Running head: COFFEE SHOP MUSICIANS

COFFEE SHOP MUSICIANS

Haili Coffin, Meghan Harney, Taylor Valenza, Yoatzi Vazquez, and Sergio Velasquez
Composition of Self and ENG 103 Community Writing
Professor Fucaloro and Mrs. Abuel

COFFEE SHOP MUSICIANS

I never know just what it was about this old coffee shop I love so much. Many of
todays musicians get their start playing at local coffee shops. These individuals have a

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message to share and choose comfortable settings in their communities to promote

themselves through song. They share their words with us as we go about our days, but
who are these people? What is it that they are trying to convey through their music?
One of the main goals of coffee shop musicians is self expression of their own,
personal worldviews. Their emotions and experiences are portrayed through their lyrics
and tone, giving viewers a glimpse of what the world is like through their eyes. Evoking
emotion and relatability to the music is key.
A standard of success for a coffee shop musician can range from money and
fame for some or a hobby for others. Some would define achievement in this industry as
making the most money possible and getting the most recognition with the hope of
someday making it into mainstream music. In this case, these artists have not been
successful thus far, and they are using coffee shops as a stepping stone towards their
dream of making it big. The musicians who rely on their performances as a source of
income are under a lot more stress to get gigs, which takes away some of the
enjoyment of the art. On the other hand, those who perform more for a hobby because
they enjoy it already reached their standard of achievement. Musicians who perform as
a hobby typically maintain another job that they rely on for income and security.
However, they are still able to do what they love by picking up gigs here and there or
finding a coffee shop with open mic nights to continue playing music and sharing their
message. Derek Webb explained, Part of the luxury of being an artist is that you not
only can but kind of have a responsibility to think long and hard about things on behalf
of those who might listen to your music. You can give them a jumping off point for
subject matter that might be too tangled for most people in the busyness of their daily

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lives (Ray, 2011). An artist can shape the thoughts of others or give their opinion on a
subject matter through music. Expanding on this topic, Sometimes all people need is a
little shove, and I feel like artists can play a really unique role by taking advantage of the
luxury of being able to think through these issues of culture and life and then distill those
thoughts down into just a couple minutes, put a little melody with it -- something to help
the medicine go down -- and give people something to react to, [so] that they might
begin to form their own opinions.(Ray, 2011). This is the way the artist influences the
opinion of his/her audience and sheds light on topics that they feel passionately about.
Generally speaking, coffee shop musicians are seeking to either be heard,
noticed, or possibly even both. Their aim is to get people to want to listen to what they
have to say. They are portraying a message through their lyrics in hopes that it may
have an impact on someone. When people build a connection with a song, they often
feel more connected to the artist and are more likely to be interested in other songs or
performances. Artists consider themselves to be truly successful when they have an
impact on their listeners and inspire new thoughts.
Based on collected observations at the Gypsy Den in Santa Ana, California, there
many performers who performed solo with a guitar. Both soloists and groups can play at
this venue, but there is an age requirement of eighteen years or older. While there are
some minor limitations to who can perform at this location, there are some cultural rules
that the individuals need to follow. To ensure that everyone has time to perform, each
musician must limit their own set to about two or three songs. The performers have their
own set of rules as well. For example, a group that performed had their positions set up
differently, two boys on the left and the three girls on the right. According to Usenza

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(2014), there are many unspoken rules to being a musician or being part of a band. For
instance, each individual must know their role in the group, and each musician must be
valued equally. Being part of a band or a group of musicians is a partnership. The rules
are to cooperate and have communication amongst the members. According to our
observations and research, there is no clear status of position but the main singer may
be the leader of the group. Everyone must do their part, and always be a team player.
Coffee show musicians have many traditions, rituals, and symbols. Each band or
solo artist prepares for each gig differently, but their end goals are to create music for
themselves and for other people. In order to even book a gig, musicians have to
contact the owner of the establishment, have a demo or a sample of their music ready,
have an idea of how they can get people to come watch, and have a date in mind of
when they would like to perform. The owner of the establishment will have to weigh out
possibly losing money for a new performer or see it as a promotional opportunity. When
booking a gig, some owners of local coffee shops encourage local artists to play in front
of their friendly audiences in a small venue (Fox, 2014). The intimate setting of coffee
shops allows musicians to get their music heard while being able to do it on a more
comfortable setting. Some traditions for coffee shop musicians include warm ups,
sound checks, and making sure their musical instrument is ready to be played. They
tune their guitars, check amplifiers to see if they are on and working, allow microphones
to be sound tested, and make sure the lighting is perfected. Anxiety or stage fright is
common amongst professional musicians, but once they get into the zone musicians
remember everything theyve practiced and its just another adrenaline filled exhilarating
performance (Kageyama, 2015). Some musicians even say they perform better under

