Do You Smile?

[Quinto Governor II]

I've heard it said here that one should smile when playing. I'd like to ask who here is a smiler. I am not, and I don't believe its is necessary. One should be who they are. If smiling is a park of your personality, than naturally you will do that, however; I don't think it has that great of an importance to a performance IMO. In all my years of attending live performances, I've never thought - ghee! I sure would have enjoyed that more if the performer/performers had smiled. The same thing is pushed by a lot of dance instructors - probably the competitive dance and or ballroom influence, but that's another discussion not for here. I mean what's up with that? I recently saw a young concert violinist performing on some news report and noticed the expression of intensity on her face. Would one say, because she's not smiling, somehow the connection between her and the audience is diminished?

[windhorse]

I've heard stuff even from close friends that they like a certain band because of their "energy", when I'll personally hate it. Part of that is the "ACT" or how it looks, and the other is shear volume and repetitive low frequency on the kick drum so that it sounds like a disco. At least that's my impression of why crap can fly so high with crowds these days. It's cheesy side-show stuff. It has historically worked in circuses for millenia, so it's nothing new.
Yeah, so it's important if you feel like "selling out".
:angry:

People can make themselves feel good in ANY situation, or bad, so I guess in a way it doesn't really matter what you do once the tickets are sold.
However, I think that the merit of great music far outways any other "trick" or stage gimmick. Just an opinion though.

[JohnnyConga]

I have always been a smiler!....

Attachment: http://mycongaplace.com/forum/eng/uploa ... chards.jpg

[JohnnyConga]

The BEST smiler on conga bar none..MONGO SANTAMARIA...the BEST SMILE!...."JC" Johnny Conga...

Attachment: http://mycongaplace.com/forum/eng/uploa ... ongo1.jpeg

[Charangaman]

I can't help but smile but I also grimace and pull all kinds of weird face shapes...

???

[jorge]

In every video and live performance of Los Van Van I have seen, the conga player, Manuel Labarrera, is smiling. In addition to the afinque and swing he has when he plays, which is primary, I think his smiling adds to the performances. I never met or talked with him, but I would bet he has the kind of optimistic personality and love of his music that his stage appearance projects. Anyone know if that is true, or is it pure fakery?



Edited By jorge on 1179919641

[windhorse]

:D
After my negative post there,, I have to say that I'm a smiler too.. Sorry about the rant..

[onile]

Alafia Abures Mi!
I am not the author of the following, however I believe it may contribute to the thread posted here: Food for thought!

"The face is a complex palette of emotions. A slight turning up of the lips and a crinkling of the eyes can signal pleasure, contentment, happiness, or satisfaction. But in all cases, a smile is more than it seems. A smiling person is often judged as more attractive, pleasant to be around, sincere, honest, sociable, and inviting and is considered more confident and successful. Smiling is not a learned action. Even those born blind will smile when experiencing a joyful moment. A carefree smile is a quick and easy way to tell the world that you are open to new experiences and eager to meet new people.

It is assumed that a bright smile stems from happiness, but research has also shown that genuine happiness can stem from a smile. Even a smile called forth when you don't necessarily feel like smiling can trigger the release of endorphins, brightening your day. The simple act of smiling can help relieve stress by relaxing your facial muscles and encouraging you to focus on happy memories. And a forced smile, which only involves the muscles of the mouth, can easily turn into a true smile, which lights up the entire face. A smile motivated by real happiness is likely to inspire someone nearby to smile, possibly because of the expression's origins in the primate grin. That grin, which some scientists believe evolved into the smile, signaled that the one grinning was a friend rather than an opponent.

In ancient China, Taoists taught the benefits of the inner smile because they believed it insured happiness, health, and longevity. One smile can lessen the sting of a negative mood and bring on a better one. But don't be self-conscious about it. Smiling is universal and looks great on everyone. A smile, directed inward, outward, or at nothing in particular brightens the world and is a gift to those who see it."


Many blessings Abures!

Onile!

[Congadelica]

That put a smile on my face Onile

Id rather see a happy face than a serious one .
The more you practice your smile the better they get .

CD

[zwar]

ho

no doubt, smile sells better.
practicing smile while practicing conga. allways keep a friendly expression on your face, even when the whole gig is just a collection of mistakes. people want to feel easy.
they want to have fun. musicians should look like playing is fun.

greets

zwar

[Bachikaze]

It depends on the situation.

When the musicians are very visible and upfront, it looks much better when they are smiling. I think musicians forget that live music is not only audio but visual as well. It's part of the excitement of live music vs. recorded music.

In many situations, dancers are upfront and almost all audience attention is on them. There are also situations where musicians are playing for American yuppies who are socializing and want them only as background music. The musicians are relegated to playing the part of a CD. They might as well frown because they are getting no more respect than a disk of plastic. They could pick their noses, too, since no one is paying attention to them.

I smile when the groove is on. It's not fake; I'm enjoying myself.



Edited By Bachikaze on 1180284603

[CongaTick]

Not being a smiler , I have enrolled in private lessons.

[Thomas]

I think that its important to have certain facial expressions to blend in with the music style or the feeling which the band wants to transport.
It looks stupid when you're smiling and the singer sings a song about f.e. murder and torture and on the other hand IMO it looks stupid too when you look bored and the singer sings: "Im so excited!" (even if you have to throw up, when you have to play that song :laugh: !!), you know what I mean.
Afterall I think we get payed for entertaining people (or most of us do), so IMO expression (smiling is just one kind of it) is really necessary to do a good job.
Unfortunately I saw some videos of myself were I pull some really weird grimaces when soloing :laugh: , so its not always easy for me to have a relaxed expression.
All the best, Tom!

[zwar]

thomas,
i remember, years ago i was asked to play at a katholic funeral right on the cemetary. i was just training with my people for a gig in the kassel sepulkralmuseum, so we had the repertoir of funeralsongs already prepared.
what i said to the band was: no grief, no neutral faces, i want to see a sad but hopeful smile on each of your faces. we did so and the funeral guests (no freaks, no hippies, just our normal countryside-people) liked our performance.

the only situation without any need of smiling is playing ritual stuff to accompany a dancer who gives his body to the powers.

what you said about your weird grimaces while soloing...
that is ok. looks funny sometimes (talking of myself now, same thing) but mostly to yourself. other people think better about that, than you do. look at mr puentes face. he has even established the grimaces as his brand.

zwar

[Quinto Governor II]

Hey guys good disscusion.

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Not being a smiler , I have enrolled in private lessons.


Congatick,
You cracked me up on that one! I'm certainly not saying I'm against smiling. It's just that