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Post by jbone on Jul 17, 2019 20:46:19 GMT -5
This actually is a market where people sell produce. Vendors pay a fee to set up and sell. Usually a market will welcome musicians since they add to the cool energy. One-in Little Rock- wanted to charge musicians to come in and play. The others we have played either rolled out the red carpet and let us play for free and keep our tips etc., or a couple have paid us. Plus tips. Tips can be light, decent, or occasionally very good. A lot of times vendors will give us some produce too. There is no cover charge, we are paid-when we get paid- from the market's funds.
So I guess that's typical. We've played at markets in Little Rock, New Orleans, and a couple of small towns along the way.
It's an opportunity to practice live at very least, but taking your material to a street type audience you see all kinds of people of all ages and economic strata. You get to show out and hone your acoustic skills. Usually energetic and well played music is well received. Simply put we get to spread some joy.
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Post by whitefang on Jul 18, 2019 5:54:27 GMT -5
Oh, well 'round here, most farmer's markets are established businesses with "open" but solid structures, and have been there for years. But in the city I live in (and also grew up in) there's a farmer's market(so they call it) that opens up in the median parking lot across from city hall, but takes down it's canopy tent by labor day. And not only is there NO live music EVER, there's also NO produce worth a s***t. Whitefang
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Post by jbone on Jul 18, 2019 17:20:29 GMT -5
Sad to hear man. An open air venue like that can be so lively if it's run halfway well. Where do you live generally?
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Post by whitefang on Jul 19, 2019 6:01:26 GMT -5
I live in the city I grew up in, LINCOLN PARK, MI-- which is just over the Southwest border of Detroit, and home of The MC5. But I was born in neighboring WYANDOTTE, MI, which has an annual( and going on now) "Art Fair" in which they close off main drag BIDDLE AVE. for several blocks. And there's several groups, duos and single acts giving live music performances there too. You're right. Run well, it IS a good time. Whitefang
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Post by jbone on Jul 19, 2019 6:32:28 GMT -5
We had looked at opportunities to workamp in Michigan, mostly north on the lake. Didn't work out this time. Also looked at Duluth, and it didn't work out. Maybe next year or after. This place we are staying this season is really nice, on the Champlain Islands in Vermont. While we're getting high heat this weekend- so is everyone- for instance it's low 70's and a nice breeze right now. I'm shirtless with door and windows open. Later it will climb into the 90's and index at 100 or so for 2 days. We plan to do the market early before it gets wicked.
Colchester is just down the coast about 15 minutes. Mallett Bay is a huge mooring for boats of all kinds. We hope to find a place by the watetr one of these days where we can do a street gig.
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Post by whitefang on Jul 20, 2019 6:15:48 GMT -5
North on WHICH lake? There's plenty lakes to spare in Michigan, plus the five GREAT lakes! Whitefang
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Post by jbone on Jul 20, 2019 20:36:40 GMT -5
Several spots actually. We may yet.
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Post by whitefang on Jul 21, 2019 6:15:18 GMT -5
Just remember...... "Houghton" is pronounced "HOE-ton", not HOW-ton". And it's MACK-in- aw" and not MACK-IN-ACK". for "Mackinac". Even IF Mackinaw City is spelled phonetically. Not that we're all that fussy about it, but it's like I was advised once by a native of the place, it's pronounced "New AWLINS, LOOZIANNA" (or "Looziann.") or too..."NAW-lins". Hope this helps. Whitefang
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Post by jbone on Jul 21, 2019 6:36:12 GMT -5
My hometown, Corning, NY, is home to Corning INC, formerly Corning Glass Co. Founded by the Houghton family in the 1800's or early 1900's.
To drift wildly off topic for a moment, Corning used to hold two Guiness records: most bars per capita of a city that size, and most bars on its main street.
In fact I was looking at Mackinac for an opportunity late last year. We're hoping to get back here next summer season at the moment.
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Post by whitefang on Jul 22, 2019 6:07:50 GMT -5
For what it's worth, I still have and use most of the old CORNING WARE cookware that belonged to my Grandma. Good stuff. And I remember that for some reason( I don't recall) some guys from Corning glass were looking over our operations at the GM engine plant I was working in during the early '90's. "Summer season"? . Here, we joke that there's only TWO seasons in Michigan.... Winter, and ROAD CONSTRUCTION! With ORANGE BARRELS as our major crop! Whitefang
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Post by jbone on Aug 3, 2019 6:53:53 GMT -5
So we did a Wednesday market 10 days ago and a burger stand last evening. Both went well! I did discover that a couple of harps need some TLC. The mute worked well but I'm biased. I need someone to listen out in front next time and see what they think.
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Post by whitefang on Aug 3, 2019 12:38:47 GMT -5
I'm confused.... Do you both play harp? And so anyway, how about before you begin your set, your partner goes out front and gives a listen while you do a sort of "sound check"? Or maybe you go out whole your partner blows into it and hear for yourself? Just suggesting.... Whitefang
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Post by jbone on Aug 3, 2019 17:15:29 GMT -5
No. I'm the harp guy, Jo is guitar. I'm just talking about the different sound between hand effect type muting and the d'Bomb mute I'm researching for Dave Church.
With an acoustic gig like this, they get what they get! But we were better heard than some acts who had brought amps there previously. Proves I have a big mouth at least!
Something I realized several years ago about open air playing ie street or farmers market, if you strain to sing/play louder, what you do is wreck harps and damage your voice! Better to play/sing within your limits and if folks want to hear better they can come closer to the tip jar, heh heh.
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Post by jbone on Aug 3, 2019 22:18:00 GMT -5
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Post by whitefang on Aug 4, 2019 10:44:16 GMT -5
Not too shabby! Whitefang
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