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pressure and anxiety because they channel those feelings into a dynamic and powerful
performance. According to Tom Hess Music Corporation (2015), practice makes
perfect. Practicing in different settings, recording the music, videotaping the band play,
and making sure everyone has stage presence skills are very important pre-performing
tactics. These traditions and experiences that musicians have are very common when
performing in coffee shops.
Musicians are constantly using terminology that is specifically related to their
group. When warming-up or doing a microphone check, they use special words to
describe the way they sound and how to make adjustments for improvement. This
whole event is usually called a sound check (N. Black, personal communication,
February 26, 2015). They do a sound check to get ready for a set, which is the
selection of songs for a performance. During a sound check, musicians will tune their
instruments, test the microphones, determine volume levels, evaluate the feedback
through on stage speakers, and usually perform part of their songs for the set. Some
bands will also create a set list, which is a piece of paper with the songs in a certain
order for the set.
Something that was noticeable among the coffee shop musicians was their
placement on the stage. It is very typical for the lead singer to be in front and center,
while the rest of the group is slightly further back. This seems to be the trend among
many mainstream and more famous bands as well. Unless the band members discuss
the placement before performances, this would be considered a nonverbal form of
communication.

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Another form of nonverbal communication is when the band members are

communicating with each other or their fans. During performances, a musician might tap
his or her foot or nod his or her head to keep the rhythm of the group constant (N.
Black, personal communication, February 26, 2015). A musician might also give hand
signals to indicate repeating a section of a song or to cut off. It is also common for
musicians to nonverbally think their fans by bowing at the end of their performance.
Coffee shop musicians are a unique and interesting subculture. From
experiencing their habits through interviews, observations, surveys, and research, it is
clear that they have many aspects of their group that may be unknown to outsiders.
Coffee shop musicians are different from mainstream musicians because they are not
as famous and they tend to have a significant passion for the message that they want to
be heard. People outside of this subculture might view them as indolent, but there is a
lot of coordination, practice, and writing that goes into performances. Sometimes coffee
shop musicians can make it look easy to perform when in reality, there are many
aspects that are involved. There are different types of coffee shop musicians including
group bands, solo artists, and instrumental musicians that each have similarities and
differences when preparing and performing in front of an audience. The topics of
interest in the musicians work are often controversial or relative to people everywhere.
Many people love coffee shop musicians and the passion that is put into their work.
Having a special message interwoven through music is what makes coffee shop
musicians a dedicated subculture.

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References
Fox, J., (2014). Shine coffee house offers a venue for local artists and musicians. The
State Hornet. Retrieved from http://www.statehornet.com/community/shinecoffee-house-offers-a-venue-for-local-artists-and/article_35112074-a0ea-11e3b6e4-0017a43b2370.html#user-comment-area
Hess, K., (2015). How to prepare for gigs and make your live shows better. Tom Hess
Music Corporation. Retrieved from http://tomhess.net/PrepareForYourGigs.aspx
Kageyama, N., (2015). What every musician ought to know about stage fright. The
Bulletproof Musician. Retrieved from http://www.bulletproofmusician.com/whatevery-musician-ought-to-know-about-stage-fright/
Pigg, L., (2009). Falling in Love at a Coffee Shop. The Boy Who Never. Location: RCA
Records.

