Decompressing Sexy Sunday October 9, 2009
Posted by onemouthband in : Music, One On One, Travels , comments closedOne On One is performing twice this Sunday, 3:45PM at Decompression in San Francisco, and then at about 9:30PM at Krickie’s Sexy Sunday Showcase in downtown Fairfax, Ca.
Decompression is a Burning Man after-party, of sorts. After 4-years at Burning Man, this is my first Decompression (I’ve always been out of town doing TaKeTiNa before). One On One is doing a reprise of the show that made them such a hit at the Burning Main Center Camp Main Stage this year, plus some great new material we debuted last week. I think there are several stages, and we’ll be at the 22nd Street Stage (at Indiana) for about 30-minutes. For more info, visit http://www.burningman.com/blackrockcity_yearround/special_events/decompression/decom2009.html. Come in costume if you can, we will!
Sexy Sunday is a female musician’s showcase that happens on the second Sunday of every month. The local as well as traveling talent is hand-picked to provide an eclectic mix of smokin’ & original girl music that’ll knock your sox off, or at least you’ll have a great time. Peri’s Silver Dollar Bar, no cover. One On One is on around 9:30PM or so, but there will be music until at least 1AM by Jesebell, Leila Swan, Stefanie Keys, and a handful of other lady artists, including your lovely hostess Krickie.
Hope to see you there!
Open Mic Advice October 8, 2009
Posted by onemouthband in : Music, Notes to Self, Recommendations, Travels , comments closed
In the last year or two, I’ve done a lot of open mics all over the world. In that time I’ve learned quite a bit about them, and would like to share some of what I know. Whatever country you’re in, whatever instrument you play, and whatever level you’re at, my advice is pretty much the same. Here’s my top ten:
- Call ahead and the get info. Don’t email, dropping in is good if convenient, but the person with the info you need isn’t always there. When does it start? When does it end? How do you get on the list? The name of the host/person to talk to when you get there? What is the format (number of songs/minutes, etc.)?
- Show up. You have to show up at the venue or you are not doing that open mic. Get it?
- Check in with the host/person to talk to 30-60 minutes before the call time. If you can’t find that person, talk to whoever is behind the soundboard (hint: they’re probably the same person!). If you have any special sound setup (anything beyond a guitar that you can plug in and a mic on a stand), mention it now.
- Set up within 5-minutes of arriving. Be ready to play in case something happens and you get called up sooner. If someone cancels or asks you if you want to play now, just go! If you tune right away and it’s cold outside, you may have to retune if it’s a long wait for the stage, but so what? Oh, and don’t lend you ax to someone unless you’re willing to spend time retuning before your slot.
- Don’t be cheap. Buy a drink, get some food, put money in the tipjar, etc. Do everything you can to be generous and pay it forward.
- Be nice. You want people to listen to you and then clap, right? Then always clap for the other folks who are performing, and don’t talk over top of them. If your promised slot is ignored by the host (this happens a lot!), just very politely check in again. It’s very possible they simply forgot about you when someone cuter started talking to them.
- Be confident. Some people are good, some are not. You will very likely be in between, and that’s cool! Love it as it is. Don’t apologize, play!
- Song choice is crucial. Never do two downers in a row or people will leave, and if they don’t do it physically they will do it mentally. I always try to do a couple things that don’t sound alike, and that are a bit different than what everyone else is doing (though being a One Mouth Band, this part comes naturally). Originals are generally worth more than covers to this crowd, and they avoid the uncomfortable accident of playing the same song someone else has just played.
- Talk to The People. Okay, so you’re nervous, but guess what? Everyone else probably is to. Don’t be scared to stumble or stutter as this just makes you look more human. Try not to ramble more than a minute, but do engage people with: a story behind your song, a funny thing that happened to you today, etc. You can even be confronting, controversial, or a downright jerk, if that suits your music. Pretty much anything that doesn’t fall in the category of TMI* is probably fine. If you ever can’t think of anything, remember that it is never a bad move to thank the host, soundperson, waitress, etc.
- Communicate with the soundtech about plugging and unplugging. No one wants the jolt of that loud POP! that makes you look stupid and makes the soundperson testy. You can usually just hold the cord to the light and nod to the soundperson. Only when you get the nod back do you plug/unplug.
