Re: Looping live, professionalism , etc.

["max valentino" <ekstasis1@hotmail.com>]

Hi Gang!
I have been away for a few days, but have been greatly enjoying this 
continuing thread on all things looping!  Some really wonderful ideas 
kicking around.  This is what I love about this list...the free 
interchange 
of ideas, concepts, techniques, et al.
So let me pick up where I left off....something about "smoke and mirrors". 
 
One thing, and a very important thing, I learned from Rick "Loopool" 
Walker 
was not to underestimate your audience.  Believe it or not, most audiences 
DO want to be challenged, whether they are cognizent of this or not.  For 
us 
loopers, this is very important.  Sure, as Steve Lawson pointed out, they 
may not really be aware of or understand the concept or technololgy of 
looping, and perhaps you may have to lead them around by the ear for a 
bit, 
but almost always, the audience becomes rapt with the entire process.  
This 
has been my experience in live situations, where, as Steve said, they 
might 
believe there are "canned" parts...or sequences etc.  To counter that, I 
try 
to throw a few glitches into my performance....to keep it from being in 
any 
way perfect (which for me is never really a serious threat :-0)
hmmm..I was just listening to some live tracks from the solo bass looping 
tour this summer, and maybe I took that concept to an extreme!
By "walking the audience" thru the whole looping process, you somehow 
involve them in what is happening, and at that point...you have 'em!
I tend to look at looping, and the tools thereof, as instruments 
themselves 
(albeit instruments which require an external sound device).  I try not to 
recreate other works, or make myself sound exactly the same gig after gig, 
night after night. I suppose that now with the Repeater and it's memory 
functions, mainaining loops and sequences can be part of the looping 
show...and this is fine, but I rather enjoy stretching the limitations of 
both the player and the gear. Looping greatly benefits the improvisatory 
nature of music, and as such, the "looping" part of your performance is as 
just evolving, and involving, as your instrumental "chops".  I try to work 
this into each of my looping gigs.
I also am quite fond of adapting compostional approaches to the looping 
environment.  Rather than trying to, say, make an ABBA type structure with 
multiple loops, I try to adapt or make a variation of my compositon to 
include it in a looping system.  Often times this means shifting the 
harmony 
over a static rhythm loop, or shifteing the melody over a static harmony.. 
or tapping out and starting over incorporating both ideas!
Of, course, using loops in a live setting is gonna be hazardous.  The 
foot-pedal ballet thing is sometimes mind-numbing in its own right, but 
add 
to that the horror of "the bad loop"!  What I try (really I do TRY) to do 
is 
incorporate all these snafus, glitches, clams, and train-wrecks into the 
performance, just as you use what talents and chops you have to cover 
those 
same kind of faux pas "sans loops".  Incidentally, when Steve spoke of 
leaving (and encouraging) the audience to do what ever suits their fancy, 
it 
reminded me of a solo gig I did a few weeks ago where there were folks 
listening intentively, others in various conversations, and others eating 
(complete with clanging glasses and silverware), all coupled with the (now 
mandatory) cappucino machine blaring off every few moments (not to mention 
the cafe was near the train tracks!!).  So I improvised a piece which used 
all of these elements in it.  There were but a privilaged few in 
attendence 
who "got it", but I made sure to thank everyone who contributed their 
"part" 
to the piece.  Was the piece filled with blatant mistakes? Sure..timing 
errors (mostly on the part of the audience or espresso machine :-o)),bad 
notes, etc., but using a DL4 allowed me to flip those around, or change 
speeds.....
well you get the picture.
by the way, I too am a professional musician....I actually make my living 
doing this!  In that way I am very blessed, as I get to make a living from 
what I love to do most.
whew!  a little more than just $.02..but what the heck!
Max


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