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Ray, N., (2011). The Influence of Art, Artists, Music, and Musicians on Philosophies/
Worldviews. Theologica. Retrieved from
http://theologica.ning.com/forum/topics/the-influence-of-art-artists
Usenza, C. (2014, July 17). 14 Rules for Being a Good Bandmate. Sonicbids.
Retrieved from
http://blog.sonicbids.com/14-rules-for-being-a-good-bandmate

Interviews:
Guest: Niki Black, February 26, 2015
What is it like being an artist and how did you begin?
At age 4 I wanted to play piano and started taking classical
piano classes.
What instruments do you play?
I play the piano and I have recently started learning to play
the ukulele.
What is your favorite part about performing? Do you have a favorite
memory or moment?
My favorite parts about performing are touching someones
heart and connecting with the audience. On of my favorite memories as a
performer was singing an original song called Rise Again with my A
cappella group. It was for a competition and showed that my group as well
as the audience had an interest in what I had to say.
How do you promote your music?
I promote my myself through Instagram, Facebook,
Soundcloud, and YouTube. Two of my songs were also included in a
recent indie film called Ask Anything (2014).
How would you describe your fan base or those who listen to you
perform?
My fan base is composed of people who are dedicated.
Many of them are my friends and I think everyone who listens is very
beautiful.
Do you like to create your own music or perform covers?

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Both. I like to keep audience entertained though performing

new and different ways of covers and I also like to connect with my own
songs.
What messages do you try to convey when you perform?
I try to convey messages of being comfortable in your own
shin, knowing your self power, equality, and vulnerability.
What is the most difficult part of being a musician?
I think the hardest part is that sometimes people do not take
you seriously. They will say things like, art is not a profession. But I think
that bravery leads to success.
Are there any unspoken rules in your world of performing?
Yes, dont have too big of an ego because it gets in the way
of art.
Have you ever been a part of a band? What do you think are the positives
and negatives of performing with a group?
I love being with a band. Some of the performers in my band
are drummers and bassists, usually no more than six people. I really loves
feeding off of others when I perform and thats why bands are really great.
Some of the negatives of being in bands can be big egos
and timing meetings.
Interview: Sid Monge
Q:Are you looking to go mainstream?
A:Not sure
Q:Do you have another job?
A:Yes
Q:How long have you've been performing?
A:about a year or so
Q:How many people are in your band?
A:1
Q:Do you have your music in any type of social media?
A:No
Q:How large are your crowds?
A:Medium amount
Q:Did you enjoy playing in Coffee shops?
A:Yes sometimes
Survey: Jon
Are you looking to get into mainstream?- No
Do you practice prior to performing?- Yes
Do you have another job?- Yes

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How many people in your band?- 1

Do you perform at the same place often?- No
On average, how often do you perform a month?- 1-5
Do you have your music on youtube?- Yes
Do you like to perform in front of large or small crowds?- Large
Do you usually get paid for gigs?- Yes
On a scale of 1-10, how much do you enjoy playing in coffee shops?- 5

Observations
American , in his 40's he closed the curtains he's on his phone . He's got a guitar
(acoustic guitar)it looks like he's performing solo. Has all equipment looks professional.
He walked into the working area of the coffee shop. He may work here. He grabbed a
cup of coffee. He picked up his guitar and is now playing while everyone is talking
amongst each other. Maybe he's rehearsing before he plays. He got back up and
walked into the kitchen once again. It looks like he's gonna begin he took off his jacket
but walked into the kitchen again. I'm starting to think that he works here. He sat back
down on stage. There is another man on a table playing an acoustic guitar as well. The
Man said "happy open mic" he's beginning. He said two things In life he never gets tired
of doing. Coming to the gypsy den because they greet him and always welcome him.
Remarried and re divorce in three weeks he says there's plenty of songs to sing. He
singing "it's just another secret life" dedicated this next song to his friend Brett. He
closes his eyes as he sings and is sitting. One song each mic is exact same setup .
Special guests from out of state. Everyone gets a chance to play . This is an older man
he was in a big venue. Sang a song of a big artist . This new guy is doing it for his big
record. Song is singing is from a rockabilly. Warren smith is his name this man rewrote
it. All have acoustic guitars. This man is more country . There's a whole group
performing all young in their mid 20's 2 guys 3 girls they are from Sweden. They are
singing Beyonc a song from her. It's acapella. The boys on one side girls on the other.
Nicely dressed. Singing multiple songs non stop ended with "halo". Clap . Beat box.
http://blog.sonicbids.com/14-rules-for-being-a-good-bandmate

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