What if comedians got on stage and just read their jokes off their phone?
Folks. I realize I’m 48 and maybe older than some and I came up a harder way than some, and not as hard as others. I realize it’s tough to memorize everything you need for a song. But the music stand has got to go.
If I’ve played in huge orchestras and marching bands without sheet music and you can play covers in a coffee shop without it too.
Engage folks. We like it. I’m folks.
It is the most disengaging act in the history of humankind when someone needs to look at phone or sheet music to perform a song for you that’s on the radio. Not only is this person now not paying attention to you, they’re singing directly into a music stand. Honestly, I don’t know how it could be worse.
You do not instill confidence while looking at your music stands in cover bands. If you aren’t looking around the audience, we aren’t going to look at you. I have teenagers and young adults. I have no problem seeing folks with talent look at their phones. But when it’s a paid gig at a nice place, it feels very cheap and spur of the moment.
Original music vs covers, usually.
One thing about being in an original band, the music stand thing never comes up. Someone would have to actually write the song down for it to be of any use. Lol. This allows for looking around. Joking. Singing to one person at a time. Waving. All those things make the show special for those watching. You rob them just so you can play with your music stand.
Practice sucks, but there’s no way to get around it.
It takes rehearsal to perform in front of folks. Seems like bands around here have given up on that. It’s a shame.
If we aren’t going to put effort into learning our songs, the audience shouldn’t have to either. It’s not a fair trade. They don’t get a lot, we don’t give them much. For a paid gig, this is a shitty feeling. Not happening over here.
I don’t bother watching you read.
I’ve seen lots of bands at bars with music stands. Gotten in the habit of leaving. I don’t want half-ass loud shit to ruin my conversation. I don’t want to stare at a performer staring at their phone and hear trepidation every time someone loses their place in the music. So I just leave.
Being a musician is serious. You get that, right? Folks work hard and give you money or attention afterwards. It is incumbent upon musicians to learn how to entertain in some form or fashion. If I’m just watching you rehearse with sheet music, it’s a ripoff.
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