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From: fjm/cja
Date: Fri, 04 Oct 1996 07:34:25 -0700 (MST)
Subject: Re: Clueless at the mic

This is treally Louie revisited. Flailing around ina vain attempt to
discern why some one would play all night and badly too I hit the nail on
the head. I had mentioned it being about cultural mores. Turns out
Louie didn't grow up in a Western culture and English is a second
language for him. Anyhow Louie had arrived at the party
harmonicas in tow but full of trepidation. The party thrower had given
him carte blanche to play. The whole night takes on a very different
context when you realise he doesn't know the rules all that well and
western music is something that is not a primary part of his cultural
experiences as a child. At least not in the same way it was for me.
Which in a round about way brings me to the open mic. Ride a bus. Listen
to the people that talk incessantly to the driver. Harmless enough but
socially somehow inappropriate. They're missing some integral component
that allows most people to function in society. The open mic people seem
the same to me. Like tone deaf people. Try and try and try and try and
you'll never ever learn pitch if you lack the basic ability to hear it.
There are no classes to teach colour blind people to see red and green.
I knew a bass player that owned loads of instruments. Pianos, drums,
etc. He was totally completely tone deaf. You could tell him the notes
and he's try to play them but he couldn't hear when they were wrong. He
was always angry because he thought you weren't telling him the notes
right.

None of this is to say that poor musicians at open mics are all like
this. A local group that's gaing some minor national recognition started
out pesting at open mics. The Mollies, an Irish flavoured rock/folk
group started as a duo at open mics. They weren't all that good when they
started. They'd get a 2 song slot and that was all. Everytime I saw
them they were a little bit better. Now they may actually acheive some
national success. I hope I haven't offended anyone in this discussion,
it's not my intent. This isn't an easy subject but the cultural aspects of
playing music are interesting. I still am amused when I picture Winslow
getting sidelong glances from the Irish fiddle guys as he tried to play
along. Same book different page. fjm