Fantastic stuff, Ben. Congratulations on getting this amazing gig: well deserved. Loads of stuff in here resonated and you're right - learning new songs starts with serious listening (18 months ago had to learn 11 songs for a studio session - after a 30 year break!). Half the battle is saying yes to opportunities - who knows where they'll lead. Keep on keeping on.
Well Done you Ben, what an amazing video not lacking suspense ! To learn 5 new songs like that in the time scale is no mean feat at all ! Then you fall ill ..... Holy Smokes life is a learning curve indeed ! And you not only made it, but you nailed it too ! On that freeze up,felt it, been there sort of, but i chose to keep playing while scrambling my brain to find the dammed words .... to stop or not to stop indeed ! You are an Amazing person well done mate !
@@AugustRadioProject Oh Bro its killa falling into a black hole sun vortex while in a performance, i kind just do the chorus again maybe, always make the chorus an auto pilot sort of thing is a good parachute to prevent falling, then rumage through your memory drawers of you mind to find the verse or chord transition ! But sure if you do something, things are honna happen, better that than be a couch potatoe afraid to open your front door ! ; - ])
Really cool man! I'm as happy as if it was happening to me. You're always so inspiring, positve and uplifting. You regularly mention the universe, and trusting the universe and that it always provides what's best for you, and here you are, touring a show about the universe. How poetic :D
man, this is amazing. thanks for sharing your method. I do the same thing, playing songs I gotta learn in my car and on walks, over and over. Awesome seeing you do this show!!!!
Wow, this must be a great confidence booster in so many ways. This 'nerves' thing is also an interesting topic, and something that some entertainers (even very famous ones) never get over. Could be a good subject for another of your videos. Congratulations on landing such a cool opportunity, and thanks for sharing the song learning tips.
Some great words of wisdom in this one, ARP! As for the blank space where the lyrics should be … man, I know that scene so well and I even write the songs in the first place 🤷🏻♂️🤫 I like your method of beginning with the macro and gradually focussing in on the detail. I guess that’s almost what I do, but you seem to be more methodical in your approach. I find I have to sing a new song at least a hundred times before I dare try it out for even a transitory audience. When I’m still at the stage of thinking about the song I’m playing I find myself visualising the position on the page of music or lyrics where the iffy section strikes and it helps. Since I write my songs in notation anyway that works for me. I’m invariably playing at least two instruments simultaneously and losing a portion of the lyric can act like a domino effect and make the other parts fall over too, but at least I can usually go into an instrumental verse by bringing the harmonica in with the guitar and drums which gives me some recovery time. Usually that is an action of last resort, but it is a fall back I can use. The worst thing is taking a second run at a verse and the word I need still won’t come. I console myself with having seen Patti Smith have to start a song three times because she didn’t know it well enough … I doubt her credibility suffered much of a dent that night. I also saw the wonderful Laurie Anderson in a new three-hour show last week and she had lyric prompt sheets in her hand (or on a music stand when she was playing an instrument) throughout the show. She even had a “lyric tech” bring the right prompt sheet on the stage as she changed between songs/stories/scenes.
Thank you Marshlander! I appreciate this so much! Wise words as always! I imagine the multi-instruments can become tricky. It's a bit like when a drummer forgets a section in the band and it throws everyone else off... An instrumental verse is always a great shout too! Seeing Patti Smith is pretty wild, I enjoyed her book "Just Kids"! Just goes to show you that even folks at the top of their game still rely on visual aids sometimes! 🙌 😀
Mate, you are truly amazing always sharing your wisdom with us, i love so much your get out there and do attitude. I wish you good look next year with the show, if its coming to Manchester i will be sure to attend. 😊
Thank you so much for this. This honestly means so much! So grateful! 🙌 I believe it is coming to that area of the country so hopefully see you there! 😀
When I busk I usually use the first few songs as the 'warm up' but if I'm rehearsing or have a gig I prefer to get warm! Always feels like I sound better! 🙌 😀
A good exercise I tend to do every now and then, whenever I don't have a specific set of songs to learn of course, is to shoot for something that is more than my standards. To set and example, some years ago I set myself the goal to learn an entire Eminem album in a couple months. It was a fun challenge and I even performed a couple songs live. Every new slow pop song felt way easier after that 😂
If I could do my own songs, transport provided, photographer, Aye definitely. I can learn songs in a day if it's a three-chord job; however, lyrics are something else. I don't do a hum warm-up; instead, I pick 3 to 4 songs in low key to warm up my voice prior to belting it out. For some reason I can't memorise the words to Turn Turn Turn I need the sheet. I've tried memorizing it like all the others but this one for some reason is taking forever I mean months man.
