David, I couldn't quite envision what sort of scenerio you might be picturing with this performance tip...until today.
You see, today we played for a banquet for the Chamber of Commerce. When we arrived to set up, we found that they had set the stage up in the CENTER of the banquet hall. What were they thinking?? Seriously, how did they expect us to face an audience 360 degrees around us?! We ended up forming a creative semi-circle enabling us to "face" about two-thirds of the audience! It actually worked quite well! Afterwards, however, a few people complained about our backs being to a portion of the audience. Now I suppose we could've put our backs to each other (but then, obviously, we wouldn't of be able to play together!). I have to wonder what they would have done in the same situation! In the end, it was actually rather fun to acknowledge the audience, and then turn around and do the same to the people behind you!!!
I know exactly where you're coming from. In fact, my friend Benjamin was just blogging about this problem. I think he captures the situation perfectly.
Thanks for the link. That was a great post. I think I was traumatized in my early violin-playing years by people getting behind me, getting poked by my bow, and getting irritated at me. I ended up feeling quite upset. Of course they saw it as my fault entirely, and didn't realize that I couldn't see them at all! As my violin joined the family to perform and the problem became worse we had to change positions (no pun intended) and figure out something that worked for all concerned. Now not only am I aware of the space behind me that I can't see, but the rest of the family respects that space! :)
I know - I have the longest, hardest to spell, hardest to pronounce name in the family! :) In fact, one of the things I enjoy about the Fourth Rose is that people know how to say and spell it! Mom sometimes says she wishes she had named us girls all the same name with a number after. The really funny thing is this: if she'd done that the name would have been Rae, which would make me Rae-4 or, R4!!
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David, I couldn't quite envision what sort of scenerio you might be picturing with this performance tip...until today.
You see, today we played for a banquet for the Chamber of Commerce. When we arrived to set up, we found that they had set the stage up in the CENTER of the banquet hall. What were they thinking?? Seriously, how did they expect us to face an audience 360 degrees around us?! We ended up forming a creative semi-circle enabling us to "face" about two-thirds of the audience! It actually worked quite well! Afterwards, however, a few people complained about our backs being to a portion of the audience. Now I suppose we could've put our backs to each other (but then, obviously, we wouldn't of be able to play together!). I have to wonder what they would have done in the same situation! In the end, it was actually rather fun to acknowledge the audience, and then turn around and do the same to the people behind you!!!
Have a great week ~ Kathrina, the Fourth Rose
Hi Kathrina(I think I'll call you R4)!
I know exactly where you're coming from. In fact, my friend Benjamin was just blogging about this problem. I think he captures the situation perfectly.
http://www.randominspirationsofbrilliance.blogspot.com/
But the point is, when you're up in front of a crowd, you should ALWAYS face the crowd. It just seems like common sense to me.
Thanks for the link. That was a great post. I think I was traumatized in my early violin-playing years by people getting behind me, getting poked by my bow, and getting irritated at me. I ended up feeling quite upset. Of course they saw it as my fault entirely, and didn't realize that I couldn't see them at all! As my violin joined the family to perform and the problem became worse we had to change positions (no pun intended) and figure out something that worked for all concerned. Now not only am I aware of the space behind me that I can't see, but the rest of the family respects that space! :)
I know - I have the longest, hardest to spell, hardest to pronounce name in the family! :) In fact, one of the things I enjoy about the Fourth Rose is that people know how to say and spell it! Mom sometimes says she wishes she had named us girls all the same name with a number after. The really funny thing is this: if she'd done that the name would have been Rae, which would make me Rae-4 or, R4!!
~Kathrina
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