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Re: Pay attention



Hi Mark-

I liked what you wrote- it's a very important subject.

I think there is always a balance between the show part and the music part.
Especially today with our visually oriented society, the audience responds
to both  (subconsciously or consciously). It's all part of the 
communication
with the audience. This happens in all music making and it is a part of
experiencing a live performance- and it always has been. For those who 
don't
want to be distracted visually, they can always shut their eyes.

I remember being at a very famous music school in New York and taking a
class on "aesthetics of music". Basically the teacher hated anything that
took away from the music- different clothes, too much movement, any
different lights. Now, this was a classical music school, but for me, 
coming
from a pop environment, it seemed strange. Of course no one had the guts to
say that they felt differently, but one day I got tired of it and I simply
asked- if it is so distracting  to have visual interference in a
performance, then why don't we just play with the lights off? She didn't
give me a good one except to site "tradition"

Anyway like I said- I think balance is key but who are we to say what
balance is for other performers? Some will be more visually oriented and 
use
it as their communication, others will be more music - only oriented. It's
one of the things that make us different performers from others. Either 
way,
whether we like it or not,  the audience will be watching AND listening and
we have to deal with it our own personal way.

With respect

Kevin Gallagher

http://artists.mp3s.com/artists/319/kevin_r_gallagher.html










----- Original Message -----
From: "Mark Sottilaro" <sine@zerocrossing.net>
To: "loopers" <Loopers-Delight@loopers-delight.com>
Sent: Tuesday, June 11, 2002 2:13 PM
Subject: Pay attention


> > Mark Hamburg wrote:
> >
> > When the drum machines get turned on,
> > the audience stops paying attention.
>
> I think this brings out an interesting point about loop based
performances, and
> performances in general.  Stop paying attention to the music, or two what
you're
> doing?  Often when we play we show video, or work in conjunction with a
video
> artist.  Often I'll play an art opening.  Basically, I don't want people
to pay
> attention to me.  If I did, I'd have some sort of Bowiesque stage show,
but that's
> not my bag, man.  I didn't even like Loopstock.  I'm much sooner have
people
> listen but not watch.  I'm boring to watch.  Come to think of it, all the
> performers at Loopstock were boring to watch.  There, I said it.  But not
to me.
> Why?  Because I'm interesting in the gear and how it's being used.  I'm 
>an
> educated consumer, so I can go, "Oh, I see Bill's using mutlitrack
Repeater
> looping with it slowed down 50% ooooo interesting...."  The average 
>person
in a
> cafe or club could care less.  Band interaction is fun to watch, but most
of us
> seem so busy nursing our gear, that gets clouded.  Percussionists (Hi 
>Jon,
Rick!)
> are for sure more fun to watch, as they're at least animated.
>
> I played an Oracle Corporate event last month, and the main comment was,
"Oooo
> what are you doing with that blue thing?"  They were interested in the
Alesis
> AirFX.  Another person said, "Oh, we like acts like this.  We usually 
>have
those
> other guys... with the virtual xylophone..."  (Buchela Lightning played 
>by
Chris
> Hedges)  Not, "wow, those guys music was great."  Not, "Hey I like the
fact that
> you can loop your guitar parts."  They comment on the little motion they
saw, or
> the very obvious new technology.
>
> So I say, don't be paid attention to.  Have your music paid attention
to... or
> not.  Make an acoustic environment.  Have your music be the star.  That's
what DJs
> do.  I've never heard a DJ complain that they weren't being watched.  Why
are we?
>
> Mark Sottilaro
>
>