It's wild how memorising songs works eh! There are songs I've played 1000+ times and I still sometimes stumble on certain parts or definitely sing something that isn't the original lyrics - but I guess this is the 'artistic license'! 🙌 😀
Another great video. I definitely use the tablet too much. It has become a crutch. I want to be able to play a lot of songs but need to work on them more. Working on it. I will try the one or 2 times with the tablet then try to abandon it.
Have a go without and see what happens... it's something I've caught myself doing a few times. I do love busking for this reason, it gives you a way to perform songs without having too much pressure on getting them totally right because your audience isn't fixed! Try and see what happens! 🙌 😀
My worst habit I've got into was having my iPad for lyrics as a backup and now cus I learn new songs so quickly, I dknt actually bother 'learning' the song and instead now solely rely on the iPad...😭😭
Ben do you know a song that fits good to run away to mars ? One song that i have in my program th-cam.com/video/RPUAldgS7Sg/w-d-xo.html . Thanks for the input, i will defenitly learn run away to mars
What a tune! Love David Bowie. Definitely a bunch of his songs would fit into the show so this is a good sign to have a little Bowie deep dive I think! Thank you for this! 🙌 😀
Terrific video. Congrats on the gig. Great opportunity seems like. Yet another door opening for you. Excited to see it. Who knows what it will lead to. Never know who will be at the shows. That's a lot of exposure to a captive audience of up to 300 people per show. Are you allowed to plug your TH-cam and Instagram?
Thank you John! I'm so stoked on it all! I'm able to plug all my socials, TH-cam, Merch and even promote shows! I'm so freakin' grateful for all this! Thank you as always for the support! 🙌 😀
The Big Bang theory 😂😂😂😂- a story of something beginning from nothing - hilarious!! But kudos to you mate for getting up there and delivering your talents …
'11 songs in 4 days' could be a future one when things really take off - Great video Ben.
11 Songs in 4 days would be a rad challenge! I'm game to try! 🙌 😀
Fantastic stuff, Ben. Congratulations on getting this amazing gig: well deserved. Loads of stuff in here resonated and you're right - learning new songs starts with serious listening (18 months ago had to learn 11 songs for a studio session - after a 30 year break!). Half the battle is saying yes to opportunities - who knows where they'll lead. Keep on keeping on.
So well said - Half the battle is saying yes to opportunities! I love this! It's so true! Thank you as always! 🙌 😀
@AugustRadioProject Cheers Ben. Album arrived today: nice job!
The epiphany of being a professional musician. That’s so mind blowing! Congratulations, dude! Let’s sing together some time!
Thank you man! 🙌 😀
Absolutely awesome. TH-cam knew you had a cold and talked about a cold as they inserted flu remedy adverts. CD has arrived safely :-)
Thank you! Stoked the CD has arrived! 🙌 😀
Well Done you Ben, what an amazing video not lacking suspense ! To learn 5 new songs like that in the time scale is no mean feat at all ! Then you fall ill ..... Holy Smokes life is a learning curve indeed ! And you not only made it, but you nailed it too ! On that freeze up,felt it, been there sort of, but i chose to keep playing while scrambling my brain to find the dammed words .... to stop or not to stop indeed ! You are an Amazing person well done mate !