Okay, one more extra credit tidbit that became clear after taking my brother to perform at open mics in Portland: Get a stage name. My brother’s name is John Klawitter, no one remembers “Klawitter” and even if they do, they have no idea how to spell it. Instead, he goes by “Johnny Walker”, because he also has a dog walking service. Believe me, in a bar they will remember you if you name yourself after a drink. Playful is good, but avoid going with anything too silly or hard to say or anything you don’t want people to call you if they see you when you’re holding hands with your sweetie in the park a week later. Of course I go by “One Mouth Band”, and while many people do screw it up (One Man Band, One Mouth Man, etc.), it still works better than the anonymous “Sam Rogers” in most cases, and it kind of describes what I do.
So go on then, get out there! If you’re not making your music, who will? If not now, when?
* TMI: Too Much Information. Anything that you’ve been diagnosed with (physically or mentally) or any topic that would require the listener to imagine you naked. Or both.
Body & Soul Festival TOMORROW September 25, 2009
Posted by onemouthband in : Music, One On One, Recommendations, TaKeTiNa, Travels , comments closedI’ll be opening the Fairfax Body & Soul Festival at noon tomorrow with Nicolle Lane in our new duo act One On One. Then at 3PM, I’m leading a TaKeTiNa Rhythm Journey, too! Tickets are $5, but I’ve got a couple comps, so contact me if you want one.
This festival promises to be the kind of family fun that only Fairfax can really provide. Where else would you find awesome music like mine next to a Bollywood class, Star Wars Kung Fu Obstacle Course, yoga, tai chi, kung fu, interesting panels on parenting and on health reform, free mini massages & acupuncture, chocolate tasting, an organic wine bar…and more? For more info, click the image below.
That Burning Question August 28, 2009
Posted by onemouthband in : Inspiries, Music, One Mouth Band, TaKeTiNa, Travels , comments closedHeaded back home to the Playa this year for Burning Man? Where will you be camped and doing stuff this time? I’ll be with Acapplaya Camp again, near 8:30 & DNA. If you want to meet up with me (please do!), the best way is to find the places I’m singing at. Here’s my performance schedule so far:
Tuesday
12:30-1:15AM (late Monday night), Center Camp Main Stage, singing with One On One
9AM-10:30AM, Heebee Geebee Healers Camp (8 & C), leading TaKeTiNa Rhythm Circle
6-7PM, Acapplaya Camp (my camp, 8:30 & DNA), singing with Acapplaya
Midnight-ish, The Grand Hotel at Ashram Galactica (7:30 & Biology), singing with AcapplayaWednesday
4-5PM, Center Camp Main Stage, with Acapplaya
7-10PM, Camp Sexy Mutherf*ckrs (7:15 & Chaos), Art Car Commitment Ceremony & mobile guerrilla sing with Acapplaya
CANCELLED 9-9:15, Center Camp Main Stage, with One On OneThursday = open
Friday
4-4:30PM, Critical Tits ritual site (approx. 1:30 and Genome), singing & co-leading The Playa Kwaya
9-10PM, Jazz Cafe (Evolution & 2:00), with AcapplayaSaturday
11AM-12PM, Center Camp Main Stage, with AcapplayaSunday
11AM-1PM, Jazz Cafe (Evolution & 2:00), Undenominational Whatever Service, with The Playa Kwaya
BeatboxMan is not gonna happen this time out (my battery busted and I wasn’t able to get anything else together), so there will be no roaming the open Playa with my mic/looper this year. Of course I’ll still be performing as The One Mouth Band where ever else I feel like it, and am available to team up with any other musicians/performers for The Gloriously Undefined Whatever!
Leading TaKeTiNa Rhythm Retreat in Pt. Reyes August 25, 2009
Posted by onemouthband in : Music, Recommendations, TaKeTiNa, Travels , comments closedThis October 24+25, I will be leading my first official 2-Day Rhythm Meditation Retreat with fellow Certified TaKeTiNa Rhythm Teacher James Word at The Dance Palace in Point Reyes Station, CA. Register before October and get an early-bird discount!
TaKeTiNa is music for inner silence,
movement for inner stillness,
rhythm for evolution!This dynamic and meditative work combines
steps, claps, and singing to connect
to the rhythm that we already share.Led by certified TaKeTiNa teachers
James Word and Sam Rogers.All are welcome. No experience necessary.
For more info visit RhythmInAction.com, or go to http://rhythmretreat.eventbrite.com/ to register today!