Hecklers anyone?

MadMan118 · #1 05-31-2009, 02:59 AM

Hecklers what is your strategy. Do you ignore them or do you go rounds with them? I usualy tell them while theyre out heckeling bands im, well you know...

skidrawk · #2 05-31-2009, 03:01 AM

While we might get any hecklers, we always have that drunk guy insisting us we must play this song he wants to hear...

I just nod and smile.

dmusic148 · #3 05-31-2009, 03:15 AM

This band I used to be in knew the 15 minute, live version of 'Free Bird.' The best revenge.

5StringBlues · #4 05-31-2009, 03:19 AM

Old drummer friend of mine would extend his middle finger and yell,"No charge!"

Ruckus13 · #5 05-31-2009, 03:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dmusic148

This band I used to be in knew the 15 minute, live version of 'Free Bird.' The best revenge.

Oh man, I lol'd

Jimmy Bones · #6 05-31-2009, 04:31 AM

The rock scene here is in two extremes, Indy Rock in the vein of bands such as Sparda, and Hardcore in the vein of... well, just about every screamo band in existance. Not really any bad bands out here, but there isn't much variation.

Because my band plays the same circuit and runs with the same promoters/production company that these bands do, most people actually stop and listen to us for something different. We've never really been heckled, but we have had several drunks come and hijack the vocal mic.

cutthroatmolloy · #7 05-31-2009, 05:48 AM

I can't recall being heckled very much. we either just ignore it cos we don't care, or take the piss out of them.

Someone once yelled out freebird. but i didn't hear it until i watched the video the day after.

Jimmy Bones · #8 05-31-2009, 05:59 AM

Hey malloy, I dig your puppy video.

If you ever make it to Honolulu, you guys gotta play with us.

totallyfrozen · #9 05-31-2009, 06:19 AM

I got heckled once...well, more like harrassed. Not as a bassist but as a keyboard player. This drunk INSISTED that I play (a long list of) Elton John and Billy Joel tunes.

Mind you, I was playing keys in a blues/rock band in a biker bar.

Needless to say, after tossing a "you call yourself a keyboard player?!" my direction; he went away mad.

SwamiRob · #10 05-31-2009, 06:25 AM

At most shows I'm at heckling is just usually friendly banter, and when it's not the people doing it are usually idiots so you can shoot them down pretty easily, either way it's entertaining so I don't really care.

MatticusMania · #11 06-01-2009, 01:16 PM

My band was "heckled" by some drunk dude at our last show. I told him we werent playing for his enjoyment, but our own. He smiled in acknowledgement and continued to drink his beer.

Zooberwerx · #12 06-01-2009, 01:23 PM

Better yet, what are your favorite comeback lines? Here's my favorite:

"Hey, we're trying to work up here! You don't see me coming to your place of business and f&*%ing with the Slurpee machine, do ya?"

Riis

TimWilson · #13 06-01-2009, 01:27 PM

Here's mine, and it shuts 'em up every time:

"Hey, pal, weren't you in here last night? I never forget a shirt."

sadly, they often don't get it.

CosmicRay · #14 06-01-2009, 01:34 PM

We really don't get heckled, but at one place we were supposed to start at 10:30pm and this guy kept on yelling out the time in 10 minute intervals. So I said, "Thanks, now what's the temperature?"
It got a laugh....

Instagator · #15 06-01-2009, 02:38 PM

Got heckled after a gig by regular.He was holding the door for us during load out.The guy said..If you guys were better you wouldn't have to move your own equiptment.We still use that line on each other from time to time.

Cheers.

denhou1974 · #16 06-01-2009, 02:51 PM

We were soundchecking the drums. Second kick drum hit and some guy yells out "hey, cut it out". Soundguy says "hey, we'll be done in a minute".

After the check, idiot proceeds to come over to the board and say "sorry I yelled at you but my favorite song was playing on the jukebox".

I said "Is there anything else we can do for YOU? You need another beer? Can we chalk your cue stick for you? It's all about you, so anything you need just let us know". He walked away.

Barcode31 · #17 06-01-2009, 07:28 PM

I was in a metal band for four years. We didn't play bar music we played only originals. Yet one place we played at there was a guy who kept on with, "A band should be able to play any song you want.", "A real band can play any song you want", "This band sucks they should be able to play any song you ask for."

So after hearing him say this between every song, finally I got on the mic, and I said in a radio announcer voice, "Ladies and Gentlemen thank you so much for coming out tonight. All the songs you hear tonight are written by us." Then I went straight wolfman jack on him and said, "This prick right here can't seem to get that through his head so if you hear him crying about his song again please put him out of my misery!" The crowd went nuts, the guy left.

MysticMichael · #18 06-01-2009, 07:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jimmy Bones

...but we have had several drunks come and hijack the vocal mic.

Ooh! Major pet peeve!

MM

millsbass5 · #19 06-01-2009, 07:47 PM

***************************TIPS ON TAKING CARE OF HECKLERS***************

PLAN "A"

Practice:
(1a)The songs your band plays
(2a)In-between-song stage-presence (Shooting the bull w/the crowd,in between tunes.)Making them feel involved in the show.

And,finally:When all else fails:
**********************************PLAN "B"******************************
Practice the following:

(1b)Right-cross
(2b)Roundhouse
(3b)Jab
(4a)Quick mma-style submissions

Gets'em every time.

Sartori · #20 06-02-2009, 02:00 AM

If on stage: A quick kick to the heckler's face from a steel-toed boot usually ends the heckling.