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Stepping out of my comfort zone.
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Author:  SwingcatKurt [ Fri Dec 15, 2006 2:02 am ]
Post subject:  Stepping out of my comfort zone.
Tell me if this isnt some CRAZY stuff??!!

Couple weeks ago I answered a Craigs List add for a blues band wanting a singer. Explained and was VERY CLEAR that I am a Karaoke person with NEXT TO NO band experince. Cant read music, dont know how to count meter, dont play an instrument etc etc.

Well, Lo and behold they show up at my Karaoke night and interview me and have me sing some karaoke blues songs---auditioned me on the spot.

So they gave me a cd of songs to learn and then come out to their rehearsal to try them out. So went and sang with them at thier rehearsal place. Sang 5 songs with the band, thanked them and went on my way.

Tonight I get an email from the band leader telling me he wants to give me another cd with more songs to try and to COME OUT AND SING A FEW AT THIER LIVE GIG ON JAN 5th. SIMPLY AMAZING!! Here I am 48 yrs old never been in a band, only ever done karaoke and now Im actually going to sing lead with a REAL LIVE BLUES BAND for the first time ever!! UNBELIEVABLE!!!

How did it come about for  any of you that may actaully be or were musicians now or in the past????
Author:  MorganLeFey [ Fri Dec 15, 2006 2:03 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Stepping out of my comfort zone.
Congratulations now I can expect a live version of john the revelator :D
Author:  Odie [ Fri Dec 15, 2006 4:38 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Stepping out of my comfort zone.
Hey that's cool Kurt!  Obviously you impressed them enough in a good way even without having the previous band experience and "formal" musical training. Where are you performing at with them on Jan. 5? What is the band called?
Author:  Karaoke Kelley [ Fri Dec 15, 2006 6:48 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Stepping out of my comfort zone.
Thats tooo kool !   :hi5:   Congrats ! Be sure to let us know how it goes ! Alot of big name singers started out doing karaoke, then bands...ya never know what might be next !!! Good Luck Kurt !!  :dancin:
Author:  Shotgun CC [ Fri Dec 15, 2006 7:05 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Stepping out of my comfort zone.
Yes... case in point ..... Trisha Yearwood was a backup vocalist for Sound Choice ... before she "hit it big" ........


Best of Luck to you!!!
Author:  Kellyoke [ Fri Dec 15, 2006 8:13 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Stepping out of my comfort zone.
Way to go SwingcatKurt!! :worship:

Kelly
Author:  Steven Kaplan [ Fri Dec 15, 2006 10:31 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Stepping out of my comfort zone.
I've alway felt (as a long time musician) Karaoke is a great type of session training tool, and can be a GREAT means/value for classical vocalists in conservatories  (where backing pianists, and orchestras just aren't often practical), and we rock wannabe singers alike who really want to learn to sing and will likely never be that good. Isn't it great that day after day, we can now actually sing with a really good band themselves backing us, sing along with the actual "stones" "Beatles" etc backing us ?

For musicians, Karaoke is ALOT more than just bar entertainment.  Guitaroke, for instance helps many with timing, and really makes many feel that they are being "paced with the best"... To get better, it's often helpful to play with better players..  The advent of Karaoke has allowed many to do just that !  Karaoke is a great thing for the music world in general.  It gets MORE into music, some that would wouldn't otherwise sing...  Those that do, can train and train, learn lyrics, work on timing and phrasing, etc.. and learn more about music composition.  

If back in the days that I was playing straight cover material, I had "Bad Co" or "Skynyrd" backing to help me nail the cover and guitar parts,  THAT would've certainly been an asset.  I think MANY more now HAVE and will get into bands singing.  Problem is,  many of we backing pianists are getting fewer calls :(
Author:  Flipper [ Sat Dec 16, 2006 12:11 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Stepping out of my comfort zone.
Kurt, let us locals know when, where, and what time!
:worship:  :hi5:  :dancin:
Author:  SwingcatKurt [ Mon Dec 18, 2006 2:52 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Stepping out of my comfort zone.
My band leader came by the bar tongiht and dropped off some more songs for me--Rod Piazza, Howling Wolf, Kim Wilson. And got to talking and come to find out I NOW HAVE TO ACTUALLY MEMORIZE LYRICS!!!!! NO SONG SHEETS ON A MUSIC STAND!!!!! NO KARAOKE SCREEN WORDS!!!!! NO CRUTCH!!!!! O M F GOD!!! WHAT AM I GOING TO DO NOW??????????? :shock:  LMAO  LMAO  LMAO