Thank you Brian! I appreciate this so much! Those freeze ups happen eh... just gotta keep the music playing! 🙌 😀
@@AugustRadioProject Oh Bro its killa falling into a black hole sun vortex while in a performance, i kind just do the chorus again maybe, always make the chorus an auto pilot sort of thing is a good parachute to prevent falling, then rumage through your memory drawers of you mind to find the verse or chord transition ! But sure if you do something, things are honna happen, better that than be a couch potatoe afraid to open your front door ! ; - ])
Such positivity and inspiration runs through these videos, well done Ben, and thank you 🎸
Next year in summer time I am going to The UK, I really want to watch the show 🎉
That would be so rad!! 🙌 I hope you're able to make it work 😀
Really cool man! I'm as happy as if it was happening to me. You're always so inspiring, positve and uplifting. You regularly mention the universe, and trusting the universe and that it always provides what's best for you, and here you are, touring a show about the universe. How poetic :D
I love this! This was my exact thought too... Songwriting material in this somewhere for sure! 🙌 😀
smashing life living your dreams!!!! amazing!!!
My dude- I am always so impressed by you!! Keep it up, you’re only getting bigger 😊
Thank you! Grateful for the kind words! 🙌 😀
You are so Rad Ben, I always watch your vids….and love your honesty about forgetting the lyrics hahaha. I need to buy your album! Big Love 🙏🏽🩷🎶
Aw thank you so much! I appreciate the kind words! 🙌 😀 💛
man, this is amazing. thanks for sharing your method. I do the same thing, playing songs I gotta learn in my car and on walks, over and over. Awesome seeing you do this show!!!!
Thank you man! Gotta drill those lyrics in eh! The car is an excellent place for some active listening! 🙌 😀
Wow, this must be a great confidence booster in so many ways. This 'nerves' thing is also an interesting topic, and something that some entertainers (even very famous ones) never get over. Could be a good subject for another of your videos.
Congratulations on landing such a cool opportunity, and thanks for sharing the song learning tips.
Rad idea Phil! I can 100% do a video on nerves and pre-show jitters! I'll be sure to do this! Thank you as always! 🙌 😀
Some great words of wisdom in this one, ARP! As for the blank space where the lyrics should be … man, I know that scene so well and I even write the songs in the first place 🤷🏻♂️🤫 I like your method of beginning with the macro and gradually focussing in on the detail. I guess that’s almost what I do, but you seem to be more methodical in your approach. I find I have to sing a new song at least a hundred times before I dare try it out for even a transitory audience. When I’m still at the stage of thinking about the song I’m playing I find myself visualising the position on the page of music or lyrics where the iffy section strikes and it helps. Since I write my songs in notation anyway that works for me.
I’m invariably playing at least two instruments simultaneously and losing a portion of the lyric can act like a domino effect and make the other parts fall over too, but at least I can usually go into an instrumental verse by bringing the harmonica in with the guitar and drums which gives me some recovery time. Usually that is an action of last resort, but it is a fall back I can use. The worst thing is taking a second run at a verse and the word I need still won’t come. I console myself with having seen Patti Smith have to start a song three times because she didn’t know it well enough … I doubt her credibility suffered much of a dent that night. I also saw the wonderful Laurie Anderson in a new three-hour show last week and she had lyric prompt sheets in her hand (or on a music stand when she was playing an instrument) throughout the show. She even had a “lyric tech” bring the right prompt sheet on the stage as she changed between songs/stories/scenes.
Thank you Marshlander! I appreciate this so much! Wise words as always! I imagine the multi-instruments can become tricky. It's a bit like when a drummer forgets a section in the band and it throws everyone else off... An instrumental verse is always a great shout too! Seeing Patti Smith is pretty wild, I enjoyed her book "Just Kids"! Just goes to show you that even folks at the top of their game still rely on visual aids sometimes! 🙌 😀
Mate, you are truly amazing always sharing your wisdom with us, i love so much your get out there and do attitude. I wish you good look next year with the show, if its coming to Manchester i will be sure to attend. 😊
Thank you so much for this. This honestly means so much! So grateful! 🙌 I believe it is coming to that area of the country so hopefully see you there! 😀
I use that same warmup video!! 😂😂 it’s so good!
