tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-375317542145072697.post6690667122616144604..comments2023-09-03T10:06:40.468-04:00Comments on Jazz Underneath: Tough ChoiceBill Harrisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06230688798201652234noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-375317542145072697.post-22754002337970890912007-12-26T10:21:00.000-05:002007-12-26T10:21:00.000-05:00I'd be surprised if I could find the original scra...I'd be surprised if I could find the original scrap of paper that manifesto was scrawled on. But the essence of it is captured in the last paragraph of my comment. Just add some details to the "people" to make it feel a little more real, and probably some sort of personal exhortation to both find the spirit and soul in the music, as well as to ignore the cynicism of tired colleagues.<BR/><BR/>- JackJacquehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02374496116661609920noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-375317542145072697.post-34720678708498144872007-12-24T11:40:00.000-05:002007-12-24T11:40:00.000-05:00Good question, Jake.It does matter to me how much ...Good question, Jake.<BR/><BR/>It does matter to me how much the music "matters" to the audience. One reason I like to play in the theatre is that it seems that what I do really does affect the outcome of the performance in a more direct way than many of my other gig situations.<BR/><BR/>Bringing something worthwhile musically to an audience is a big factor in the attitude I bring to work. I discovered this years ago in the midst of an 18 month run of Always, Patsy Cline. When I successfully remembered that most of the audience would be seeing the show and hearing us play the songs for the first time, it was much easier (and much more fun) playing that particular show.<BR/><BR/>The questions you raise do require more space than a comment. I'd love to read your "manifesto" and have the feeling I'd agree with most of it!Bill Harrisonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06230688798201652234noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-375317542145072697.post-26068529237274617732007-12-17T12:42:00.000-05:002007-12-17T12:42:00.000-05:00Wilhelm,This is indeed a tough one to respond to, ...Wilhelm,<BR/>This is indeed a tough one to respond to, and yet I feel compelled to do so.<BR/><BR/>I certainly grew tired of low-quality gigs (meaning artistic quality), a fact which played some part in my taking a full-time day job (insurance benefits played the largest role in that decision however). I don't regret turning down the occasional boring gig that is offered to me.<BR/><BR/>But were I making my living playing as you are, I guess I would say that is why they call it work: you don't always get the plum assignment with the crack team -- even in your day gig!<BR/><BR/>The other terrifically important component--which you didn't address--is the quality, involvement and enthusiasm of the audience. I have a lot of thoughts about this, but I'll pose the question to you: Does bringing joy to the audience redeem low artistic quality? How does the reaction of the audience affect your stress level--is it a mitigating factor when other aspects are unpleasant?<BR/><BR/>For me, it can be. I once scribbled a sort of manifesto for myself, to be meditated on before the umpteenth performance of some tired classical "standard," to remind me that someone in the hall might be hearing the piece for the first time tonight; someone else, an aging music lover, might be hearing it for the last time; someone else might have been dragged here by his wife, but my performance might reach that person and affect him... . Thinking this way helped me rid myself of some of the cynicism that inevitably creeps in.<BR/><BR/>JakeJacquehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02374496116661609920noreply@blogger.com