As every Djug Django fan knows, the band invites guest
singers to perform during the second half of the
weekly shows in Ithaca.
Djug Django does this out of a sense of committment to the community.
We enjoy giving seasoned professionals a chance to strut their stuff
and we also like to encourage beginners. We want to
make it a fun experience for everyone.
The Guest Singer segment has been a part of the weekly Djug Django show for
many years. Rather than being an "Open Mic", it is a more controlled event
which relies heavily on the hard work, patience, compassion and
"good sportsmanship" of singers and band members alike.
We have devised a system to help
keep the proceedings organized and sane.
Here are the band's recommendations and suggestions:
- Prospective guest singers should be properly prepared to both sing their song and have fun.
- Prospective guest singers need to 'sign up' using the official Guest Singer Signup Sheet on the clipboard next to the tip jar, before 7:45 pm.
- Prospective guest singers absolutely need to know their key and should have legible sheet music or chord charts that can be easily read by the elderly band members in the dim lighting conditions of the venue.
- Prospective singers need to be able to "count off" their song so that the band has an idea of the desired tempo and "feel". This might be the most difficult thing for beginners to pull off, and should be practiced at home!
- Importantly, prospective guest singers should fully realize and accept that they may not be called to sing, even when they sign up. Connected to this 'realization and acceptance' is the understanding that singing with Djug Django is not an entitlement and that selection of guest singers is done at the band's perogative which may change week-to-week depending on circumstances, whim, simple forgetfullness and, occasionally, on the singer's skill level. This also means that displays of irritation and hurt feelings are likely to remind the band members of their first wives and will not get you anywhere. |
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