[Dixielandjazz] Sit or Stand?

[Mr. McClernan]

Ever since the advent of MTV, we have become a nation of "music watchers” instead of music listeners. Music is an aural art form. Just sayin’.

Re the Turk formation referenced below, I’m perfectly happy to be in the background, as a tubist. The last thing my tinnitus needs is someone blowing a horn at the back of my head.
My 2¢.
John McClernan



> On Feb 14, 2019, at 12:11 AM, Rocky Ball <superbanjo at mindspring.com <mailto:superbanjo at mindspring.com>> wrote:
> 
> Standing or Sitting:
> 
> It depends on what you want to accomplish...
> 
> I used to write and produce live shows of all genres and would teach my young performers that, among other things, standing gives you some 'gravitas' or power with your audience... so if you want to 'command' them and display enormous energy, as in a show, you should STAND. That's not to diminish some of the good effects on the audience of sitting, however. Sitting can psychologically cause your audience to lean in and listen if they are there to listen. If they care more about the playing and the performers then sitting is perfectly appropriate. If your audience is more concerned with the 'show' and less concerned with the actual playing then STANDING is almost required.
> 
> Of course, if the performers are of an age or in a shape that standing is a problem.... then sit! I've seen some pictures of Turk's band where the seated rhythm section was in the front row and the horns were behind them... allowing for the seated players to be more easily observed and the standing horn players still could be seen behind them. If you are going to sit you need to add some effects to your performance that keeps the audience's eyes moving. If you sit and don't move and the music sits and doesn't move the audience can become bored. Food for thought...
> 
> ~Rocky Ball, Ruby Reds Band, Atlanta, GA
> http://www.RubyRedsBand.com <http://www.rubyredsband.com/>
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