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RE: Sit or Stand? Guitarist and Bassists only





There are only three contexts where I think guitarists look ok sitting
during a performance: a) big band jazz (at the end of the sax line), b)
classical (with a stool), and c) when they have some apparent physical
hardship (like being a 97 year old blind blues player).

Hey Dude, what about lap steel players, why are folks always dissing the 
lap
steel players, its called a lap steelwork, you play it sitting down with it
cradled in your Lap OK? Gosh!!! isn't that legitimate enough???

But good point about ugly gear racks, I'm striving to have not only the 
best
looking rack, but the sexiest as well.
Bill

-----Original Message-----
From: Kim Flint [mailto:kflint@loopers-delight.com]
Sent: Sunday, February 20, 2005 10:32 PM
To: Loopers-Delight@loopers-delight.com
Subject: Re: Sit or Stand? Guitarist and Bassists only


At 05:49 PM 2/20/2005, Gary Lehmann wrote:
>Now that the traffic has died down, time to clutter your mailbox again 8)
>with a poll of the looping string players: how many sit and how many 
>stand?

Interesting, I always meant to comment about this after these various loop
festivals.

Having watched many looper guitarists perform, I really, really think many
of you need to learn to play standing up. Guitarists sitting down almost
always look very lame. They have less stage presence, less energy, and less
connection with the audience than guitarists standing up. Especially if you
sit in a crappy looking chair instead of a stool, and do the big
flappy-foot, legs-spread style of toe tapping. ugh.

The only two people I've seen pull it off sitting down were Matthias Grob
and Steve Lawson, and I think it is because they are both very tall, have
good posture, and have the stage experience to engage the audience anyway.

There are only three contexts where I think guitarists look ok sitting
during a performance: a) big band jazz (at the end of the sax line), b)
classical (with a stool), and c) when they have some apparent physical
hardship (like being a 97 year old blind blues player).

Yes, I know. It is hard to tap the buttons while standing. But if Andre
LaFosse can do his thing standing up, you can learn to do it too. He taps
buttons a thousand times more often than you. Practice standing up, and you
will be fine.

Oh, and while we are at it: The ugly rack of gear. I'm really tired of
being in the audience and watching a performance by the back of an ugly
rack of gear. You have a big tangle of ugly cables all spilling out, and
your head barely poking up over the top. Most of your racks do not have
good stage presence. Move the rack somewhere to the side or behind you. Buy
some interesting cloth to put over it. Let the audience see you. Let them
see you push the buttons and turn the knobs. Let them see the blinky lights
instead of the back. Hide the cables. It will really really help.

kim


______________________________________________________________________
Kim Flint                     | Looper's Delight
kflint@loopers-delight.com    | http://www.loopers-delight.com