[Dixielandjazz] Smile at the audience - more Booking 101

[Larry Walton Entertainment - St. Louis]

Another thing is smiling.  Unfortunately gravity and age have attacked me and if I am relaxed I have a natural scowl on my face.  I look like I am unhappy or that I am disapproving.  I have to actually work at looking pleasant and I am constantly reminding myself to smile.

I had a student at one time who had a constant scowl.  He was a good piano player and wanted to make a living from it.  The kid was blind and didn't really know what smiling was or how important it is.  At first he resented me talking about it and saw no need to change anything.  He was also very bitter at being blind and was also something of a grouch personally.  We all like happy endings and I would like to tell you that somehow I changed everything but that never was the case because he simply didn't want to.  He is a professional performer here but has never been as successful as I thought he could have been.  If he were a sighted performer he wouldn't be making it at all.

I had another student who was just the opposite and that kid (grown man) does very well in the top places in town with lots of tips and CD sales.

Smiling is an important personal habit to cultivate.  Have someone video you and check to see if you look like you are having a good time.

I used to tell the kid that people don't show up to clubs and bars to have some grouch try to entertain them.  People go there to be happy.

The other thing is eye contact with the audience.  I have noticed that a lot of players don't look at the audience very much.  This too was difficult for me.  After working at the School for the Blind for many years I tended to lose eye contact with people and it's something I do have to work at.  If you don't do it you will look dishonest or indifferent to the person or audience you are talking with.

I work at my interaction with people.  Who wants a scowling old guy who won't even look at you?  Nobody that's who.
Larry
St.L