Tips for a frontman?

optikhog · #1 07-23-2007, 01:07 PM

Our band is about to play its first gig since the drummer and I joined but has played several gigs in the past. The problem is that these guys have never had a proper frontman, so there are some uncomfortable pauses during guitar swaps in the recordings I've heard. I've spoken to the singer about it and he indicates that he just doesn't feel comfortable talking to the crowd.

Anyway, I've been a frontman in a few small-time bands and know a couple of things to talk to the crowd about (e.g. we have free stuff available up front, mention the food if playing a place that serves it, etc.) and have volunteered to assist our singer with some tips and/or do some of the talking myself but I'm looking for some tips from y'all as to what kinds of things you do to interact with the crowd. Obviously some of it is simply improv, but are there any standards I can use?

Thanks!

bradjonesbass · #2 07-23-2007, 01:29 PM

do as little talking between songs as possible. Tell the guitarists to switch guitars as little as possible and as Zappa said "Shut up and play"...

tlwaps · #3 07-23-2007, 01:33 PM

I guess you'll never run into the problem where he/she doesn't know when to shut up. I'd say just have him/her mention your website/myspace...etc and when and where your next show is. Shouldn't take your guitarists that long to swap guitars.

optikhog · #4 07-23-2007, 01:46 PM

Yah, I should've mentioned that I'm all for just getting on with it. We're not looking to talk between each song.

MysticMichael · #5 07-23-2007, 03:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bradjonesbass

do as little talking between songs as possible. Tell the guitarists to switch guitars as little as possible and as Zappa said "Shut up and play"...

Bingo. When you're rehearsing a show, remember to rehearse all aspects of the show - including transitions. Do it just like you would/should on stage...

IMHO, transitions should be kept to 15 seconds or less. Even 30 seconds feels like an eternity when you're trying to kill time between songs...

MM

ducatiman · #6 07-23-2007, 04:36 PM

you didn't mention if your gigging at a pub/club (PAID) but if so....

FWIW, IMHO, YMMV.......

i *wouldn't* mention future gigs (*anywhere* else is considered the competition to the club owner) as you'd be using bar A to advertise for bar B. a bright short term move, but not a bright long term move, IF you want to be asked back, that is. club owners are very touchy about the competition, and its a *very* competitive business these days.

i *would* welcome people to the bar you're in NOW (once per set)....
thanking them for coming to (club name) .... we are (band name)
thanks for comin down! make it known how you all love to play there. *be brief* , short and right to the point. as was mentioned, get from song to song with as little calamity as possible. otherwise, long breaks of silence/messing around tuning up, debating what song to do, even playing riffs...ALL appear very unprofessional.

now if the gig is a friends freebee backyard party....thats different, you can be a lot more casual, i'd guess.

----------------duc

Stumpy · #7 07-23-2007, 04:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by optikhog

Our band is about to play its first gig since the drummer and I joined but has played several gigs in the past. The problem is that these guys have never had a proper frontman, so there are some uncomfortable pauses during guitar swaps in the recordings I've heard. I've spoken to the singer about it and he indicates that he just doesn't feel comfortable talking to the crowd.

Anyway, I've been a frontman in a few small-time bands and know a couple of things to talk to the crowd about (e.g. we have free stuff available up front, mention the food if playing a place that serves it, etc.) and have volunteered to assist our singer with some tips and/or do some of the talking myself but I'm looking for some tips from y'all as to what kinds of things you do to interact with the crowd. Obviously some of it is simply improv, but are there any standards I can use?

Thanks!

Tell the front guy to get over it. He is the FRONT man for a reason.

The other stuff you stated was what we do as well...

Geddyfleaharris · #8 07-23-2007, 04:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stumpy

Tell the front guy to get over it. He is the FRONT man for a reason.

The other stuff you stated was what we do as well...

