[Dixielandjazz] Clarifying Sitting or Standing...

[Madison T]

These are great points Rocky and I I'd have to agree with everything you've
said so far. Let me add one perspective.

I originally decided I actually wanted to start playing jazz when I
discovered the band Tuba Skinny. I had seen a few other trad bands on
YouTube but I was always a little put off by the performance aspect of
them. When I would see some guys trying hard to impress the crowd it made
me feel like the music was just one big hokey gimmick. Now theres nothing
wrong with gimmicks or being hokey but at that time I was a bit younger
(I'm 28 now) and was overly concerned with being percieved as "cool". For
me, tuba skinny's overly cold demeanor now feels a bit excessive but like
any other dramatized performance I believe it serves a purpose, whether
they intended it to or not. Watching them made me feel like the music
wasn't old. I didnt feel like they were trying to remind the crowd that
they were playing antiquated music and that's why it should be
interesting.  This functions to take the music out of its most widely known
context, which sadly right now is Gatsby themed birthday parties and
"roaring 20s" sock hops.

By showing up dressed however they want, sitting down and just playing the
tunes really well, I feel that they are saying "this is every day, every
people, any situation, Normal, timeless, average American music". Stop
waiting for thanksgiving to eat cranberry sauce. Put it on a plate next to
your ribs and greens any day of the week, that shits delicious. And I
totally fell in love with that idea.

Now obviously theres a massive spectrum between tuba skinny and big bad
voodoo daddy styles of showmanship,  but just like you said, I dont think
theres a wrong way to do it if the music is good. It's just about how much
you want to do, how you want to appeal to the crowd, and how concerned you
are with the "success of a particular show" but in the end I think theres a
case to be made for a minimalist performance (especially with its appeal to
a younger generation) and overall I think its healthy for the genre.

So that's why I'm sittin. And also my playing sucks standing up haha.

-Madison

On Tue, Feb 19, 2019, 3:26 AM Rocky Ball <superbanjo at mindspring.com> wrote:

> Hey Folks:
>
> Let me CLARIFY my comments of last week regarding "sitting or standing."
> (Thanks to my friend Jim Kashishian for pointing out how the subject matter
> can move into another 'lane' over time! :)
>
> I wasn't suggesting that anyone develop a choreographed show and do some
> gymnastics while trying to play, or signal directions, or clue intros and
> endings, etc.
>
> All I was saying was...
>
> If you are playing in front of an audience you are playing a "show"....
> how much "show" you want to put into it is entirely your decision. After
> many years of staging "shows" (to include jazz bands as well as
> instrumental music, choreography and vocal acts) I've discovered that there
> is an ART and a SCIENCE to entertaining people without regard to the genre
> of music being performed. Here is some of what I have learned... use as
> much or as little of it as you like:
>
> If you are sitting you are generally less interesting (visually) than the
> same band playing the same music while standing. Sitting or standing are
> not the only factors that can make your performance more entertaining.
> Playing good music at a high level of skill is very important. Interacting
> with the audience through your announcements, song introductions, and even
> 'patter' is very important. Finding ways to interject humor into the
> evening is important. Interspersing fast, medium tempo, and slow music (so
> that you don't play too many of the same tempo in a row) is very important.
> Building your sets so they look like a roller coaster with regard to energy
> is important (try starting high, have a few dips here and there for a
> contrast of slow tunes or blues and build the excitement to a strong,
> energetic finish... although this is general rule of thumb it can be done
> differently with the right mix of tunes). Dress nicely if you're in a nice
> venue... dress down if you're in a dive or a barn(!) Remember that only in
> the rarest occasions is everyone in your audience a musicologist (or jazz
> historian) and some of those people will know every tune you're playing and
> some will have not heard ANY of them before... find a way to entertain both
> ends of the spectrum!
>
> I'm not saying you HAVE to stand or you HAVE to sit or you HAVE to be
> funny or you HAVE to be serious... but all of those things will have an
> effect on your audience in some way. You can overcome many of the deficits
> of sitting by energizing up other aspects of the performance. The most
> IMPORTANT aspect you can do to improve the "show" is to let the audience
> know that you really enjoy what you're doing up there... if you are excited
> about the music and the playing they will be excited, as well! Let your
> excitement show in your demeanor and expression!
>
> ~Rocky Ball, banjo, Ruby Reds Band - Atlanta
> http://www.RubyRedsBand.com
>
>
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