Comments on: Showmanship in the Controller Age

By: Sixty Works « designingmusic

Sixty Works « designingmusic — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 12:10:12 +0000

[...] highly recommend checking out their website and read some of the articles, especially this one on showmanship in the ever-changing world of music controllers. If ordering a custom controller [...]

By: Careful Considerations for any Controller Purchase | 60 Works

Careful Considerations for any Controller Purchase | 60 Works — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 17:18:32 +0000

[...] Showmanship in the Controller Age [...]

By: Dave Cross

Dave Cross — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 18:55:23 +0000

Cramming the entirety of music performance into one of three buckets is a theory begging for criticism!

I think it’s easy to find an artist who breaks the mold, and thus breaks this classification. Take for example DJ Colette or Rithma – they incorporate live vocals into a DJ set. Should we try to watch them in a cramped DJ booth, or consider them part of a stage performance?

My goal was to turn the argument on its head, and to serve performers with a framework to think about. The framework isn’t perfect and won’t encompass each case, but it may provide some food for thought.

Regarding avant garde musicians – isn’t it too varied a group of individuals to fit in ANY category? I was mostly poking fun by putting them in there in the first place.

By: leMel

leMel — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 17:44:00 +0000

This is easily one of the most insightful posts I’ve read on this topic.

I, too, take issue with some of your classification. For example, Laurie Anderson would be an avant garde custom-controllerist in my scheme: her electronic instruments were always designed with performance affordances as a primary feature. But of course her shows had complete control of the venue, as you mentioned for cat 3′s.

Really I think you’ve hit the nail on the head on so many key points. How do you think the presence/absence of live vocals fits into this mix?

By: Dave Cross

Dave Cross — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 21:26:22 +0000

Thanks for taking the time to post. Clearly we disagree but I didn’t want to censor you. I’d suggest reading Peter Kirn’s thread on Createdigitalmusic (three posts above) for an in-depth conversation on the topic.

By: nbvehmasala

nbvehmasala — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 20:56:24 +0000

many Dj’s are real posers, they LOVE when people watch them, and strangely, people love watch the DJ’s…so it is very surprising for me that you put DJ(read-’pop/club star-wannabe’) in the first category.Same with avant-garde performers, i mean, there’s as much approaches to performance as artists, for some visual channel is essential part of establishing connection to a public. well, i didn’t continue to read this meaningless text, so have nothing to say about other ‘categories’, except that you’d better rethink your ‘classification’ maybe…

By: Tom Cosm kicks it off for the n00bs « Denver Ableton User Group

Tom Cosm kicks it off for the n00bs « Denver Ableton User Group — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 17:40:05 +0000

[...] Showmanship in the Controller Age – hmm…great discussion. [...]

By: Open Thread: What is Virtuosity on a Drum Machine?

Open Thread: What is Virtuosity on a Drum Machine? — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 16:35:12 +0000

[...] seeing Dave Cross’ post on showmanship, I will editorialize just in regards to the [...]