In part 2 of my interview with fusion guitarist Ed DeGenaro we discuss his country project, his new album, and his battle with music piracy:

AC: And Neck Bone is a nod to your country influences. Are you still playing with your country project?

ED: Yeah….I gotta eat. (Laughter.) I’ve only sold about 100 copies in the last two months of “Less is Seldom More”. But then again, you know, it’s readily available on your favorite download site for free.

AC: Do you have to deal with a lot of piracy?

ED: Of my stuff? Yeah! I’d say I spend a day a week chasing down blogs that host my album, like on Rapidshare and those kinds of sites, just to have that shit shut down - and a week later it’s up again.

The world is full of great guitarists. Spend just half an hour on Youtube and you will be convinced that every bedroom in the world now houses an unknown prodigy. Standing apart from this crowd has become no small feat, but Seattle based guitarist Ed DeGenaro has managed to do it by blending an unusual approach to the guitar with a bottomless musical imagination. The result is tasty jazz-fusion, seasoned with Latin, country, and rock, and topped with a dollop of humor. It is a musical flavor that is uniquely his own. Recently I got a chance to chat with Ed about his guitars, his music, and his new CD “Less is Seldom More”.

You’ve been rehearsing your songs, promoting your gig, and chose the perfect t-shirt to wear on stage tonight. Now it’s time to pack your gear for the gig. This is a crucial step in the process because one forgotten item could potentially turn a great gig into a nightmare. In this open question post, I ask you to list the must-have items that you bring with you to every gig - aside from your primary instrument.

The key to putting on a successful live performance is to engage your audience. You need to play each song like there’s no tomorrow, but it’s also important to keep things lively in between songs and throughout your time on stage.

In this article, I will address the art of speaking to your audience during the periods when you’re not playing music. This aspect of live performance seems be very natural for some but very difficult for others. I will attempt to address some of the reasons for this and provide some tips for how to effectively engage your audience when you’re at the mic.

Open mic nights at local bars, coffee shops, libraries, and other places are a great outlet for songwriters looking for an easy way to take their music to a receptive audience. If you’re a newbie to public performance then playing some open mics when you’re just starting out is a must. If you’re a more experienced gigger, you might use open mics to try out your latest songs on a real audience, or use your open mic performance to promote an upcoming full set performance in the area, or at the same bar. Here’s a list of some of the best go-to resources for finding a great open mic.