Eyes Wide Shut

Steve Marcus · Post by **Steve Marcus** » Sat Jul 29, 2006 3:04 am

This question applies to all instrumentalists and vocalists, not just tuba and euphonium soloists.

J Stowe · Post by **J Stowe** » Sat Jul 29, 2006 6:37 am

It is very important for a vocal soloist to have his or her eyes visible, because the eyes also portray expressions that the face itself may not be able to, such as smiling without using your mouth during a cheerful piece, or showing angst when you can't frown or scowl.

Steve Marcus · Post by **Steve Marcus** » Sat Jul 29, 2006 8:33 am

Thank you for your thoughtful response, Justin.

How do you feel that this applies to instrumentalists, particularly wind instrument players, whose mouths are otherwise occupied?

GC · Post by GC » Sat Jul 29, 2006 8:51 am

It's not important. After all, how many in the audience are listening carefully with their eyes closed.

Then again, I've had people come up to me on the bandstand and ask how I could keep playing when I'm asleep.

tubatooter1940 · Post by **tubatooter1940** » Sat Jul 29, 2006 10:49 am

I consider this a bad habit. A performer sitting behind and blowing on a big ugly horn does not need to alienate his audience by closing his eyes and shutting them out.
I have seen singers do this and, for a while, I did this when singing. It may help to eliminate a few distractions and aid in remembering lyrics but the body language as interpeted by the audience is negative and it looks bad.
Musical performance is supposed to be a two-way communication and feedback from the crowd is cut off and the performer appears to be performing for himself. Not good!

cjk · Post by **cjk** » Sat Jul 29, 2006 11:28 am

No.

Because I'm too cheap to have good enough seats for me to see the performer's eyes anyway.

Casey Tucker · Post by **Casey Tucker** » Sat Jul 29, 2006 1:15 pm

i don't think you really need to have your eyes open to convey emotion. Example: i went to a Baadsvik recital at Rice Univ. and for the most part his eyes were closed. yes, his eyes did come open but i'm tellin' you, his point/emotions came across exactly the same open or closed and i was sitting on the front row. actually, if you really want to be anal about this topic you could think about it this way: (if using music) maybe they've prepared the music so much that by closing their eyes it lets them focus more on the music and not the dots on the paper. (w/o music) maybe they're trying their darndest to remember the music to give you the best performance possible. either way, I'm looking at the glass 'half full'. just listen to the results. if it sounds like sh*t then complain about the eyes. "it's all about results" as Mr. Jacobs would say. cheers!

-casey

Chuck(G) · Post by **Chuck(G)** » Sat Jul 29, 2006 1:28 pm

If the performer wants to insult his audience by ignoring them, then one might as well buy a CD.

OTOH, if it's Andrea Bocelli, well, I can hardly blame him.

lgb&dtuba · Post by **lgb&dtuba** » Sat Jul 29, 2006 3:56 pm

Don't think I've ever really noticed, and certainly wouldn't care one way or the other, if the soloist's eyes were open or shut.

OTOH, what is this crap where solists feel like they have to prance and gyrate all over the stage? Saw a violinist on America Has Talent jumping all over the stage the other nigt with an electric violin that looked like a flying V electric guitar. Hairs were flying off the rapidly disintegrating bow, notes were being missed, and there were some truly awful screeches. The audience seemed impressed, but I think she'd have sounded 100 time better if she'd stood in one spot and concentrated on playing.

I've always thought that when you see someone bouncing all over the stage, if it sounds ok you're probably seeing another Millie Vanillie (sp?).

The Impaler · Post by **The Impaler** » Sat Jul 29, 2006 6:30 pm

I think it's fine as long as it doesn't disturb the communication with the audience. Being one myself who tends to play a lot with his eyes closed (especially when running the fundamentals routine), it doesn't bother me at all, because I relate with it. And while we're on the topic, what about von Karajan? Ever see the interviews with the BP musicians when they switched from Furtwangler to Karajan? It's pretty interesting. There are times when I may want to be communicating a more tender, introspective emotion. Whatever. Just my 2 cents.....

Ace · Post by **Ace** » Sat Jul 29, 2006 7:55 pm

A few years ago, I was in the front row at a recital given by Joseph Alessi, principal trombone of the NY Philharmonic. That was the finest brass playing imaginable. He had his eyes open all the time and had a very focused look in his eyes. It was pure concentration on his part. And, he did the evening recital "clam free" after playing a trombone clinic all day long. You might say that recital "opened my eyes" about brass virtuosity.

Chuck(G) · Post by **Chuck(G)** » Sat Jul 29, 2006 10:05 pm

You know, if looking at people gets in the way of making music, you can always play with your back to the audience.

Conductors do it all of the time.

Tom Holtz · Post by **Tom Holtz** » Sat Jul 29, 2006 10:22 pm

tubatooter1940 · Post by **tubatooter1940** » Sun Jul 30, 2006 9:41 am

In an interview, The Beatles complained about a conflict between musicianship and showmanship. They wanted to curtail live performances because musicianship suffered so much onstage.
The band Steely Dan refused to tour live and performed mostly in the studio while making low money.
Everyone must balance music and show. Music may keep us coming back but the show does it for the audience.
I am hambone enough to get me a two gallon propane tank and blast away because I will enjoy it as much as the tourists. (outside performances only, no "White Snake" for me).
We, The Creekers, divide our performance into segments where we sit still and concentrate on music and then do our "silly songs".
I have heard tubenetter recordings, Tim Olt's group comes to mind, that successfully sprinkle humor in and among darn good music.
Dennis Gray
tubatooter1940
www.johnreno.com/

iiipopes · Post by **iiipopes** » Sun Jul 30, 2006 10:34 pm

Oric wrote:Well, guitarists seem to have no problem playing long solos with their eyes closed and with pained expressions on their faces.

Hey! I resemble that remark!

windshieldbug · Post by **windshieldbug** » Sun Jul 30, 2006 11:19 pm

I don't care if performers close their eyes, but I hate it when they hit the walls of that damn box!

Chuck(G) · Post by **Chuck(G)** » Sun Jul 30, 2006 11:31 pm

Oric wrote:Well, guitarists seem to have no problem playing long solos with their eyes closed and with pained expressions on their faces.

Yeah, that last part means a lot. It's pretty hard to see the expression on someone's face who's stuck behind a 6/4 blunderbuss.

tubatooter1940 · Post by **tubatooter1940** » Mon Jul 31, 2006 10:28 pm

Chuck(G) wrote:
Oric wrote:Well, guitarists seem to have no problem playing long solos with their eyes closed and with pained expressions on their faces.
Yeah, that last part means a lot. It's pretty hard to see the expression on someone's face who's stuck behind a 6/4 blunderbuss.

Blowing a tuber is not flattering to anyone's countenance. Not a good look for most of us.
Since most tuba players are fat and don't run very fast, it would behoove us to be kind to our audience since we can't escape if they rush the stage.

windshieldbug · Post by **windshieldbug** » Mon Jul 31, 2006 10:43 pm

tubatooter1940 wrote:it would behoove us to be kind to our audience since we can't escape if they rush the stage.

All you have to do is be able to run faster than the viola players...

Stefan Kac · Post by **Stefan Kac** » Tue Aug 01, 2006 1:33 pm

I go to performances to listen, not to watch.

TubeNet

Eyes Wide Shut

When listening to a live performance by a soloist, do you find it disconcerting (pun intended) if his/her eyes are closed while performing?

Eyes Wide Shut