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Respect to all performers (Dutch version below)

Do not forget: headphones, recorder, patch cables. Streams of adrenaline through my stomach. What if the modular doesn't work? Go.

Traffic. Rain. Garbage bag over my modular synth. Maybe buy another case?

Soundcheck: connect, extension cords, many extension cords! It smells like the familiar scent of stale beer here. Go.

Mixer. Sound, luckily it works. Room sound on. Shit, loud sound! Can I handle this volume? Go.

Chairs and tables. Screen for visuals. Yes, the video works. Set modular clock and reset. Yes! It works. This is going too smoothly. Too smoothly?

Break. Coffee.

Room light off. Shit, too dark! Need USB lamp, never realized so remember: buy for next time. How do I connect it? Module for the modular? Or just power via extension cord? Go.

Jam and test a bit. No problems. This is going well.

Dinner. Coffee. Coziness.

Final check: Noise from our setup. Suddenly. How?! Search. Search. No solution. Acceptance. Go.

A shot of nerves; bar ready, lights off. Door open.

Drinks, chatting, looking at watch, looking at watch, looking at watch.

5 more minutes. Toilet. Ready. Check headphones. Not handy without cue mix. Note to self: I really need a mixer with cue function if I'm going to perform more often.

Showtime. Silence. Expectant and observing looks. Calm. I can do this... hey this is pretty fun. 

My partner throws a beat. I improvise. He improvises. Feeling each other out. Adjusting. Communicating. C minor. C# minor. Audience attention wanes. New beat? Different tempo? Yes! Transition. Improvise. Experiment. Feel each other out, adjust. Hey, the video is on. Are my conservatory students there? Go.

Focus. Consultation. Sync. Shit, the room system is loud, is this sound off-key? No, it's running smoothly. Go. 

Hey, we've been at it for an hour. Focus. New melody. A bit of DnB? Yes, let's do it. Transition. Experiment. Feel each other out. Give space. Improvise.

Is this okay? Are we doing well? People seem to be staying. Hey, there's my girlfriend with her son. Go. 

Loss of concentration. Fatigue. What does my partner think? We're going to wind down. Still a bit of an abrupt ending. Different next time. Applause. Relief. Discharge. Satisfaction.


Respect voor alle performers. 

Niet vergeten: koptelefoon, recorder, patchkabels. Stroompjes van adrenaline door mijn buik. Wat als de modular het niet doet. Door. 

File. Regen. Vuilniszak over mijn modular synth. Misschien toch een andere case aanschaffen? 

Soundcheck: aansluiten, verlengsnoeren, veel verlengsnoeren! Het ruikt hier naar de vertrouwde geur van verschaald bier. Door. 

Mixer. Geluid, gelukkig hij doet het. Zaalgeluid aan. Shit, hard geluid! Ga ik dit kunnen op dit volume? Door. 

Stoelen en tafeltjes. Scherm voor visuals. Yes, de video werkt. Modular clock en reset instellen. Yes! Doet het. Dit loopt gesmeerd. Te gesmeerd?

Pauze. Koffie.

Zaallicht uit. Shit, te donker! USB lampje nodig, nooit gerealiseerd dus onthouden: kopen voor de volgende keer. Hoe sluit ik die aan? Module voor de modular? Of gewoon stroom via verlengsnoer? Door.

Beetje jammen en testen. Geen problemen. Dit gaat lekker.

Diner. Koffie. Gezelligheid.

Laatste check: Ruis vanuit onze set-up. Opeens. Hoe dan?! Zoeken. Zoeken. Geen oplossing. Acceptatie. Door.

Scheut van zenuwen; bar klaar, licht uit. Deur open. 

Drankjes, kletsen, op horloge kijken, op horloge kijken, op horloge kijken. 

Nog 5 minuten. WC. Klaarstaan. Koptelefoon checken. Niet handig zonder cue mix. Note to self: ik heb echt een mixer met cuefunctie nodig als ik vaker ga optreden.

Showtime. Stilte. Verwachtingsvolle en observerende blikken. Rust. Dit kan ik… hee dit is best leuk. Mijn partner brengt een beat. Ik improviseer. Hij improviseert. Aftasten. Aanpassen. Communicatie. C-mineur. C#-mineur. Aandacht publiek verslapt. Nieuwe beat? Ander tempo? Ja! Transitie. Improviseren. Experimenteren. Aftasten, Aanpassen. Hee de video staat aan. Daar staan mijn studenten van het conservatorium? Door. 

Focus. Overleg. Syncen. Shit het geluid is hard, is dit vals? Nee loopt toch lekker.

Door. Hee we zijn al een uur bezig. Focus. Nieuwe melodie. Stukje DnB? Ja, doen. Transitie. Experimenteren. Aftasten. Ruimte geven. Improviseren.

Is dit ok? Zijn we goed bezig? Mensen lijken te blijven. Hee daar zit mijn vriendin met haar zoontje. Door. Concentratieverlies. Vermoeidheid. Wat vindt mijn partner? We gaan afbouwen. Toch een beetje een abrupt einde. Volgende keer anders. Applaus. Opluchting. Ontlading. Tevredenheid. 


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