Completely agree with the getting over it statement. Your frontman has to exude confidence. Even though he doesn't play bass (snicker) he is the focal point of the show. If he turns the crowd off you are hooped.

theshadow2001 · #9 07-23-2007, 06:09 PM

Get the guitarist to keep his guitars near by and use an A/B box to change connections and if need be some sort of pedal to mute the signal going to the amp (I don't know if that would be needed with an AB box as I've never used one myself)

As the song ends he should walk up beside his second guitar which should be in a stand, roll down the volume of the one he's playing take it off, place it in another empty stand which is located conveniently beside the second guitar, pick up the other and switch the A/B box and turn up the volume. The whole change should only take ten seconds. The A/B should be somewhere near the two guitar stands.

A better but much more expensive alternative would be get him to use two radio transmitters of the same kind and one receiver have them transmitting on the same frequency. It would remove the hassle of getting cables all tangled up and would probably be the quickest way to make the change.

But the best idea would be to slap him across the head tell him not to be an idiot and pick one guitar to play.

I know this post may not help with the banter but it could help reduce the amount needed. Why don't you get a mic and do a bit of talking if your singer is so afraid?

ronniequeue · #10 07-23-2007, 06:27 PM

I agree, do the talking yourself until the frontman feels comfortable... hopefully this won't take too long... anyway, here are some ways to eat up 10 seconds or so for transitions:
thank the venue (mention name)
thank the audience (mention your band's name)
introduce the band (my drummer plays a beat while I do this)
thank the other bands (mention their names)
tip your bartenders (this is VERY important)
reference your website/ myspace
talk about your merch (free things are an attention getter)

Spread these important blurbs throughout the show whenever necessary, but make sure to mention them because they are all important points for your audience to hear. Also, as mentioned before, do not play riffs and do not tune out loud during transitions. It's very unprofessional. Hope this gives you some more ideas.
-ronniequeue
www.myspace.com/thequeues

bradjonesbass · #11 07-24-2007, 09:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ducatiman

you didn't mention if your gigging at a pub/club (PAID) but if so....

FWIW, IMHO, YMMV.......

i *wouldn't* mention future gigs (*anywhere* else is considered the competition to the club owner) as you'd be using bar A to advertise for bar B. a bright short term move, but not a bright long term move, IF you want to be asked back, that is. club owners are very touchy about the competition, and its a *very* competitive business these days.

----------------duc

Plus 1. General rule of thumb: You can feel free to mention shows at non-bar national venues, such as opening for a touring act, but do not mention your show next week at xxx bar across town. Just have an email list and let everyone know your shows will be posted on myspace.

Chris V. · #12 07-24-2007, 09:25 AM

Mastodon plays a great show because they don't talk until just before the last song, or maybe not even before they've finished! Make sure that the crowd and owner/s know that you want to be there.

I personally don't like it when it takes an age in between songs. However, if you have the right personality you can keep it professional. I personally think that Corey Taylor of Stone Sour does it very well. He talks, but talks well. It's entertaining. Just don't go on and on... The worst thing is if you repeat yourself.

Don't think you're funny, because the likelihood that you are is small. It might sound funny in your head, but it's probably not - that can get very embarassing. I've done it countless times until I realised that it wasn't really appropriate/entertaining.

That's my two cents.

optikhog · #13 07-24-2007, 09:39 AM

Thanks, everyone. Yah, I think for these first few shows it's just a matter of experience more than anything for our singer. Once he sees what to do, I'm sure he'll pick it up.

Also, thanks for the tips - nothing unexpected in this list but definately some helpful reminders. As I mentioned in the intial post, I've been frontman for another 2 bands previously, but it's been a long time and we always played parties, not bars/restaurants. All of the help has been great!

troy mcclure · #14 07-25-2007, 08:18 AM

Arrange your set with as few guitar/equipment changes as possible.
5 gigs from now your frontman won't know when to shut up...

John Wentzien · #15 07-25-2007, 08:26 AM

Spit blood and breath fire!