Our guitar player/band leader is a bit OCD about show days. He won't take calls from his girlfriend, arrives at the venue super early and is all about the "perfect set up" before the show starts.
I do a series of stretches and rudiment warm ups before the show just to get loose. Something many other musicians do regardless of instrument.
He thinks it's a distraction for the audience to see me doing that as it's "giving away my chops" before they see it in a musical setting.
We talked about it and he's backed off a bit, but when I first heard it, I was lost for words.
Our guitar player/band leader is a bit OCD about show days. He won't take calls from his girlfriend, arrives at the venue super early and is all about the "perfect set up" before the show starts.
I do a series of stretches and rudiment warm ups before the show just to get loose. Something many other musicians do regardless of instrument.
He thinks it's a distraction for the audience to see me doing that as it's "giving away my chops" before they see it in a musical setting.
We talked about it and he's backed off a bit, but when I first heard it, I was lost for words.
Mystique aside, any playing in front of an audience before the show starts is something to be avoided IMO. Ok, sometimes you have no choice but to soundcheck in front of an audience, but warming up is a no in my book. If a warm up is needed, then use a pad somewhere away from the audience.I have to say, I'm kinda with the guitarist on this one.
It's a bit like a guitarist playing the first few bars of Smoke On The Water before the song starts.
You need to maintain the mystique.
It's a bit like a guitarist playing the first few bars of Smoke On The Water before the song starts.
EXACTLY!!! What is with that? I've played in two bands where the guitarist would play the intro to each song. I hated that and complained but I guess when you are the guitar player you do what you want.
If you are in a band where your bandies can't see that something like that is plain wrong, even when it's been 'splained to them, you need to move to a band with peeps who get it.