Being a good rasika

At the outset, I am sorry for posting this very late though written in early January.

Music season for 2012 is over. For avid listeners like me, there is no beginning to a season and neither an end to it. Any day, any time, good music- I will try my level best to register my presence. This time around, I got lot of opportunity to listen to MUSIC for EARS and to SOUL!. However, buying tickets and sitting in the audience side, I witnessed some irritating moments. I wish to share and this is a humble request to all rasikas such that we make listening better and beautiful(if not for you personally, at least for fellow rasikas):

1. Rasikas, please do not chat when the concert has begun. This definitely irritates the others who like you have come to listen. If you want to talk about your family issues or anything, this DEFINITELY is not the place. Please go out, talk freely and come back and listen peacefully.

2. Music & movie - I have heard from some friends that they like to watch a movie right from the time the advertisements appear with jarring sound. Please apply the same to music - please be there at least 5 minutes before the concert begins. Do you like watching it half way? - No right! The same should be applied here.

3. Please, do not get up when the Thani aavarthanam(any instrument) is happening. This is like insulting the accompanying artists(sorry for being a little harsh). It is a team work. TA does not mean the artist plays separately for himself or for the singing artist. It is to showcase his/her brilliance in presenting the song (or even to embellish the concert sometimes). Thani is not an INTERMISSION. I try not to go out. Sometimes, I am forced to. I will try to avoid that as well. 

4. Life members, please make sure you come to the concert on time. Being a life member does not mean that you can walk-in to the concert anytime you want before the concert ends. It definitely done not create a respect to the artist.

5. Please do not get up and leave the concert when the artist sings Mangalam or Thillana. That is also another interesting flavor to the concert.

6. Above all, please put your cell phones in silent mode or best - switch off. This reminds me of what I read in a newspapar recently. During this season, somewhere, Chitraveena exponent Shri Ravikiran requested the audience to turn their mobile to silent mode/turn off OR set their ring tone to Varali ragam. Sounds funny, but has so much meaning to it.

7. Once the concert is over, comment about the concert to your close people and not to strangers sitting by the side of you. What you like, they might not and what they like, you might not relish.

8. I remember one incident - 1 mama(an elderly person) was quick to comment after an really excellent concert(according to me), got over. "Enna paadaraan avan... Naan edhir paartha maadhiri illai". Question to mama, "What did you expect, what did the singer not deliver?"

To sabhas:

Sabhas do a great service in all the aspects right from best arrangements to motivating artists by awarding the best set. However, there are little things that can be taken care of and make the place wonderful.

1. Ensure the mic quality is good and speakers work well It should be an aid to the artist and not hamper in their creativity.

2. It would be great, if the seating arrangement is properly done. No paavadai tapes, etc, PLEASE!

3. I know this might not be possible - Still, please try to avoid reserving a seat. Sometimes, there are vacant seats in the 4th or 5th rows itself. 

3. Clear instructions, directions would greatly help. In case, tickets are not available for a concert or tickets are sold only the previous day, it would be good if it appears in the dailies. Rasikas will not be disappointed.

To artists:

I do not have anything to say, except when you sing krithis in rare ragams, it would be nice if you mention before the start.It would be really helpful if you could also announce the parent(in case of janya) or melakartha number if its MK. That way, it is easy to understand better. Not all would know a Salagam or a Sudha Seemandhini etc. This is just a humble request.

Tail piece note: I have heard from my parents, that in those days concerts would run for 5 to 6 hours of which Thani alone goes for 1 hour. Inquisitively, I asked my father wouldn't people walk like how they do these days? - My father's answer was - No one will get up and every one will sit and enjoy as they would have finished their food when they come and they respected each and every artist... How blissful it had been, right?
If it is possible for a 5 hours concert, I humbly feel it must be possible for its exact half - 2.5 hours concert, right? Let us give due respect to every accompanist on the stage!.

Signing off,

SPH