How often do you get requests, and how do you handle them?

[Ventura]

...for a gig, play for your audience, if you're playing for yourself play what you wish.

sometimes we called this "Musical Masturbation" and while i do play
"for myself"
at times, it is always in private, in my Studio, or looking out a second story window
in the Summertime as i noodle on an acoustic softly

i feel it is true some people play from the "me" place even on a gig,
but i cannot

as far as being a good sport, well i have never ever dressed up like a Gondolier
or in Lederhosen, but i have friends who have and they lived to tell the tale !
and i do despise the electric slide but i honestly never learned how to play it
so that is my "out"

leftover chicken dance makes good Soup too !

 

[Valski]

Love it!

 

[losthobos]

I play from the heart.... unfortunately my heart can't play.... fortunately my audience recognize my heart as similar to theirs..and a brotherhood is formed...
Just play honestly.....with love...

 

[Tom]

I play from the heart.... unfortunately my heart can't play.... fortunately my audience recognize my heart as similar to theirs..and a brotherhood is formed...
Just play honestly.....with love...

Right on Terry! I can't imagine NOT playing to (communicating) with the audience. Otherwise what's the point? I kind of like the second part of Chicken Dance, but never play it out. I will play Beer Barrel. Not playing it almost seems like an insult, or an admission that you do not understand Wisconsin, and that maybe even you like the Bears. (Sorry Howard ). On a side note, I'm planning to put the first part of Pennsylvania Polka together with the second part of Beer Barrel next season, kill off the polkas in one go....

 

[EMan]

I'm pretty much in agreement with everyone above. Again the mantra is "if they want to hear it, play it ! They're paying you; either directly or indirectly. These days, I play a lot of repetitive gigs ( same place) and I agree and have done what Jerry PH did. If someone requests a tune you don't know, learn it and when you come back again play it; you'll have a fan for life. Your program needs to be fluid and change with the audience. Don't get too rigid in your list or sequence of tunes; it's never going to be the same twice ! Enjoy your gigging !

 

[Ventura]

Pennsylvania Polka

is so much more fun to play if you are thinking of the infamous
Jimmy Pol (and his famous dog Polka Pete)
singing and playing the Pittsburgh Steelers Polka

Da-Da-Da-Da-Ta-Da – Charge!
We’re from the town with that great football team, We cheer the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Chuck Noll and all his friends are all on the field. Go out and get them Steelers.
Bradshaw, and Rocky, and Franco and Lynn, We love you Pittsburgh Steelers.
It’s been many years in coming, just keep that Steelers machinery humming
Defense, Defense, make them scramble, intercept that ball.
Defense, Defense, keeps the Steelers always best of all!
Mean Joe, Mean Joe, do your thing against the other team,
He starts from year to year, we’re so glad he’s playing here,
Now join with me, and sing the Steelers cheer-eer-EER!
We’re from the town with that great football team, We cheer the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Winning’s a habit, not only a dream, Go out and get them Steelers!
Gerela’s Gorillas are here for the show, and so is Franco’s Army,
It’s been many years in coming, just keep that Steelers machinery humming.
Offense, Offense, take that football whole way up the field!
Offense, Offense, let’s score and score and never ever yield!
Franco, Franco, can you believe we have a running game?
The Steelers are so great, and so hard to overrate,
Good things, will come, to those who work and wait. Charge!

 

[Tom]

is so much more fun to play if you are thinking of the infamous
Jimmy Pol (and his famous dog Polka Pete)
singing and playing the Pittsburgh Steelers Polka

Da-Da-Da-Da-Ta-Da – Charge!
We’re from the town with that great football team, We cheer the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Chuck Noll and all his friends are all on the field. Go out and get them Steelers.
Bradshaw, and Rocky, and Franco and Lynn, We love you Pittsburgh Steelers.
It’s been many years in coming, just keep that Steelers machinery humming
Defense, Defense, make them scramble, intercept that ball.
Defense, Defense, keeps the Steelers always best of all!
Mean Joe, Mean Joe, do your thing against the other team,
He starts from year to year, we’re so glad he’s playing here,
Now join with me, and sing the Steelers cheer-eer-EER!
We’re from the town with that great football team, We cheer the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Winning’s a habit, not only a dream, Go out and get them Steelers!
Gerela’s Gorillas are here for the show, and so is Franco’s Army,
It’s been many years in coming, just keep that Steelers machinery humming.
Offense, Offense, take that football whole way up the field!
Offense, Offense, let’s score and score and never ever yield!
Franco, Franco, can you believe we have a running game?
The Steelers are so great, and so hard to overrate,
Good things, will come, to those who work and wait. Charge!

Go Pack!