Texas,
I finally saw the video. The whole song was well crafted and I agree with twelvebar your phrasing was excellent. I can't play the Blues that well... so I will limit my suggestions to your stage presence.

1.Some of it has already been suggested such as bringing more friends and family to the next event.
2. Don't hide behind your wardrobe...Speak to the audience if you can introducing the song as you begin to play. This projects a sense of confidence to the audience and will help those that don't know you warm up to you. Look out at the audience when you can as you play and engage them. You have to work the audience. Your goal is to make them feel like they are a part of your song. As you get deeper into the competition the judging is as much about performance as musical ability.
3. Use your gender, good looks, and youth to your advantage. Don't be afraid to show the audience you're a girl... If I was a judge and I had to choose between an old fat guy (like me) and you both of you being equally talented you win...
4. Research your competition. Don't be intimidated just know who you're competing against.
5. Make sure you have several songs in your repetoire. Polished up and ready to go in case you have to change gears.
PS praying that Dad finds a job soon...Break a leg

TGS, watch a few Ana Popovic vids on You Tube. She always has the house in the palm of her hand. Hope this helps. Mike

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The blues ain't nothin but a good man feelin bad.

Texasgunslinger, my curiosity has been raised.I know i am coming in late in the conversation, but do you have a link to the video .I would really like to watch it.Thanks in advance.Congrats on advancing.

Page 3 about halfway down.

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The blues ain't nothin but a good man feelin bad.

Thanks.Awesome playing. I have to agree , the phrasing is really good.Its obvious you spend alot of time with your instrument and it shows .I liked the jazzy run about half way in.Great job.

Thanks for the tips tdanb2003. And the prayers. Someone suggested that I try to play the song without looking, so I did and I was really surprised that it came out pretty good. I only had to peek a couple of times, and I actually hit the diminished scale runs better with my eyes closed than I did on stage!
I'm going to continue working on that so that I'll have the confidence to look up more next time around.

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Website: http://www.rebeccalaird.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rebeccalairdmusic
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Practice your butt off until the song becomes second nature and part of you. Feel it and let that show. That's what people enjoy. When the artist is feeling the song it shows and everyone else will notice!

Watch SRV, Jimi or any great performer for that matter. Notice how they feel the song and let it show! The song seems to move them.

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2009 Fender Strat MIM
2002 Squire 20th Aniv. Strat
30 year old Les Paul copy which is currently in the process of being rebuilt.

This competition would be a great thing to watch if we had a "Guitar Channel" on cable or satellite. Watching some of the players at my local GC play and some on here that have posted vids was enjoyable. Given the blues is my #1 music to listen to (I keep the TV in my wife and myself's bedroom on channel 854 XM radio "Bluesville") I hope GC has this competition next year. GOOD LUCK to ALL the competitors (sshhh especially the Fender players )

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Today is only yesterday's tomorrow

Oh, that's what happened. I thought it was a little out character that you were cussing!

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I really like all them "Aster" guitars. You know, like the Stratoc, Telec and Jazzm.

OK, and now the moment you've all been waiting for...

There were twelve people there from all over Texas. Out of those twelve people, five played the same backing track as I did. Another four played the A Minor mellow blues one. It was definately an even higher level of competition than the store finals were, but people were more friendly and relaxed.

The guy who won did really well, and of all the people to loose to I would've picked him. He had a unique style, and his tone was amazing. He just had a Jimi Hendrix Wah and he played a Squier Affinity Strat too. He was also fairly young, older than me, but still one of the younger ones. Our families were sitting next to each other and my Mom made friends with his Grandmother, so there was a lot of cheering going on for both of us. Someone else played an 80's (or maybe 90's) Squier, and most people were playing Strats. A few people had Gibsons.

I'm really glad I made it as far as I did (especially considering I had never even played or listened to blues until last Thanksgiving). I found out about a great place with a blues jam. Before I had to beg people just to play one or two blues songs every now and then, but now I can play with a band every week. Last time I went they had me up there for two hours, it was great. And I wrote a song, which I'm going to continue to play. And with my $25 gear card I have just enough money for some Tex-Mex pickups, which I'm going to put into my Mexican Strat.

Even the controversy was a good thing really. I have thicker skin now.

Expect a link to the video shortly. And yes, you can see my face. It's almost embarrassing actually, just wait and see...

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Website: http://www.rebeccalaird.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rebeccalairdmusic
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Congrats TGS i'm glad this was such a positive experience for you.

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I'm not an expert, but I play one on the internet.

TGS I'm so glad you had this opportunity and that others have opened up for you. Just keep picking at it. I'm looking forward to the video...

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I'm not slow... and I'm not fast... just sort of halffast...

Congrats TGS.You have done yourself proud.You can use this experience as a springboard.For sure it will raise your confidence to go beyond what you could ever imagine.

Wow. Wow. I am extremely impressed. That was some outstanding guitar slinging.

Now we can all say "We knew her back when...."

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Ignorance IS bliss - and I am the happiest person here!

Congratulations for a job well done, texasguitarslinger! Though you may not have won, it takes real courage to put yourself into a competition like this. I certainly couldn't do it. You've done Texas proud!

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I really like all them "Aster" guitars. You know, like the Stratoc, Telec and Jazzm.