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FAQ
1. What is a basement concert?
A basement concert is the process of acting out
a song in the setting of the cellar with an
audience. It is a simple as that. What makes
them unique is that masks are worn and the
audience is another performer who comments
and/or rates the song (and the song's
performance). Song selection can be anything
from a rock song, comedy clip, movie themes, to
YouTube clips. There is no limit as far as what
is played, then length of it, and style it is
performed in.
2. Why do you wear masks?
Masks are worn to increase the theatrical aspect
of the concerts. It also increases the intensity
and dramatic element to which the songs are
performed. Since they were born, masks have
always been used.
3. How long does each concert usually last
for? On
average, concerts are about an hour and a half.
They normally start at 5pm and end around
6:30-7. This is a very light estimation. Some
concerts last only a few songs where others last
as long as 3 hours. It depends on time
constraints, whether it is a work night or a
weekend, and also the "house conditions" (for
example, if a lot of people are home, then the
concerts do not last as long as if the house was
empty).
4. How did basement concerts start?
While there is some debate as to what actually
started them and when, concerts are commonly
thought to have began in January 2005. Almost by
accident, the two performers were in the
basement just joking around with funny songs and
their laptops, the song "wood, cheese, and
children" was actually "performed" by Gary who
stood up and acted out the song. Both thought it
was hilarious and eventually Andy started
playing songs. Andy was thought of as the first
to perform actual rock songs and his first few
were Meet You There by Simple Plan and Waiting
by Sugar Ray. He did not perform those songs by
acting them out, but instead just played them
for Gary while lying on the couch. Thus basement
concerts were born.
5. Have there ever been any injuries during a
concert?
Yes! In spring 2005, Andy hit his head on the
beam hanging from the ceiling and needed to get
stitches. The song that was being performed
during the injury was Ziplock by Lit. While
jumping up and down and playing air guitar to
the main riff in the song, he hit his head hard
on the beam but continued to act out the song.
Soon, though, he took off his mask and saw blood
all over the inside of the mask. He ran upstairs
and looked in the bathroom mirror and saw a deep
cut on his forehead. He spent the night in the
emergency center at Kent County hospital. To
make matters worse, it was snowing out that
night. He got stitches and ended up still going
to his insurance class the next morning down at
URI for 9AM.
Throughout the years, there have been a lot of
bumps and bruises during concerts, but none of
them reported as being serious enough to require
stitches or stop the concert.
6. Are concerts a competition or game between
the performers?
Not exactly. There is a certain drive to perform
the best you can and to have good concerts, but
the competition is towards oneself. Many times
the performers would get into a groove and it
would get to a point where they'd try to outdo
each other. That's really where the competition
was: to create the best concert you possibly
could and try to make the show as exciting and
fun as you can. But, of course at the end of the
concert you'd love to be the one who had the
best show. |