The Great Debate

Tomorrow is Election Day in the United States.  While we’re still two years away from voters going to the polls to determine a new president, the hot seat this time is for an office such as state attorney general or even governor.  In the case of the latter, the two main candidates here in Florida have more than once gone toe-to-toe on stage in the lead-up to November 4th.

A debate rages on in the music community almost year round, centered around bringing something up on stage.  While I’m not referring to a small oscillating fan, which stole the show during one of the aforementioned Florida gubernatorial candidates’ sessions, it’s an assistive device that even President Obama uses, to an extent.

Technology companies and even accessory-makers have made it easier for performers to have a tablet PC up on stage so as to have a security blanket for chords or lyrics or both.  Many felt this to be a victory in the march toward getting away from an obtrusive music stand with a three-ring binder chock full of printed music standing alongside the microphone.  However, all it has done is narrowed the point that the performer is focusing on.

In either case, the eye contact is still being made with these assistive devices and not with the audience.

As someone who is still an entry-level guitar player, I get it.  Certainly when you’re just learning an instrument or even just a new song or two (or ten), it’s a lot easier to have all the answers right in front of you.  But it’s also easier for a doctor to have a medical book out on the table while he or she is examining you, but that’s obviously not real advisable either.

I always talk to current and potential clients about setting yourself apart from the competition.  If someone is weighing you against one other and all things look equal, what if the ‘tiebreaker’ was coming to see you each perform live and the other person didn’t have an assistive device on stage and you did?  I’d venture to guess that there’s a real good chance that the other person will get chosen over you for that reason.

If you’re in denial about this, have someone film you performing.  When you watch it back there’s a good chance you’ll see that you are looking at your tablet too much.  I even know of a venue booker recently remarking to an act before they went on stage because of the iPad that was being brought up there.

This debate is especially important when people are paying to see you perform.  And even if they aren’t, you’ll connect with your audience and likely even make new fans in the process if you’re making eye contact with them instead of staring into your tablet.

If you must bring some type of cheat sheet up on stage with you, let it be a set list, not a tablet that you sing to all night.  Get noticed for the right reasons.