Re: [Harp-L] harp envy ;-)

[Mark Russillo <jruss433@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Things I have found to beneficial in securing significant stage space at gigs in order of cost:
 
 
1.  Get a folding music stand.  Everyone needs a perimiter.  Your amp, guitar and your mic will accomplish that if you are a guitar player.  The keyboardist has a natural boundary as does the drummer.  If you are playing harp through a hand-held mic,  your amp can cover your back and a music stand can establish a sort of "safe zone" in front of you - plus it can hold MUSIC, an extra harp, and of course a set list and other notes you might need on the fly.
 
2.  Invest in a wireless system (that way you can be on stage and everywhere else).  As Mike's stories indicate, people are fascinated by the harp player, particularly if he comes down into the crowd during a solo and works it.  From a functional standpoint, a wireless harp player has little baggage and can go to the back of the bar and check out the mix while the performance is going on - that is a distinct advantage for sound quality control.
 

3.  Consider owning a PA.  Then you can be there to do the setup and you can place yourself - even if you are a sideman.
 
I enjoyed Mike's anecdotes.  They remind me that there are distinct advantages to being the Harp Player!
 
Mark Russillo
(a.k.a. The Rhode Island Kid)

Blake Taylor <taylorb@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Dang........way too early in the morning to be reading that kind of soft
porn......

Of course, we now have a great bit of blackmail on Mike ...... anybody
have his wife's email?...... JUST KIDDING! What happens at the gig,
stays at the gig.....right?

Nice one, Mike.

- BAT

>>> Michael Easton 09/25/05 8:51 PM >>>
I don't know about the rest of you that play "sideman" in a band but 
I found I get a raw deal when it comes to space on stage. Or so I 
thought:-)

The drummer always gets center stage with the bassist beside him. 
Both guitarists sing so they pick their spot in order to be spotlighted.
The keyboard player needs plenty of space for his keys, bench and 
rig. That leaves the last spot if any for the harp player, me!

I don't know how it is for those of you that are "sidemen/woman" in a 
band but sometimes it has it's good and bad moments. Especially when 
it comes to
being a harp player in a 6 piece band. At first I was quietly annoyed 
about the situation because my band mates would laugh at where they 
stuck me off stage. That has all changed the past couple of gigs.

Example bar #1: Nice upscale lounge but no stage for the band. The 
available playing area was cut off by the entrance to the woman's 
rest room and an indoor waterfall opposite that. The back wall is 
divided by the entrance to the restroom which cuts the "stage" area 
in half. I was one of the first ones there to set up. 25 minutes 
later I get moved across the other side of the stage area separated 
from the band by a path leading to the woman's restroom. Throughout 
the night the lovely ladies ignored my band mates while smiling at me 
when they came and went. I was also the one they came to with song 
requests. I acted like I couldn't hear their request so they had to 
put their face closer to mine. If she was walking toward me while I 
soloed I played a little raunchier as she passed. It was all in 
good fun watching my band mates watch me entertain the ladies while 
they were being ignored.

Example bar #2: This past friday we played our usually monthly gig 
at this one neighborhood bar, Chicks. (While that is the owners name 
it also describes who hangs there). The stage is about 6 inches off 
the floor and big enough for only 5 players so I get assigned to the 
floor beside the stage, my amp and me in front of a videogame. The 
spot lights were pointed toward the guys on stage. I was left in the 
dark. I thought I got a raw deal until the women started coming up to 
dance. Since the dance floor is small it doesn't take much to fill 
it. Well, these 3 blonde cuties in their early 20's come up to me 
while we are playing and ask me if my wife is there because they 
didn't want to get beat up for what they were about to do. I said no, 
but she is Puerto Rican/Sicilian and has a serious temper so they 
were lucky she decided not to come that night.

They then proceeded to ungulate, er dance in front of me very, very 
close. The first one in a very short demin mini skirt went first 
showing me how low to the floor she could go while dancing. Pretty 
darn low I might add. the middle one then rubbed her hands from my 
chest down to my ankles and back up while I soloed on the tune 
Killing Floor. The 3rd blonde in jeans and a light blue silk top 
then started rubbing her chest up and down my forearm while I was 
playing. I kept looking up at my band mates who were looking down at 
me like a deer in the headlights. They were in shock to see what had 
transpired. I thought it was only a fluke but then the first dancer 
in the short demin skirt came up later and gave me a personal dance 
while I soloed for her. (This was not a strip club and these were 
not hookers). The lower she got to the floor the slower and lower I 
bent the reed on the 2 draw during my solo. When she hit bottom I 
hit a 2 draw bend vibrato and held it. She was about 2 feet from my 
amp so she got the full effect of the deep bass bend vibrato and 
started to laugh real hard. I don't think I need to explain the 
physics of how sound vibrates off objects it hits but she sure got a 
lesson in it.

Later, during the 3rd set, 2 other hot blondes started dancing for 
me while I was playing. One rubbing her hand across the side of my 
face down to my neck. My head was about to explode from all the 
attention. Then a ravishing brunette dripping in sex appeal with 
big hazel eyes and full lips started dancing for me. First with her 
back facing me and head cocked sideways looking over her shoulder, 
then she turned around and swayed like a King Cobra ready to strike. 
All less then 2 feet from me. I was a puddle of sweat at that point. 
One of my best nights of playing ever because the only thing I could 
do was entertain those entertaining me.

Most of the guys were watching football, shooting pool or hanging 
their own woman. I ended up entertaining the rest. I think we 
played 1 1/2 hours for the second set. All my band mates could talk 
about during break was the attention I was getting off stage. The 
keyboard player said he would switch with me next time but I told him 
only if he gave me $200.

I was surprised at the end of the night to find 3 of the woman were 
there with their dates. We exchanged good nights and I thanked them 
for coming to the gig. The blonde in demin gave me an inviting smile 
as she walked off with her boyfriend. It all ended in good clean fun 
but damn, that is one night I'll remember for a long long time. Too 
bad Bill Hines didn't show up to verify my story. Hey Bill, ask KJ 
or Mitch about it.:) Every word of it is true.

mike




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_______________________________________________
Harp-L is sponsored by SPAH, http://www.spah.org
Harp-L@xxxxxxxxxx
http://harp-l.org/mailman/listinfo/harp-l