PLAIN FOLK

By Les Pearson
Performers’ Rituals Make Concert Day Magic!

We’ve all heard stories of hockey players who refuse to wash their gear or shave while they are on a winning streak or of actors who believe it is “bad luck” when someone wishes them well on the eve of a performance. Instead of “Good luck!” actors welcome macabre wishes such as “Break a leg!”

These are superstitions, plain and simple. Such stress relievers and emotional props are psyche safety valves for those who consistently perform under high pressure. And the seasoned veterans—whether athletes or other performers—know the pressure does not let up! In fact, when the tension is not there, it may be time to take a final bow.

Folk singers are a sophisticated lot. But even they indulge in personal routines that verge on the ritualistic. You may say they have rites for opening nights.

Rituals are slightly different from superstitions. Oh sure, there may be some tinge of voodoo. But, for the most part, rituals are the way folk artists rehearse those elements of a performance that have brought them past successes in their career. We all take comfort in well-used, familiar, routines.

Sound checks have their own special rituals. It is easy to differentiate the seasoned performers from the novice. Lester Quitzau and Mae Moore are two cases in point. Their sound check with Dave Thome last Friday was an object lesson in how a good sound check should go. The great ones always put Dave through his paces!

The first phase of sound check is setting the levels for instruments. In a performance where each performer may use multiple instruments, this is a time-consuming affair. Small adjustments make a big difference!

Tone and volume levels for the stage monitors are adjusted continually. These are the amplifiers that provide musicians with feedback on their individual performances.

Once the instruments are checked, it is time for voice mics. Lester and Mae use their own personal voice mics. And they are rightfully concerned that others do not use them. This is more than a fetish. It is practical. There are too many nasty germs waiting to ambush vocal chords in the middle of a cross-Canada tour.

Mae Moore does not like reverb settings; she prefers natural, flat, sounds. When these low, middle, and high range sounds are “shaped,” the technician becomes artist. The job’s difficulty doubles for duets.

Performers value Dave Thome. He knows the venue and the effect that the presence of a crowd has on tonality. He is one of the best in the business and musicians are quick to recognize his professionalism. (Harry Manx asked Dave to be his techie for Calgary concerts.)

Just before a concert begins, musicians have other rituals to follow. There is final tuning, instrument racking, and reviewing of the evening’s play list.

Lester and Mae have one final ritual. It is personal and touching. They give each other a neck and shoulder massage. Now that’s real magic!