[Dixielandjazz] Stage Presence

[Stephen G Barbone]

Kash and Al Brown point out that there are courses that teach  
musicians about stage presence. And Kash is surprised that there was  
just about no feedback that anyone had watched a film he recommended  
as a course.

Perhaps that is the real world problem with many OKOM bands?

As some DJMLers know, I posted for years about how to communicate with  
the audience, via bringing young ladies on stage and singing "I Want A  
Little Girl" or "I Can't Get Started" to them. Or draping the ladies  
and kids with Mardi Gras Beads, etc., etc., etc. Or about playing in  
venues that have young people in the audience. About 15 people asked  
off list for more information and then I was asked by those who run  
the list, not to post about such things anymore. They felt I was  
bragging about my gigs and our success. OK, so be it.

As for me, I have not watched the film Kash recommended, but I have  
watched videos/films of rock concerts by David Bowie, The Stones, Kiss  
and others. They are all instructional, as are videos of Louis  
Armstrong, Thelonious Monk, Dizzy Gillespie, Mardi Gras Bead throwers  
in New Orleans, Loose Marbles with their dancers, and many others.

We've adapted some of what they do to our performances. Like have  
tubist Jimmy Parker spin around faster and faster with his Sousaphone  
when we play Mardi Gras Gigs, draping beads, etc.

IMO, one of the biggest problems with the lack of audience enthusiasm  
for OKOM (in the USA) is the fact that most bands make absolutely no  
effort to bring the music to the young and/or have awful stage  
presence while re-playing the same old music in the same old way. As  
Pogo might say, "We have met the enemy and they is us."

Ducking

Cheers,
Steve Barbone
www.myspace.com/barbonestreetjazzband