How to rehearse for a concert

Oliver Crini

Hi folks!!

I'm a newcomer to this style of jazz and to this wonderful Message board.
Here's the problem I'll submit to your greater wisdom :

I've been rehearsing with a friend for 6 months now, and yesterday we were asked to play more or less for one hour during an happy hour that will take place on February 15th. Since the theme of the event is "energy saving", me and my fellow guitarist we're supposed to play unplugged.

Here's the questions: How we should address the rehearsing for the concert, knowing that we're a duo and this will be our first concert? (even though I've already played jazz before, I'm new to this style) What are the most important aspects of your playing you usually work out the most when you have a concert? (we both play rhythm and solos). And last but not least, we were requested to create an intimate mood, do you have any suggetion on the best tunes for that? (I was thinking about ballads like Nuages, Tears, Idle Moments)

Thank you sooo much everybody, and Swing On

crookedpinky

Well, five years in and I'm still just starting in this style. For what its worth I would suggest the following songs for an intimate atmosphere:

Clair De Lune, Danse Norvegienne, Je Suis Seul Ce Soir, J'attendrai, Autumn Leaves, Melodie au Crepuscule, Si Tu Savais and Songe D'automne.

I suppose just as much as the repertoire the venue, setting and your interaction with the audience will shape how intimate the event is.

I would suggest that short scene setting introductions to some of the songs would help, so this would be little bits of information about the history of the music, Django or the song. So, for example, Song D'Automne was allegedly played by the band on the Titanic as it sank.

I suppose the other critical factor is the set list, running order and rehearsing it until you can play it backwards or at least know it well enough to bluff it goes wrong.

My approach to drawing up a set list is to conisder that the audience will know nothing about gypsy jazz so we would open with a tune or two they would know e.g. All of Me, them maybe Minor Swing with an opening remark about how this is Gypsy Jazz and actually they probably knew the tune without realising it and then move on to a tune they are less likely to know, maybe Swing Gitan.

I tried to balance familar with unfamiliar, uptempo and slower tempo, straight swing and latin rhythms so there's a bit of variety - which I think would be even more important if there's only two of you.

I hope that's helpful and forgive me if you know or thought of all of this already. Have a great gig anyway and I love the fact you're going unplugged.

hanear21

In addition to what crookedpinky said, don't forget to work on intros and outros for every song. I think that's something that a lot of people (myself included) don't practice enough at home. If you're both taking solos it would be a good idea to agree on how long you'll each go for each song. If you can work out fun little things like 4 bar question-and-answers that's always fun to see too.

Tele295

If you're going to play unplugged, at a noisy cocktail party, you need to practice playing in a noisy environment. As a duo, it's really important that you can hear each other. Go practice someplace noisy, like on the sidewalk along a busy street. I know it sounds crazy, but there's a lot of volume required in a gig like that, and it's not like practicing in your living room.

jimvence

One suggestion that may seem obvious, and applicable to whether you are about to play Gypsy Jazz, or pretty much any activity.

Visualize and simulate the situation. With guitar in hand, imagine the concert, determine what is the sequence of songs you intend to play. Then with the first song, determine how you plan to start and stop the song, who takes turns soloing (will it be a full form chorus, or trade-off), and if you are new to improv soloing, make sure you have a roadmap of the chord changes and have rehearsed.

That's the paradox of improvisation -- you have to rehearse really hard to be spontaneous.

jimvence

One suggestion that may seem obvious, and applicable to whether you are about to play Gypsy Jazz, or pretty much any activity.

Visualize and simulate the situation. With guitar in hand, imagine the concert, determine what is the sequence of songs you intend to play. Then with the first song, determine how you plan to start and stop the song, who takes turns soloing (will it be a full form chorus, or trade-off), and if you are new to improv soloing, make sure you have a roadmap of the chord changes and have practiced soloing over those songs.

That's the paradox of improvisation -- you have to rehearse really hard to be spontaneous.

BluesBop Harry

A bar during happy hour and two unplugged guitars... You'll be lucky if you can hear your own guitar.
Get a pickup and an amp...
You won't need to work as hard to get heard so there's your energy saver
Don't forget to rehearse with the amps to get used to hearing yourself through a speaker instead of your axe's soundhole.

Passacaglia

Very timely stuff, guys. Our little jam group has organically blossomed just a bit, to a first gig coming up, and working out intros, outros, solo orders, tradeoffs, etc., is top issue. Thanks for the thread.

(Hey Tony )

Paul

Phil

-go out and enjoy yourself, as that's what it's all about...smile lots and have fun :-)
-don't worry if you make a mistake, just play thru it, as only you will notice...a bar during happy hour won't notice and at the end you'll be surprised how many folk will come up and say "You guys were amazing!"...remember, most people can't play more than 3 chords on a guitar and so playing any Django tune simply dazzles them!
-have business cards ready, just in case folk ask for them as you may get further gigs out of it; if someone should ask how much you charge to play a private party, politely ask them to give you their contact info so that you can discuss the details with them later, as you don't want to under cut yourself by underestimating things like: gig time, mileage, set up time, parking, etc...
good luck!
cheers
Phil

Jazzaferri

A tip from Stochelo

Practice the piece so you play it well 25% faster than you perform it. That way it seems easier and one is more relaxed when performing.

kevorkazito

Jazzaferri wrote:

A tip from Stochelo

Practice the piece so you play it well 25% faster than you perform it. That way it seems easier and one is more relaxed when performing.

That's a very good tip. If your adrenalin is pumping a bit you might just play it at that faster tempo.