David's Tip of the Day: After the Show, Part 2

"Do you want people to remember YOU or the MUSIC you played?" This seems like a strange question, but it does help us to think about the purpose of the music we write/play and our stage persona. A great stage show can hide weaknesses in a player's skill set. A lackluster stage show may not matter if one's music is exciting and engaging on it's own. A self-centered performer may play too much... to the elevation of them, but to the detriment of the music and the other musicians. A highly-technical player could have killer technique, but if lacking in musical and visual dynamics could create music that's unmoving and unmemorable. A lesser-skilled player may have less repertoire, but if what they play has groove and a great selection of simple notes, it can be much more memorable than anything more "technical" (remember, technique makes music possible, but technique is not music). A player that has honed one of these skill sets to a very high level can make up for deficiencies in others, but a player well-rounded in all of these disciplines makes for a memorable performance AND music. Just some food for thought...