Show Composer At Work

Dave Liebman says

Composition = Improvisation slowed down

I translate that when it comes to live shows and say:

Show composition = Show slowed down

To prepare a performance, a concert, a gig, a show, is like composing a piece of art.

If you look at show preparation as composing a piece of art instead of just preparing and playing a list of songs you will easily understand this article.

Most importantly, though, is to think of the whole show, not just your performance. After all, no matter what music you play, classical , rock, pop or other, if you are in the business of being on stage playing for an audience, like it or not, you are in show business. Stop thinking about your performance and start thinking about your show.

The wording is a bit confusing, so I’ll give you my definition of it.

For the musician, a concert is a performance. For the audience a concert is a show. And a show is what you have to compose. Simply because the audience is a part of it. Your performance is only another part of the show. Plus, there’s a whole universe of things that is not your performance but that is still part of the show.

So for now, I talk about a show, which contains both your performance and the audiences overall experience.

What a show means to the fan vs. the musician – Fan / Musician Equations

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