would be made on this gig - tee hee)
Well, let me say, when I embarked upon the rewarding profession of music, I never once thought I might aspire to being "background". To being perfect at playing 1 foot away from a couple and allowing them to have a perfectly normal conversation - where I can hear every word they are saying and actually chime in if I wanted. And as to tunes - well I like to play the tunes I like and I always include a good portion of originals. In this way it makes the 4 1/2 hour gig much more valuable to me as a performer. I never aspired to be a human juke box. I change things up - never the same twice and certainly never "perfect".
SO, in addition, the other night, we had a heckler. This is normal - part of being the entertainment means you provide something for people to poke fun at if they are feeling bored or insecure... Just par for the course. This particular heckler I named, "Link" - form The Mod Squad. He was the receding hairline version and sort of funny. He proceeded to roll his eyes every time we started a new tune and then engaged the others around him in discussion about how he felt. All of this was 4 1/2 hours into our low volume 5 1/2 hour gig. He may be a fabulous musician in his own right but I doubt it - fabulous musicians don't usually have to bolster themselves up by cutting others down. ( I did let him know I was aware of his feelings - couldn't help myself )
My point??
Well, I promise to keep offending the "Links" in the world by being a bit off center, a bit non conformist, and by not knowing every cover under the sun. I will continue to write and add my tunes into the mix - I will never play the same tune exactly like the record and probably never the same twice. And I will play quietly but never aspire to be "the best" at being "background"!