Master class

[Jud McCranie]

Can anyone describe what a Janis Ian master class is like?

Can you just watch and listen without participating?

[Elliott]

If you have a chance, watch the Janismania DVD. I think it includes all or part of her Master Class....

[Jud McCranie]

If you have a chance, watch the Janismania DVD. I think it includes all or part of her Master Class....

I don't have that one (I have three others).

[hoops]

Jud, welcome to the board. get that DVD, you will not be sorry. I hope to see you around.
peace
hoops

[Jud McCranie]

Thanks. I'm not really new - I was on a lot several years ago. I haven't been on much lately.

[hoops]

well then, welcome back!
peace
hoops

[Oak Kitten]

You can also rent the DVD via Netflix, but why rent when you can own?

Oak

[dragonlady]

especially with the Hliday sale going on right now!!!

-di

[Jud McCranie]

It is tempting, and I might buy it. But it looks like more than I really want to watch.

[DaveM]

The Janismania disc does indeed have virtually all of Janis' master class, though there is a curious bit of editing at the beginning which makes the first part of her presentation a bit hard to follow. She opened the class by performing "On The Other Side" twice, in two slightly different ways. She then asked if we had noticed the difference and which we preferred. From that she built a more than two hour presentation on stagecraft positively STUFFED with information on how to get the details of any "performance" just right.

Much of what she had to say could be of considerable benefit to anyone--not just musicians. If you want to look more confident at a job interview, are uncomfortable with any form of public speaking or presentation, or what have you, you will find useful material here. Something as simple as rising from a chair, as Janis demonstrated, can be either a mere action or a performance.

A fair amount of the disc is indeed "for the fans" and for those of us who were there, but Janis' concert and the master class are worth the price of admission many times over. No one will force you to watch all of it--but I'll bet that you will eventually!

[Jud McCranie]

A fair amount of the disc is indeed "for the fans" and for those of us who were there, but Janis' concert and the master class are worth the price of admission many times over. No one will force you to watch all of it--but I'll bet that you will eventually!

Thank you, that gives me a lot of information. I've ordered tickets for her concert next year in St. Augustine, and she has a master class the next day.

[Marcia Drummergal]

I have attended 2 master classes. The first was about songwriting. It was fascinating. Janis talked about songs...why some lyrics work...why others do not "scan." She gave examples. Talked about more than just the "mechanics" of songwriting. It was interesting whether you were a songwriter or not.

The other class had to do with stage presence. That is the one on the JanisMania DVD. I also recommend you purchase it!!

Marcia :)

[Jud McCranie]

I think I'm going to pass on the master class. I got tickets for Janis' concert in St. Augustine in May. I got a ticket for my daughter, even though she isn't a fan of Janis. (Right now about all she likes is the Beatles.) I've got my work cut out just getting her to go. She's never been to a professional concert. She is 12 - she will be 13 then. I'm working on her in subtle ways and I've got five months to do it. Right how I have "Without a Net" in heavy rotation in the car CD player. I didn't tell her who it is, but she knows. So if I can't get her to liking Janis in five months I'll have an extra ticket for St. Augustine for sale (at my cost, of course).

[Jim in Chattanooga, TN]

Play the "Between The Lines" CD for her. That should hook her.

[Jud McCranie]

Play the "Between The Lines" CD for her. That should hook her.

That's a very good idea. Get her hooked on that one, then play "Without a Net" to see what a modern concert is like.

[hoops]

good thinking, she'll be drooling over Janis in no time
peace
hoops

[Randy & Betty in Pa]

Jey Jud, welcome back to the board. I guess we probably would know you under a different screen name as you've been around for a bit. That said as far as the Master Class goes, basically everything said in this thread has essentially been correct, though I for one would tend not to go if for no other reason the seats are limited and I am sure there are many talented musicians that would gain far more from the instruction and discussion. Now concerts are a different story...