Definitely responsible for a few hundred of those views on that warm up video! 🙌 😀
Dude! I have Runaway to Mars in my busking set list! Such a good song.
What a tune! I absolutely love this song! 🙌 😀
Rad! Congrats brother! You are in the zone!
YES! Thank you man! 🙌 😀
Wow I’ve never warmed vocals up ever! Always start my set with U2 to rip open the throat 😅 GREAT VID as always!
When I busk I usually use the first few songs as the 'warm up' but if I'm rehearsing or have a gig I prefer to get warm! Always feels like I sound better! 🙌 😀
Great stuff, looking forward to seeing this on tour
YES! 🙌 😀
You never fail to make me smile 😊
Aw thank you! 🙌 😀
This is one of your best videos.
Stoked you think so! 🙌 😀
Well done Ben 😊
Thank you! 🙌 😀
Congratulations man!!!
Cool show, , cool idea
Congrats on the gig man!
Thank you! 🙌 😀
A good exercise I tend to do every now and then, whenever I don't have a specific set of songs to learn of course, is to shoot for something that is more than my standards. To set and example, some years ago I set myself the goal to learn an entire Eminem album in a couple months. It was a fun challenge and I even performed a couple songs live. Every new slow pop song felt way easier after that 😂
I love it! This would make a rad video I think! 👀 🙌 😀
@AugustRadioProject I'll start to practice "Rap God" in front of a camera then 😂
Very cool vid - thanks
If I could do my own songs, transport provided, photographer, Aye definitely. I can learn songs in a day if it's a three-chord job; however, lyrics are something else. I don't do a hum warm-up; instead, I pick 3 to 4 songs in low key to warm up my voice prior to belting it out. For some reason I can't memorise the words to Turn Turn Turn I need the sheet. I've tried memorizing it like all the others but this one for some reason is taking forever I mean months man.
It's wild how memorising songs works eh! There are songs I've played 1000+ times and I still sometimes stumble on certain parts or definitely sing something that isn't the original lyrics - but I guess this is the 'artistic license'! 🙌 😀
Another great video. I definitely use the tablet too much. It has become a crutch. I want to be able to play a lot of songs but need to work on them more. Working on it. I will try the one or 2 times with the tablet then try to abandon it.
Have a go without and see what happens... it's something I've caught myself doing a few times. I do love busking for this reason, it gives you a way to perform songs without having too much pressure on getting them totally right because your audience isn't fixed! Try and see what happens! 🙌 😀
My worst habit I've got into was having my iPad for lyrics as a backup and now cus I learn new songs so quickly, I dknt actually bother 'learning' the song and instead now solely rely on the iPad...😭😭
It's easily done! Perhaps make it a little challenge to learn a few songs from memory and go from there, do it for fun 🙌 😀
Unfortunately I play guitar, but I am unable to remember lyrics.
Keep at it! No shame in using the visual aids either, plenty of folk do! 🙌 😀
Ben do you know a song that fits good to run away to mars ? One song that i have in my program th-cam.com/video/RPUAldgS7Sg/w-d-xo.html . Thanks for the input, i will defenitly learn run away to mars
What a tune! Love David Bowie. Definitely a bunch of his songs would fit into the show so this is a good sign to have a little Bowie deep dive I think! Thank you for this! 🙌 😀
@@AugustRadioProject ready to perform run away to mars lol 😂😂
Terrific video. Congrats on the gig. Great opportunity seems like. Yet another door opening for you. Excited to see it. Who knows what it will lead to. Never know who will be at the shows. That's a lot of exposure to a captive audience of up to 300 people per show. Are you allowed to plug your TH-cam and Instagram?
Thank you John! I'm so stoked on it all! I'm able to plug all my socials, TH-cam, Merch and even promote shows! I'm so freakin' grateful for all this! Thank you as always for the support! 🙌 😀
The Big Bang theory 😂😂😂😂- a story of something beginning from nothing - hilarious!! But kudos to you mate for getting up there and delivering your talents …
I love it! The song seems kinda relevant to the journey when you put it this way! 😀🙌