ChatterBank9 mins ago
Brave Or What?
37 Answers
Watching Neil Sedaka at the Albert Hall.
A man & his piano in front of thousands - some guts!
A man & his piano in front of thousands - some guts!
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I don't think 'brave' is the appropriate adjective here.
Any musician who plays in front of an audience of two or more people more than once does so because they get pleasure out of doing so.
That's not to say they may not feel nervous, but the enjoyment obviously supercedes that nervousness, otherwise a musician would simply not expose themselves to that level of discomfort.
To my mind, 'bravery' is involved when someone is doing something extra-ordinary which involves life-theatening circumstances which are competely beyond their control.
Playing a concert to a paying audiences hardly qualifies!!
Any musician who plays in front of an audience of two or more people more than once does so because they get pleasure out of doing so.
That's not to say they may not feel nervous, but the enjoyment obviously supercedes that nervousness, otherwise a musician would simply not expose themselves to that level of discomfort.
To my mind, 'bravery' is involved when someone is doing something extra-ordinary which involves life-theatening circumstances which are competely beyond their control.
Playing a concert to a paying audiences hardly qualifies!!
I have to agree with Andy. He's a man excelling at the very top of his profession, but he's been doing it for 60 odd years.
Other musicians have conquered crippling stage fright in the past (Brian Wilson, Kirsty MacColl, Kate Bush, even Adele), I could accept being described as brave for performing like that, but in Sedaka's case, I don't see it.
Still, he's a consumate professional.
Other musicians have conquered crippling stage fright in the past (Brian Wilson, Kirsty MacColl, Kate Bush, even Adele), I could accept being described as brave for performing like that, but in Sedaka's case, I don't see it.
Still, he's a consumate professional.
pixie - // It is to me, Andy. I know loads of people are- but frankly, I would rather literally run into a burning building, than try to entertain thousands of people by singing...
Different characters. //
I understand what you are saying pixie - it feels 'brave' to you, because for your personally, the prospect would be terrifying.
My point is - for musicians, or others who entertain, it is simply not.
I used to DJ in a nightclub to eight hundred people - something some people would find terrifying, I loved every minute of it.
Similarly, in September, I am going to stand alone on a stage on five separate occasions and deliver spoken-word PowerPoint presentations lasting forty-five minutes each, to an audience of several hundred cruise ship passengers.
Some people would jump over the side rather than subject themselves to that, and may think I am 'brave' for doing it.
Personally, I will be in my element - a captive audience, hearing the sound of my own voice, uniterupted for all that time, I can't wait!!
Different characters. //
I understand what you are saying pixie - it feels 'brave' to you, because for your personally, the prospect would be terrifying.
My point is - for musicians, or others who entertain, it is simply not.
I used to DJ in a nightclub to eight hundred people - something some people would find terrifying, I loved every minute of it.
Similarly, in September, I am going to stand alone on a stage on five separate occasions and deliver spoken-word PowerPoint presentations lasting forty-five minutes each, to an audience of several hundred cruise ship passengers.
Some people would jump over the side rather than subject themselves to that, and may think I am 'brave' for doing it.
Personally, I will be in my element - a captive audience, hearing the sound of my own voice, uniterupted for all that time, I can't wait!!
Tuvok - // Was that on Sky Arts? I watched it last night. I thought the piano sounded a bit honky tonk. //
When you use the term 'honky tonk' - are you referring to the pitch of the piano? Perhaps tuned a little high to give a distinctive sound, or do you mean the technique with which Mr Sedaka played it?
When you use the term 'honky tonk' - are you referring to the pitch of the piano? Perhaps tuned a little high to give a distinctive sound, or do you mean the technique with which Mr Sedaka played it?
