RE: [microsound] Money/Mouth

[Christopher Sorg <csorg@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

> so then are laptop performers being booked merely to draw in audiences who
> wish to have their chains jerked?
>
> David Fodel

That's the only way it works, right? (heavy sarcasm)  If you want to play
devil's advocate, that's fine, but what's your point, exactly?  You've never
paid for a show and come out disappointed, like you could have stayed home
and saved $15-20?  Never had the sneaking suspicion you've been Milli
Vanilli'd?  I know I've come away from certain shows feeling like my chain
had been jerked...and I don't like it.  This has happened at non-laptop
shows as well, when I've seen people drag their ADATs up on stage and
basically just press play.  Look at rap groups and how they've moved away
from "playback" performances towards live sets (Black Eyed Peas, for
instance).  It's one thing when it's a DJ and sound system is hot (i.e. when
I'm not expecting a *live* performance), but in a tiny little venue with a
shitty rented PA, well, what's the point?  I consider myself a fairly
sophisticated listener and viewer, I know the equipment, the software, etc.,
so if I'm jerked around once, that's going to typically be the last time for
that artist.  The problem with laptop performances is that *many* people are
coming away with that feeling.  I have a vested interest in asking these
questions because I not only attend shows, but perform them.  That's why I'm
interested in considering the modes of presentation, audience perception,
etc.

Although, like aleks suggested, as a performer, I love the idea of putting
my laptop on the stage, pressing "play" and then having a beer with some
friends.  So much more relaxing...
__________________________________________
Christopher Sorg
Multimedia Artist and Instructor
The School of the Art Institute of Chicago
http://csorg.cjb.net
csorg@xxxxxxxxx