As to your daughter, well Jud, just my opinion but it is based on my personal experience... I don't really need to think that you need to oversell A Janis concert to her. Like with many forms of culture, people (even 13 year olds like adults) often make up their minds about things without even seeing things. I'd bet once you get your daughter there (Thats the easy part, just requires bribes) your daughter will find that a live concert is far different from what she expects to see or is used to seeing on video or television. From the wonderful tension of the audience awaiting Janis to step out on stage, to the humor that people don't experience unless they actually attend, the wonderful music and crowd reactions and the energy that builds within the crowd she will suddenly realize that its far more then she anticipated. Actually for a 13 year old of any gender attending a concert of this type or even an off broadway show for that matter can be a mind opening experience. Yes its easy to judge something without seeing it, but hey seems often when I've done that I've found that at times I've changed my mind after learning what I was predjudicing myself against. Oh and then of course is the impact when your daughter first gets to say hello to Janis, but then I think SongDragon could better explain that to your daughter...

Don't worry after the concert your daughter will sell the idea of going to another show to you!

Enjoy the show...
Happy "friggen" and safe Holidays

R.

[Jud McCranie]

Thanks for your reply.

I've been here for a long time (under previous incarnations of the message board). I think I've always used this screen name, but I didn't post a lot.

[David_Gardiner]

The Janis Ian song that meant the most to my daughter (who is now in her 20s) was the classic 'At Seventeen', which is still the only Janis Ian song that a lot of people in England know about. If that one doesn't get through to her she's a very unusual kid. If there has even been a timeless, ageless, even genderless pop song that's it.

[Jud McCranie]

"At Seventeen" did it for me too. I heard it once on the radio when it came out and within an hour I was at the record store getting "Between the Lines".

[Jim in Chattanooga, TN]

Being 17 when "At Seventeen" was a hit had an impact on me also.

[razal]

I'm working on her in subtle ways and I've got five months to do it. Right how I have "Without a Net" in heavy rotation in the car CD player. I didn't tell her who it is, but she knows. So if I can't get her to liking Janis in five months I'll have an extra ticket for St. Augustine for sale (at my cost, of course).

It seems very wise to be subtle, rather than insistent. It's really hard for me to imagine a 12 or 13 year old rejecting the idea of going to a live musical concert (especially a Janis Ian concert:)) I really hope she agrees to go because at the very least, the experience can only be something that will enlarge and enrich her world, if not inspire it.

[Jim in Chattanooga, TN]

When I was at the Bluebird Cafe a few months ago, after the show, there was a fourteen year old guy who spoke with Janis. He was acquainted with her music because of his mother. Janis let the kid play her guitar and I'm sure it made an impact on him. Meeting the artist adds to the experience and it's something someone will always remember. I hope she goes to see the show.

[David_Gardiner]

The way to get a 12 or 13-year-old to go to a gig is to say: No, I'm sorry, I've been thinking about it. Some of her songs are much too grown-up in the things they deal with. It's better if you don't go. That'll do the trick.

[Randy & Betty in Pa]

David, David, David....
LOL well you can try the usual things such as reverse psychology or even guilt but I think the best way is to treat a 13 year old with respect and honesty and you will discover a very mature 13 year old. Though I do joke around on the board a bit much I am sincere when I say that we as a society have lost the communications skills that we once had.... I mean words once had meanings, The only one I think that is weak minded enough to fall for those tactics would be politicians when defining the words truth, freedom & ethics... Then after they consult 7 lawyers and 3 speechwriters they might be prepared to reply... Todays 13 year olds are sharp as a tack... Hell they can even tell when society is lying to them... Remember the old commercials... "This is your mind on drugs" with the frying eggs? LOL the only people that gulible seems to me were adults that never experimented or experienced drugs... Yet here we are in a drug oriented society where 4 out of 10 commercials on TV is from a pharmacutical marketing company.... Try offering a 13 year old a new experience, explain what you get out of it and why its important to you and I'd bet they would be fully willing and even eager to attend... If they think trickery is involved see just how rebelious they can be.... Speaking of which, I can only imagine how rebelious Janis was at that age... Probably hell on wheels... Remember, the 13 year olds of today are the Rudies of tomorrow:) "At 17 I learned the truth".... and for the so many people like Songdragon and family I say Thank God. there is hope.

Best <snicker snicker>

Oh....... And Happy "friggen" Holidays to you all

Best from a very immature R and a wonderful B

[Jud McCranie]

Playing "Live without a Net" in the car hasn't worked. Yesterday she asked me what else I had. I'm going to take it out and put in Between the Lines, and not in so heavy rotation.

[Jim in Chattanooga, TN]

After that, try "Stars", "Restless Eyes" and "Breaking Silence".