General Music Chat

I gave up trying to figure out what an audience likes long ago. I can't tell you how many times I've performed a song that I thought was all that, and the audience told me it wasn't all that. And then I can't tell you how many times I thought we butchered a song and the audience told me it was all that. I no longer pick our songs apart. I work them out as best I can, play them in front of people and let THEM decide. Will anybody buy our CD? Will we get repeat gigs? The audience decides, ALWAYS. Not me...

I run into that.
Sometimes the audience likes the right songs (the ones I really like), and sometimes they like the wrong songs (the ones I'm not so excited about), eh?
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But - s'ok w/me.
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On a related topic -
Sometimes what makes a song a hit with the audience is not how well we play it - but what we look like, as we play it.
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Watch a video of yourselves playing. Hit the 'mute' button, and, now - do you guys look interesting? Happy? Grim? Bored?
Nothing turns me off fasten than watching musicians who look bored . . .

I run into that.
Sometimes the audience likes the right songs (the ones I really like), and sometimes they like the wrong songs (the ones I'm not so excited about), eh?
.
But - s'ok w/me.
.
On a related topic -
Sometimes what makes a song a hit with the audience is not how well we play it - but what we look like, as we play it.
.
Watch a video of yourselves playing. Hit the 'mute' button, and, now - do you guys look interesting? Happy? Grim? Bored?
Nothing turns me off fasten than watching musicians who look bored . . .

Agreed 100%. Image has a huge effect on the audience. Look how important it is for a major act to have a good Youtube video of their song. It is true, but in some ways unfortunate that image might play a bigger role than the actual redeeming value of a particular song. How many ugly women make it big in the music business today? I can't think of anybody off hand. I have to admit that when I'm playing a really stupid song I may not look too excited. I don't have the greatest poker face. As performers we have to sometimes pretend that we are into everything we play, regardless of whether the song is good musically or not. Also if we have performed a song hundreds of times it gets old for us, but NOT for the audience. They may only see it performed a handful of times live. We have to pretend we are playing it live for the first time, or at least for the first few times. Think about the first time you ever played a particular song and how excited you may have been then. That's the kind of feeling you need to rub off on the audience. They decide , ALWAYS. You get paid by them ALWAYS. Pay attention to them and don't perform in your own world, or you may be performing in your own basement...

When I was in college I had a situation where I had to perform a 45 min dialogue to enter a BFA Acting program.

At the 3/4 mark, I dropped a line and neither of us could remember our lines to continue/finish.

We turned to each other, realizing WE WERE ABOUT TO BE SCREWED and paused...not knowing what to do.

I gasped in HORROR. It felt like TIME STOPPED.

..I ended up repeating a 3 page monologue that I had right before the end of the whole audition, omitting 3 pages of material.

When questioned at the conclusion, it became apparent that they did not know that we fuct up and that there was "no dramatic pause planned".

I didn't admit anything and they didn't know.

The point is, "it's all about the show." PUT ON YOUR OWN SHOW.

Some say it's like being a magician, flash, sleight of hand and a cheesey top hat. Others are having the equivalent of a recital. To each their own.

Thats exactly right listen to what your audience wants if you want to be paid.

My band is very good at putting fire into songs. And it doesnt matter what the song is duh! Last week when we got to this gig and they said set up in the gravel. My guys looked at me and said what do we do? I said were gonna rock these mofos! Lets get setup, noone said anything else about the situation we just rocked em. By the end of the night they were eating out of our hands.

Its all in the presentation. But listen to what the audience wants to hear. They are the customer. They will let you know immediately what works and what doesnt.

Y'know, it's funny.
I was reading this discussion, and wanted to add something. I read every word. Every reply was spot-on.
. . . excellent . . . kudos to you all . . .

I've always had a confrontational attitude towards the audience, "It's US against THEM." f**k the audience. This comes from my early days of playing basements for somebody's drunk friends no one invited anyway, who's only contribution was to shout, "YOU SUCK." "Yeah, well f**k you too, buddy." I antagonize them and TRY to piss them off, but they love it even more! People are stupid.

Maybe I should become the Don Rickles of Rock n' Roll?

I've always had a confrontational attitude towards the audience, "It's US against THEM." f**k the audience. This comes from my early days of playing basements for somebody's drunk friends no one invited anyway, who's only contribution was to shout, "YOU SUCK." "Yeah, well f**k you too, buddy." I antagonize them and TRY to piss them off, but they love it even more! People are stupid.

Maybe I should become the Don Rickles of Rock n' Roll?

and how's that working out for you??????

Sometimes it's not just the song but how much the band is putting into it, as John sez "fire", I call it groove. And yes the audience always decides

and how's that working out for you??????

Sometimes it's not just the song but how much the band is putting into it, as John sez "fire", I call it groove. And yes the audience always decides

Oddly, the shows I control get the best crowd reaction. I've gotten the worst reaction trying to "please" people. Crazy.

I've had to work hard on my stage presence. I saw a video of me playing and I was scowling. So I've practiced in front of the mirror for hours to train myself to smile or at least look neutral rather than pissed off....

The crowds always seemed receptive to what I was doing unless it was the 3rd hour of my show, but they were still polite if not enthusiastic.

I think to some it just comes naturally.

I've had to work hard on my stage presence. I saw a video of me playing and I was scowling. So I've practiced in front of the mirror for hours to train myself to smile or at least look neutral rather than pissed off....

The crowds always seemed receptive to what I was doing unless it was the 3rd hour of my show, but they were still polite if not enthusiastic.

I think to some it just comes naturally.

It could also depend on what you were playing. A scowl at a grindcore concert works better than at a bubblegum pop show or country & western hoe-down. GG Allin would get drunk and beat the sh*t out his fans and they loved him for it. That wouldn't work at a Nickelback show or Sunday church services.

The "crowd" response is dynamic and has to do with the group emotional response. ( you've probably heard the term gang mentality )

You could play for the same fifty people five different times and each response would have a different dynamic.

Hard to plan for I would think, easier to manipulate at the time of occurrence.

We have to find a way to bring the energy at the beginning of our shows.
I feel the response and energy is good in the last set. But the first set (often our more "mellow music" seems spongy, for lack of better terminology.

It could also depend on what you were playing. A scowl at a grindcore concert works better than at a bubblegum pop show or country & western hoe-down. GG Allin would get drunk and beat the sh*t out his fans and they loved him for it. That wouldn't work at a Nickelback show or Sunday church services.

You'll have to take my word for it, my scowl wasn't my best look....

Mike having seen GG Allin at the old Antenna club in Memphis I understand where you are coming from. I have to say I didnt think much of him sticking the mic up his ass, and most of the audience didnt either as they ran him out into the street. Musically he sucked anyway so it was the only way to get a response, just be vulgar and hateful to the audience. Hes dead now isnt he? It seems I read that some where.

Good Luck with your musical career there. Going to your page the songs posted sound like the original artist, maybe Im wrong but I dont understand putting up copywrited material on your player. shouldnt it be you playing on there so we can hear what you can do.

Anyway have a good day.

Back in the '70's, I tried my hand at stand up comedy.

I gotta tell you, that is the most challenging thing I ever tried in my life.

It's amazing how the very same material, delivered the exact same way, will die one night, & KILL the next.

In every entertainment field, I've found that the single most important thing to do is to establish a rapport with your audience BEFORE you try to wow them. If they cannot relate to you, they will not relate to your material, your presentation, your music, or whatever, 90% of the time.

People tend to forget that as they go on the stage with that "let the music speak for itself" mentality. If you can catch their eye & their attention, they will accept far more than you might think they would.