I am just under two weeks away from my busking debut at the Tamworth Country Music Festival (TCMF), so it was time to go for a sound check. I have my Roland Street Cube as my amplifier/PA, cords for microphone and guitar, mic stand, guitar stand, cool rug and guitar case. I’m still working out what signage I will have and what basket for those general donations. The setup is essential. I think Doris Day once told Bobby Darin, " People hear what they see.”
On the hearing front, it was time to start that training. It will likely be two days: a morning session and an evening rehearsal session. I will be working on covers (more in the next post) and getting back into playing my originals after a bit of a holiday break. And with that training comes the sound. Whenever I check my sound, I always think about my Mother.
My Mom was always supportive, encouraging me to perform and continue my songwriting. She introduced me to people she thought could offer me guidance in the music business and even picked up some spoons to play some percussion to back me. (That was fun : ). But in her previous life, and life outside being my mother, I believe she had some interactions with entertainers. My Auntie Polly tells a story of going to a Miami Beach hotel bar with my Mom. Auntie Polly got up and went to the bathroom. When she came back, my Mom was surrounded by a bunch of personal security guards in suits. My Mom was still sitting at the bar, speaking with a man. According to Auntie Polly, the man was Frank Sinatra. Auntie Polly said she and my Mom both left shortly thereafter. We will need to check with Auntie Polly for the validity of this story.
From her chats with entertainer types, my Mom picked up a few nuggets for performance. At different times, she shared those tips with me, and three main ones have stayed with me.
1. Always do your sound check and make sure you sound great.
2. Save something for the live show.
3. It’s all about the melody.
For a woman who had no real career as a performer, her life experience allowed her to gain these bits of wisdom that you were so kind to share with me. I love you and miss you so. I hope I am making you proud as I told you I would.
Comments