Knobbers that talk loudly to their mates throughout gigs

theatreanchor

ScreamingDave said:

I personally don’t think any artist has a right to people’s undivided attention.  You have to earn that by being good enough that they don’t want to concentrate on anything else

I think that’s utter bollocks! 

ScreamingDave

theatreanchor said:

ScreamingDave said:

I personally don’t think any artist has a right to people’s undivided attention.  You have to earn that by being good enough that they don’t want to concentrate on anything else

I think that’s utter bollocks! 

That’s OK.  You’re entitled to your opinion, as am I 

Cowboyyeehaa1

ScreamingDave said:

I personally don’t think any artist has a right to people’s undivided attention.  You have to earn that by being good enough that they don’t want to concentrate on anything else

Agreed for the most part. If people are talking over you, its probably because your a bit shit! Recall reading an interview with Mark Knopfler - he said he used to deliberatly turn things down quiet so people had to shut up if they wanted to listen.  Generally they did.

merlin

Cowboyyeehaa1 said:

ScreamingDave said:

I personally don’t think any artist has a right to people’s undivided attention.  You have to earn that by being good enough that they don’t want to concentrate on anything else

Agreed for the most part. If people are talking over you, its probably because your a bit shit! Recall reading an interview with Mark Knopfler - he said he used to deliberatly turn things down quiet so people had to shut up if they wanted to listen.  Generally they did.

One of the lessons/chapters in Victor Wooten's book "The Music Lesson" is about this. Play quieter. 

Lebarque

theatreanchor said:

ScreamingDave said:

I personally don’t think any artist has a right to people’s undivided attention.  You have to earn that by being good enough that they don’t want to concentrate on anything else

I think that’s utter bollocks! 

I don't. I think it's spot on.

The alternative is the height of arrogance, especially if you're in an average old gits band like most of us on here.

Just be glad you're able to do it and a few people are enjoying it.

Don't think you're better than the audience. 

EricTheWeary

I don’t care if anyone talked whilst I was playing. I do care if someone is doing it during a gig I’ve paid good money to go to. 

ScreamingDave said:

I personally don’t think any artist has a right to people’s undivided attention.  You have to earn that by being good enough that they don’t want to concentrate on anything else

I don’t think that entirely holds up. If the person in front of me is more interested in their phone or their friend than the artist they could be playing the gig of their life and they wouldn’t notice. But they would continue to spoil my enjoyment of it.

mrkb

Lebarque said:

theatreanchor said:

ScreamingDave said:

I personally don’t think any artist has a right to people’s undivided attention.  You have to earn that by being good enough that they don’t want to concentrate on anything else

I think that’s utter bollocks! 

I don't. I think it's spot on.

The alternative is the height of arrogance, especially if you're in an average old gits band like most of us on here.

Just be glad you're able to do it and a few people are enjoying it.

Don't think you're better than the audience. 

I’m sure the OP is talking about gigs where the audience are paying - hence why it’s not just the artist but the rest of the audience you should respect.

If it’s a pub band and youre stood at the bar away from the band carry on.

chrisj1602

ScreamingDave said:

I personally don’t think any artist has a right to people’s undivided attention.  You have to earn that by being good enough that they don’t want to concentrate on anything else

I think it depends on the type of gig. Big loud band in a pub on a Friday night, who cares? Sunday afternoon acoustic session at much lower volume, I think you need to be more respectful and considerate to the band/artist and others who might be there to watch.

TheBigDipper

ScreamingDave said:

I personally don’t think any artist has a right to people’s undivided attention.  You have to earn that by being good enough that they don’t want to concentrate on anything else

I agree with the thought. 

But what if someone doesn't think much of the artist and continues talking loudly (to be heard over the music) with their mates whilst other people would really like to listen intently and not hear people drowning out the artist? 

It's not the artist they're disrespecting by continuing their chat - it's other audience members. 

merlin

TheBigDipper said:

It's not the artist they're disrespecting by continuing their chat - it's other audience members. 

It's both. And dare I say, they're also disrespectful to themselves. 

Supportact

chrisj1602 said:

ScreamingDave said:

I personally don’t think any artist has a right to people’s undivided attention.  You have to earn that by being good enough that they don’t want to concentrate on anything else

I think it depends on the type of gig. Big loud band in a pub on a Friday night, who cares? Sunday afternoon acoustic session at much lower volume, I think you need to be more respectful and considerate to the band/artist and others who might be there to watch.

I agree with @chrisj1602 . I play both types of gigs. In the full band/friday night/rowdy pub scenario we're part of the general ambience of people having a drink and enjoying themselves so inevitably there's a bit of a mixed audience, and we basically don't mind as long as people are happy. Sometimes you get gigs though which are more focussed on the music (the acoustic session example) and people are there to listen.

In that situation a couple of inconsiderate people can ruin it for others who want to listen to the music. There can be various reasons for this (sometimes alcohol,  sometimes selfishness,  other times I think there are people who genuinely don't understand how to act in that situation).

I think in that case it's ok to say something.  What actually helps is if there's a compere or someone who introduces the acts who kind of sets the vibe in advance. I've seen it work well for example where the act is announced and the audience are asked to set their phones to silent, and if they want to chat to go to the bar at the back of the room.

Longtallronnie

If I’m playing an acoustic pub gig, I accept I’m probably more background music than a focal point for everyone’s undivided attention. I appreciate those that sing/clap along but I don’t begrudge those that just came out for a pint and a chat with their mates. Unless it’s my ex bro-in-law that would stand directly in front of me talking so loud I couldn’t hear myself over the PA. But he was a bellend in any scenario. 

Ticketed gigs are a different matter, I treat these like any other stage performance - you wouldn’t talk through a play for example. 

HAL9000

Saw Mr Clapton in Manchester several years back. A couple a few seats away were talking loudly throughout the performance. One of the stewards / security told them that if they wanted to chat he’d ask the man with the guitar to turn it down a bit. The couple got the hint - for all of five minutes. They eventually got escorted out. As they were leaving the arena someone in the audience called out (in a broad Manc accent) ‘Could yer close the door on yer way out’. Doesn’t look so funny written down but in reality it was a well-timed perfectly delivered line. Maybe you had to be there.