The other evening Mrs9000 and I went to a local watering hole that regularly has live music. I normally try to get a seat that I can watch the band from. However, this time I had to settle for where I could hardly see the band, but had a great view of the audience. It was surprisingly interesting (and educational) to watch how people responded to the band. Some observations...
1. The audience don't care about virtuosity. As long as they've got something they can dance or sing along to then they're happy.
2. Guitar solos. See 1.
3. Making the odd mistake. See 1.
4. Establishing some kind of rapport/banter with the audience early on was very important to being accepted by the audience.
Probably all completely obvious to those of you that gig regularly, but definitely interesting to see.
I play guitar because I enjoy it rather than because I’m any good at it
Comments
Most of the audience in the "mosh pit" were odd-looking blokes who spent the evening staring at Matt's hands, while holding the glass of the one pint they bought all evening. Obvs, buying another pint would mean they'd lose their spot/view.
And yes - striking up a rapport with the audience is crucial - which means having a confident, personable, charasmatic front person. And that's true from Shea Stadium to The Dog And Duck.
Punters might not care how music is made but even if they don't know it they do care what it sounds like ... even if they can't explain what they hear other than "I like a good beat and lyrics " etc. Subconsciously they do tend to know what's played crap and what's quite good which is why although any old band can hold an audience in the Dog & Duck on a pissed up Friday night you need a much better standard of band to hold an audience at a fairly sober corporate / awards / daytime festival gig etc.
And that's also why some bands are going out for £250 and some for £1250 despite the fact we are all playing Mr Brightside and Sex on fire etc
During the interval a German journalist came up to talk to us. Her first question, which really helped me understand what non-musicians experience when they hear music was "How do you know when to stop?". I think she was hearing note after note after note, after phrase, after phrase etc etc without understanding the connections between any of them. It seemed like she thought we were telepathic or something. I replied "we rehearse", but she didn't understand what I meant.
I'm shocked and upset that you're telling me the 'audience' down the dog and duck care little for the new impulse response I've used for that gig!!!
Put on a show. Smile. Get folk involved and everyone will have a great night
@Danny1969 pretty much nailed it.
I remember when I was able to go into Working Men's Clubs with my parents in the mid 80's when I was 14 or 15 and the bands then were exceptional, the lights/smoke/stage fx were awesome, the sound was always done by a guy in the middle of the Concert Room with the big desk. The covers were played note for note and as big sounding as possible.
Bands had massive reputations for a reason and the best bands, the bands that always packed out the place were nearly always Rock, or, Heavy Rock bands. It was the accuracy and technical ability (because it required technical skill to play it) of the musicians that brought the folks in.
These bands got paid good money back then and fuck ups were less forgivable because the type of audience for the genre noticed straight away.
I think average overall quality has lapsed a bit over the years, the WMC's demanded a higher quality of Band/Musican. The era put the music in there and the scrutiny from having to know the solo to Final Countdown, because it was Number 1 and all the "Metalheads" were watching the Guitarist playing it.
Oh happy days
It might be a crap venue or you are feeling shit...doesn't matter if there is 20 folk there or 200 - it's your job to entertain them.
If they stay until the end and leave with a smile on their faces, they will come to see you again..... and bring their friends with them.!