Making Your Performing Work (for everyone) w/ Michael Smolens

Description

There are lots of great reasons to perform. For some artists it's all about time—creating a focus for a given project, committing to a specific date, or connecting it to another event. For others it's more personal—an emotional and psychic cleansing, acknowledgment, or an opportunity for self-evaluation. Others use it towards working with an ensemble—reinforcing a current one (or adding a new member), building a brand new one, or exploring new artistic territory. Some performers are driven by the social aspect—as a gift to an audience, community building, or for a specific cause. And let's not forget about the remuneration factor—cash (or barter), self-promotion, networking, or the creation of strategic alliances.

With all of these benefits waiting for us, why can performing be such a challenge? For a select few, performing always felt natural from the very beginning, but for many it feels more like an Afro-Haitian dance troupe in their chest! How many of us (including those who have studied for years) ever got detailed coaching on the Ins and Outs of performing?

This workshop is designed to benefit anyone on the performance spectrum—from someone who has never performed to a highly-experienced performer (and everyone in between). The first half of the workshop is packed with tools that will enable you to:

clarify your own motivation(s) for performing
design a well-timed performance date
choose an appropriate venue
create an effective setlist
build a comprehensive checklist for your peace of mind
sculpt your performance day to set you up for success
harness the power of your role models
learn how to practice for both detail and overall shape
create performance-specific criteria to compassionately evaluate your performance

The second half of the workshop is an open space for participants to perform (though not required) and uses a radical format for managing feedback. Most workshops either have no feedback, or in contrast, highly opinionated comments by the leader. In this workshop, each performer will be able to choose exactly what kind of feedback they want based on the principles of "Full Circle Communication"—a method of fielding comments developed over three decades to insure clarity and safety for the performer. "FCC" will also help you to record yourself more frequently in effective preparation for any performance.

Those who have not yet begun to perform will find both portions of the workshop to be an excellent resource for preparation, and a clear alternative to the "trial-by-fire" approach so frequently experienced. Those who are more seasoned will streamline and clarify their efforts, while teachers will find the feedback management method invaluable.

Testimonials from the last Making Your Performance Work:

Wonderful information, a new way to assess performance...Looking forward to Michael's next class.
—Roger S. (bassist)

Your accompaniment and communication skills are excellent. You created an environment where everyone felt freer to take risks as performers and commentators on all of the pieces that we heard.
—Fabienne D. (songwriter)

The inquiry process really helped clarify my own level of self-awareness as a performer. Also the variety of performers, styles, instruments, and levels in a small group worked great. Longer class would be even better...
—Ann Blake (vocalist/composer)

Michael Smolens is a multi-instrumentalist and vocalist who has been performing in a wide variety of venues since 1970. From restaurants, churches, and private homes, to wineries, outdoor ritual events, and major concert venues (six times at Yoshi's NiteSpot); and in styles ranging from jazz, classical and various world musics to folk, gospel, and pop. Michael has been featured in contexts ranging from solo to large ensembles, playing both original and non-original music, and as a bandleader and a side person. Additionally, he has accompanied vocalists, instrumentalists, spoken word artists, and a host of variety artists.

Each of those contexts have unique performance challenges. Because Michael is consistently involved with new projects, he is continually gaining new insights into the nature and practicality of performing. Michael has been teaching privately and in groups since 1974, and coaching other freelance teachers since 2000. He is also adjunct faculty at JFK and Sonoma State Universities.

Visit Michael's website
http://www.secondsightmusic.com

More Info

Link

http://www.thefreight.org/performance-workshop-michael-smole...

Call

(510) 644-2020 (Box Office)

Email

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