How did you musicians come to memorize complete tunes in a short time???
Author:  Odie [ Mon Dec 18, 2006 5:04 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Stepping out of my comfort zone.
LOL  Yep, when it comes to being in a rock or blues band, using a music stand is considered 'cheating" for some reason.  Now if it's a single brand new song for you, you can get away with having a stand for that one song as long as you tell the audience, "hey, I'm still learning this one".  Probably the best way to learning the lyrics for the songs your band does is to make recordings of band practices and sing along with those over and over at home and in your car.  You want to get used to the arrangements that your band has instead of the original recordings.  I don't know of any other magic trick.  :)
Author:  Lonman [ Mon Dec 18, 2006 6:13 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Stepping out of my comfort zone.
SwingcatKurt @ Mon Dec 18, 2006 2:52 am wrote:
My band leader came by the bar tongiht and dropped off some more songs for me--Rod Piazza, Howling Wolf, Kim Wilson. And got to talking and come to find out I NOW HAVE TO ACTUALLY MEMORIZE LYRICS!!!!! NO SONG SHEETS ON A MUSIC STAND!!!!! NO KARAOKE SCREEN WORDS!!!!! NO CRUTCH!!!!! O M F GOD!!! WHAT AM I GOING TO DO NOW??????????? :shock:  LMAO  LMAO  LMAO

How did you musicians come to memorize complete tunes in a short time???


I was terrible at memorizing lyrics, I always had a book (3 ring) that I could see from the floor with handwritten key first phrases - usually once I learned the phrase, I could remember the rest of the verse.   Just have it leaning up against your floor monitor where the audience can't see it & when you can't remember the next line, bend down like you are singing with feeling & read the next line.
Otherwise learn each part in sections - learn 1 verse - set your cd player to loop that section & sing it until you are sick of it, then do the same with the next verse, then sing both verses a couple times, then do the same with the next verse/chorus, then blend them all again until you start knowing the song.
Author:  SwingcatKurt [ Tue Dec 19, 2006 11:42 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Stepping out of my comfort zone.
well got through my first attempt at MEMORIZING lyrics--didnt go badly---two songs
with out the word sheets---so just have to get repeating new ones to get mor eready. Will probly sing 4 songs at the show oh jan 5th-its at a coffe house in Beaverton---nice and smaller low-key kind of place to start out with. probly sing 2 on each set.

But I will get some key sheets together---I think if I can boil ech verse donw to one key word then that can help me enough if I get lost---Like the way Lonnie described.
Author:  UncleFire [ Thu Dec 21, 2006 12:51 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Stepping out of my comfort zone.
Congrats-- that's way cool.
Author:  Steven Kaplan [ Thu Dec 21, 2006 4:43 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Stepping out of my comfort zone.
Quote:
How did you musicians come to memorize complete tunes in a short time???



I never could.  This is one of the nicest parts about being a multiinstrumentalist, as opposed to being the vocalist. Took me a week to memorize the lyrics to "Behind blue eyes". Melodic structure however is first nature for me, because I was exposed to it from the time I was in a crib. Before I could talk.
Author:  Guest [ Thu Dec 21, 2006 7:54 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Stepping out of my comfort zone.
Congrats Kurt and have fun! There is nothing like performing with a live band--remember, they are backing YOU up, not the other way around so remember all of you are into the performance together and everything will work just great.  Don't worry about the lyrics, just get up there!
Author:  Babs [ Fri Dec 22, 2006 12:33 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Stepping out of my comfort zone.
:oh yeah:  :oh yeah: I just want your autograph when you get famous  :oh yeah:  :oh yeah:

Swallow those nerves and have fun !  :hug:
Author:  fiery [ Fri Dec 22, 2006 6:25 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Stepping out of my comfort zone.
Hey congratulations! I don't think it's terribly shocking, I've heard you sing. As for counting meter, playing instruments etc... as long as the singer has good timing (and that's not always really technical thing, it's just ingrained.. my son has it at 10 yrs old.. has always had it as long as I can remember). You'll do fine! Go get em tiger :D
Author:  SwingcatKurt [ Fri Dec 22, 2006 7:34 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Stepping out of my comfort zone.
Ummmmmmmmmmmmm....................is "BLUES LEGEND" too strong of a term??? LMAO  LMAO  LMAO

Or should I think more along the line of "DONT QUIT YOUR DAY JOB"????
Author:  jamkaraoke [ Fri Dec 22, 2006 8:00 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Stepping out of my comfort zone.
Kurt

Have a Cheat Sheet for your lyrics HANDY on show night.
It could either be a full song or as Lonnie suggest just CATCH words or something to get you started.  You will be surprised that something can just KNOCK the words right out of your head  at the sound of the 1st note of the song.
Keep it out of sight on the top of a monitor or amp and have it organized with your playlist. After every song take a sip of water and a peek at the sheet !!!!
Author:  SwingcatKurt [ Fri Dec 22, 2006 5:33 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Stepping out of my comfort zone.
Thats what I intend to do--- have a reminder list by keywords for each song's paragraphs.
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