I meet with a bunch of friends every other Friday night at a local hangout for some good guitar picking and singing. And it’s pretty casual. We show up when we can and just play whatever songs we feel like playing and it’s all great fun.
But I have noticed something that seems to happen every time we play, and for lack of betters words I will call it the “volume syndrome.” It’s occurs when each player decides that their instrument should be heard over and above all of the others.
And so, after every song, they adjust the volume control ever so slightly in an effort to stand out just a little bit from the crowd. It’s a subtle difference, but an increase nonetheless. The problem is that EVERYONE does the same thing.
The result is that over the course of the evening, there is an ever constant increase in amplitude until the point when music is so loud that nobody can hear anything!
The point of all of this is that although we each want to be heard, we can’t LISTEN if we are all trying to dominate the session at the same time. How much better it is when we occasionally “turn it down” so someone else can shine for a few moments, and then we have the opportunity to excel when it’s our turn!
And if we are heard, and if we are good, the others will want us to “play the lead” a little more often
All content, including text, original art, photographs and images, is the exclusive property of Coweta Fayette Real Estate, Inc., and may not be used without the expressed written permission of Coweta Fayette Real Estate Better Homes and Gardens Metro Brokers, Newnan Georgia. All information is believed to be accurate but is not warranted, Copyright 2003-2009. Richard Weisser REOS, E-Pro. licensed Auctioneer. 770-827-6225.
Learn more about Coweta County and Fayette County Georgia Real Estate, and to search the entire Georgia MLS for free with no registration required. Visit CowetaFayetteRealEstate.com! Photos of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. North Georgia Photos.
Thank goodness for the remote. When two talking heads/guests insist on speaking at the same time, I have the fastest remote in town.
It's clear when a pol is reciting a rehersed blah, blah, blah and will not just SHUT UP.
I'm gone.
Very illustrative! Seems that we all have the best answer or opinion and if we speak loud enough we will convince others...the theory of talk TV!
Richard, very clever, and so true. Because this annoys me to no end, I do try to make sure I listen!
Richard, don't you just hate it when you can't get a note in edge wise?:)
I'm sorry Richard, did you say something, I didn't hear you. Everyone else seems to be talking at the same time! Seriously, there's an analogy to real estate and to sales. It's really important to listen and hear what the other person says and often implies between the words.
Nice analogy Richard.
In REal Estate and life people like to hear themselves talk and we need to listen.
Very nice sir,
I have heard that that is the reason God gave us two ears and only one mouth. So we can do twice as much listening as talking.
Richard.....the agents in my office who listen are the top producers.....those who make all of the noise are at the bottom of the list.....their noise compensates for their not producing.....it's all perception!!
There you go showing me guitars again ... is this the same baby Taylor as before? Having said that, I suddenly got super excited thinking a musical story was coming. Good stuff.
Oh, and maybe you guys should invest in some in-ear monitors ... I hear they are fantastic ;)
Lenn...
Ain't it the truth! THX
Gary...
It's grating on the nerves, isn't it? THX!
Andrea...
And that's hard for real estate agents! lol and thanks.
I'm off ... back later!
Richard in the same vain and I am as guilty as anyone. When was the last time you were having a conversation with a friend or two, they were talking and you kept trying to butt in before they finished. Imagine they won't shut up or come down for air so you could put your two cents in.
Richard, I had to immediately laugh when I read your post. "Volume syndrome" is a good term for it. We had a drummer once who used to beat his drums to death so he could be heard above everyone else. Not many musically inclined people in my area so I'm learning chord melody. My playing partners are all midi driven.
Good morning Richard,
Great analogy. We all do it and you are right about stopping and listening because you might learn something! I'm with Lenn on the remote..I'm out of there if it starts!!
Richard: Great analogy. I didn't know that musicians, even at a casual meeting, could be so competitive. Funny.
I've discovered the mute button and that works well.
I've heard that bars tend to increase the volume over the course of the evening because then patrons have to shout to be heard. And the more they shout, the thirstier they get. The thirstier they get, the more they drink.
Well done, Richard. A terrific way to make a very good point!
Debi
Richard,
Great story to make your point - one we can relate to. Well done illustration. :)
Steve
I say that is the difference between a professional and an amateur........ the amateur NEEDS to be heard and the professional KNOWS that it is within the GROUP preforming TOGETHER, that a MUSICAL sound will be GREAT.
Nice post, Rich!!!!!
(I played french Horn for almost ten years and I also attended college and majored in music....)
Hi Richard... you analogy is a terrific one. It seems that with all the ranting and raving that goes on in society these days that being heard over it all is tough without an amplifier. It would just be simpler if we remembered that taking turns with many things solves a lot of problems!
Being heard is a great thing, but with everyone fighting for notoriety, it can be difficult for anyone to accomplish it.
My daughter was in a children's choir for years. The director of the program really focused on the kids listening to each other so they would blend. She didn't want any one voice to stand out. They became very good at listening and hence, made beautiful music together.
Richard...You see that withmany bands...the later into the night the louder they get.
Brother Richard - In the 14 years I was in my band, I learned something after going through an endless stream of monitor guys. Obviously, we were playing loud rock music - distorted guitars being my specialty. I needed that thump of my amp behind me to drive me and get me excited. I needed to feel like I was rocking out. The low end thump of my amps drove me to play better and to have more fun on stage. It took many different monitor guys before we found one that really understood each of us and the lesson he taught me was simple.
Sometimes turning myself down in the mix brought everything out clearer - including myself. Instead of blaring my own sounds in my ear so I could get that feeling, he taught me how to listen to the others in order to make myself easier to hear.
Who would have thought that listening to others could be so helpful? We kept that guy for a long time.
When playing music is important to listen to the other players. Listening while others speak is a trait that not many people embody. It often seems when in a group the volume gets tweaked by each person speaking until it's on 11.