Accidental Frontman

BryanM · #1 01-18-2011, 06:53 AM

So I share a few lead singing duties with the guitarist in my band. He's got a great, unique voice and good energy once he gets into it, but he always seems nervous for the first song or two, longer if things don't go as planned. Because of this I've kind of taken on the announcer/frontman duties at any shows we play even though I only sing lead on about 1/3 of the songs. I'll leave it to him and take over if he seems a bit frozen or nervous, but when I do take over, I even tend to announce the songs that he wrote and the songs he sings. I'm just curious if anyone's fallen into this role and if it could negatively affect crowd reception.

Vintage Guy · #2 01-18-2011, 06:58 AM

It shouldn't be a problem. We all take turns in my band announcing songs and working the crowd. Every now and then my male singer drifts into another void and we have to bring him back into the song. But hey,were a bunch of old guys tying to relive our youth one more time. I attribute his memory lapse to oldtimers!

namraj · #3 01-18-2011, 07:05 AM

I know he's not liked around here, but Pete Wenz does that, and fall out boy are very popular.

sonic assassin · #4 01-18-2011, 07:26 AM

pete wentz is a good example. as well as mic todd in coheed and cambria.

seems that just because someone can sing, that doesnt mean they are a good people person or have things to say.

typically, all the on stage banter is between my lead singer and i. he never shuts up, and we like to crack jokes back and forth. it makes our acoustic shows more like a 2 man music and comedy act.

so no, i dont think it will harm the face of the band and all. so long as people arent talking over each other, no one is uncomfortable and you're good at it, no problems.

hrodbert696 · #5 01-18-2011, 09:20 AM

Still trying to get my band regularly gigging, so we'll wait to see how it turns out, but...

We went to test the waters playing an open mic, just to get used to playing live. It was pretty quiet so we wound up playing nine or ten songs.

Our lead singer/rhythm guitarist was all out of tune - he brought a guitar he had just put new strings on. EVERY SONG he apologizes over the mic for being out of tune and makes various negative comments like "Well, I hope that didn't suck too badly" and "Nobody's kicked us off the stage yet, so I guess we'll play another one." Totally sucks the energy from the room, and 90% of people there were friends and family of mine who showed up to support us. People would clap after a song and he would make one of these comments, so finally I would step up to my mic and say, "Thank you!"

We'll see if he learns how to be a frontman. If this keeps happening, I'm either taking over the role or just plain making him quit.

**Thor** · #6 01-18-2011, 03:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hrodbert696

Still trying to get my band regularly gigging, so we'll wait to see how it turns out, but...

We went to test the waters playing an open mic, just to get used to playing live. It was pretty quiet so we wound up playing nine or ten songs.

Our lead singer/rhythm guitarist was all out of tune - he brought a guitar he had just put new strings on. EVERY SONG he apologizes over the mic for being out of tune and makes various negative comments like "Well, I hope that didn't suck too badly" and "Nobody's kicked us off the stage yet, so I guess we'll play another one." Totally sucks the energy from the room, and 90% of people there were friends and family of mine who showed up to support us. People would clap after a song and he would make one of these comments, so finally I would step up to my mic and say, "Thank you!"

We'll see if he learns how to be a frontman. If this keeps happening, I'm either taking over the role or just plain making him quit.

I'd be tempted to wire up a special XLR cable section that
plugs in at the board. Run a leg back to a footswitch on
your pedal board or by your stand. When he starts to talk,
step on the button and step up and say 'Thank You, Thanks
Very Much!'.

MatticusMania · #7 01-18-2011, 04:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sonic assassin

pete wentz is a good example.

I thought fall out boy broke up a while ago...

**Thor** · #8 01-18-2011, 04:18 PM

There is a joke there somewhere...

Stumbo · #9 01-19-2011, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hrodbert696

Still trying to get my band regularly gigging, so we'll wait to see how it turns out, but...

We went to test the waters playing an open mic, just to get used to playing live. It was pretty quiet so we wound up playing nine or ten songs.

Our lead singer/rhythm guitarist was all out of tune - he brought a guitar he had just put new strings on. EVERY SONG he apologizes over the mic for being out of tune and makes various negative comments like "Well, I hope that didn't suck too badly" and "Nobody's kicked us off the stage yet, so I guess we'll play another one." Totally sucks the energy from the room, and 90% of people there were friends and family of mine who showed up to support us. People would clap after a song and he would make one of these comments, so finally I would step up to my mic and say, "Thank you!"

We'll see if he learns how to be a frontman. If this keeps happening, I'm either taking over the role or just plain making him quit.

How about having a band meeting and discussing the issue? You can bring up everything you put in your post.

However, IME/IMO, If you want the singer/rhythm guitarist to continue to be the "frontman" and learn, seems to me that you'll make more progress with him if you focus on what and how you want things done.

Provide him with things you want him to say. Basically you'd be creating a stage routine for him and the group. Here's a link on the topic of "stage banter": On Stage Banter

Then, during rehearsal, have him practice his "shtick". I suggest making videos of the group at rehearsal in "gig" form, like a dress rehearsal. Then everyone can improve.

Also, let him know that unless he can provide positive comments/stories/jokes/repartee, you expect him to remain silent.

If he can't help himself and continues on with the same lame comments despite what you've discussed and worked on with him, then you'll have a decision to make. If he can't abide by you taking over as frontman, basically he's firing himself.

IME, comments like the one's your singer made during the gig come from insecurity. While you probably can't fix that, at least, with a stage routine, if he's up for it, he can perform as if he wasn't insecure.

Here's another link on what not to do: My lead singer saying "that was a bad idea"at the end of our cover of cutting crew

electracoyote · #10 01-19-2011, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BryanM

I'm just curious if anyone's fallen into this role and if it could negatively affect crowd reception.

I have stepped into the emcee role due to my lead singer's reluctance/ineptitude.

I don't think it makes all that much difference who does it, as long as someone does it well. It's far better than no one addressing your audience.

**Thor** · #11 01-19-2011, 02:25 PM

I have to agree with Stumbos post a little bit here.

The band's job is to entertain. Some people are naturally entertaining when they speak. Most aren't and need to rehearse stage patter. A professional magician, for example,
uses stage patter as a very integral part of the stage show.
A good frontman pronbably has a few good routines rehearsed in his bag of tricks.

Attention to stage banter and stage patter should serve a
defined purpose, introduce the band, give a little song story,
promote tips, celebrate birthdays or other special events
that people attending the show may be celebrating. Or
covering up the stupid incessant noodling or tuning your hack
guitar player can't let go of.

Depth_Charge · #12 01-19-2011, 11:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MatticusMania

I thought fall out boy broke up a while ago...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thor

There is a joke there somewhere...

Why, did they have a falling out of some kind?

hrodbert696 · #13 01-20-2011, 05:28 AM

Thanks for the comments y'all. Didn't mean to hijack the thread to be about my band. I'm waiting to see if it was a one-night issue or if it's going to be ongoing. The out-of-tune guitar thing did kill me. He had popped a string in rehearsal two days before, so what said was that he had no choice but to bring a guitar to the open mic with new strings on it. But the thing is, the guy owns three guitars! Why couldn't he have brought the backup?

(sigh).

Anyway, I was venting. I'll update when there are developments. Thanks for the good advice.