Singin' in the larp

Community Larp discussion
#1

Would you sing in a musical larp?

  • I’d be keen to sing solo in a larp
  • I’d come and maybe sing a bit in the background
  • I’d come but wouldn’t sing myself
  • Count me out

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Hypothetically, if there was a musically-oriented larp that involved singing (and presumably inventing some of the lyrics as you go) would you be up for it?

I’ve heard about some musical larps that apparently have done well, and I’ve got this weird vision of a larp in the style of Tim Burton’s cutsie-gothic musical movies (Nightmare Before Christmas, Corpse Bride).

#2

That would be interesting. Um. I suppose.

#3

I’d be keen. It’s the kind of thing that really tests your inhibitions and I bet it would build lots of legendary in-jokes.

#4

I suspect a fairly significant technical challenge with respect to managing the backing music, or would it be more practical if the songs were a cappella ?

#5

Ideal approach might be to write a few musical “themes” and make them known beforehand (MP3s or whatever), then have live musician(s) play them in the background when people sing. That way people know in advance what sort of soundtrack they will be singing to, and the musos can improvise along with them on the day. Keep the music quite subtle so that mess-ups aren’t too glaring. Also, have some a capella.

#6

I would really need to see this in practice before I could offer an opinion.

#7

Would you be willing to practice?

#8

Maybe. I meant more along the lines of like a video or something.

#9

I’m totally in! I can see this being way too much fun, as long as it is run right.

#10

I cant carry a tune in a bucket, if I sing in the shower the water stops, if I do Karakoe drunk japanese business men get up and leave.

So most definately No i would not but it is a interesting idea.

#11

I’d sing

Please note, this doesn’t actually mean I can sing.

#12

Most of us can’t act, but it doesn’t seem to stop us acting. :slight_smile:

#13

In practice, perhaps the easiest way to implement this is to grab copies of all the Singstar playstation games and simply play the backing music (sans video) as required.

#14

Arggh!

Much as I have a secret appreciation for SingStar, that’s a truly frightening idea. Besides, I don’t think you can turn the original singing off as Singstar uses the whole original track.

For a Tim Burtonesque one it’d be a better bet to have some moody Danny Elfman instrumental stuff, if pre-recorded music was the go. Have 'em on an MP3 player and you could fire them off as required.

#15

There’s some sort of universal law that larp looks crap on video, though.

And I imagine doing this in a gloomy candlelit atmosphere in a setting of perpetual darkness, which doesn’t show up on video at all.

#16

I have unbelievable amounts of vintage instrumental tracks that would be easy to follow/make words up for and a joy to listen to. They’re predictable, stylishly executed, easy to improvise dances to, and usually made up of “lead line” and “backing instrumentals” so the leader’s part is clear and other people can hum/chorus along without any trouble. Even the least musical of us could sense a spot for a “doobie-doo WOW!” or two.

Here’s an example
(This example would probably be slowed down unless the larper was really amazing)

A DJ would trigger tracks as they saw them fitting, able to slow them down or speed them up, change key, fade in/out as the setting requires. Three or four wireless microphones could be passed around players and the vocals from them would cut straight through.

#17

I can see this being so painful! I’m getting excited.

#18

Here’s another example. Try making up a few lines to this as it goes, aloud. Pausing is ok. You don’t have to rhyme. You don’t have to follow the lead line exactly, it sounds fine if you just follow it approximately. And a DJ could fade you out if needed.

#19

Nice tracks, Craig. It would certainly help if a CD of the tracks was issued before the larp so participants could familiarise themselves with the melodies and keys.

Is rapping permissible ?

#20

Depends on the genre. In Tim Burton’s musicals there isn’t rapping, but there is something similar where some characters basically talk their lines in time with music in a dramatic way. Good option for people who don’t want to follow a tune.

I don’t have any plan to run this immediately or anything, it’s just a fun idea that I thought I’d share. Although if there was a lot of enthusiasm it could move up my priority list. I think it would suit pre-written characters that are all operatically tied together, and that sort of larp can take a fair amount of writing. But the staging could be relatively easy.

I agree it’d be pretty legendary to do. Everything would be funnier on account of the performance pressure, making small successes seem huge like in improv theatre and making all mistakes forgivable.