Would you trade a slightly-off performance for a hellafun one?

[Bryan316]

So Friday I played in both my bands on the same night same stage. Pretty packed crowd, definitely dedicated metalheads representing. And we just had TOO much fun. Way cool time.

But in retrospect, neither band went away feeling they played flawlessly. Each band had their issues. First band my drummer felt totally exhausted by the last song, and the singer couldn't hear his own guitar playing, my rig was generating horrible bass feedback during one song cuz the sound guy had no idea what was going on. Second band, I had great monitor levels for my vocals but my mic kept squealing, my brother played sloppy and screwed up the beginning of our last song, and my sore throat was really REALLY screwing with me the whole night. I was sucking cough drops and drinking tea all night, not a lick of booze, and still my voice was hurting like hell. In my opinion, I barely made it through the gig, even though people loved that I pulled through sick as hell and hid it well enough.

But... WHAT A BLAST WE HAD. It was way too much fun. We were goofy as hell, lots of stage antics, lotsa running around, great photo opportunities, crowd reaction was stellar, MAN we had fun. Watched the videotape, we were all ear-to-ear grins the whole night through. Well, except when we threw on our EVIL faces! Heh heh. "I'm the Leprechaun! I'm the Leprechaun! BLARGH I'm gonna eat ya!" Just so much band comradery with the other bands, way too much drinking and partying, even a mini-sized mosh pit during the first band, and some genuine old-school 80's HEADBANGING, oh yeah, my soul felt cleansed of all illness that night!


So... which would you prefer? Great time gig, or flawless execution gig?

[bassteban]

Fun is better for me.

[seanm]

Great time! If everybody, and that has to include the audience, has a great time, who cares about execution? It's all about entertainment.

[Phalex]

The day it stops being fun is the day I quit playing music and start working on my lawn.

[pointbass]

Originally Posted by Bryan316

But... WHAT A BLAST WE HAD. It was way too much fun. We were goofy as hell, lots of stage antics, lotsa running around, great photo opportunities, crowd reaction was stellar, MAN we had fun.

You answered your own question ..... you had a great time and the crowd was into it. That's why any of us perform live, and it seems like you kicked *ss ...

I've had absolutely flawless performances that weren't any fun. I'd much rather have a good time, especially when your audience loves it, as well ....

[mike_v_s]

Originally Posted by pointbass

you had a great time and the crowd was into it. That's why any of us perform live...

What he^^^ said.

Mike

[steve21]

If you had hella fun and the crowd loved it, you weren't slightly off.

[kesslari]

No matter how well you play, there's gonna be some jackass in the audience going "not bad, but..."

But NOBODY can see you having a good time and think "I could be having more fun than that..."

[buzzbass]

If it's not fun, why be there ?

[dave64o]

Without a doubt fun is better. If you play with flawless perfection but don't engage the audience then what's the point?

[superbassman2000]

you are paid by the bar/club to make sure the crowd has fun--mission accomplished

[Bryan316]

Oh that crowd was REALLY into it this time! They were front row the whole time and didn't walk away. We played Queensryche's Empire which we never played in a bar before and totally shocked a bunch of people, since it was Mike's birthday bash he demanded we play Maiden's Hallowed Be Thy Name for him, which my keyboardist from Mellotron FLIPPED OUT for, and we closed the night with Cemetery Gates cuz damn near half that audience are huge Pantera fans. We played our last two original songs SO FREAKIN FAST though, Jeremy was just rippin' through his drum heads, screw correct tempo, he was totally in the zone! Kevin looked back at him the same time I did, with a look of I'M GOING TO DIIIIIE on his face! Now we're gonna force ourselves to play The Death of Life at that speed, cuz it felt awesome. We just gotta get the chunkin' endurance! Heh heh.


Man... I'm so glad we got this show on video AND a board recording. Man oh man. It was such DAMNIT it was such a good time!!! Seriously, I'm still giddy from it!



Folks... next show you play, tell the rest of your bandmates, "Let's have a freakin PARTY tonight!" It works. It totally works.


Oh... and opening the curtain blasting away, and 15 seconds later saying "THANK YOU GOODNIGHT" and quickly closing the curtains.... TOO freakin' funny. Oh my gawd... we almost didn't start up we were laughing so hard at their reaction! Don't ask me why we came up with this, it was spur of the moment and I yelled it to my roadie/drinking partner, and it got that crowd screaming.

[matrok]

I'll take a great time over flawless execution anyday.

[mike_v_s]

Originally Posted by Bryan316

Folks... next show you play, tell the rest of your bandmates, "Let's have a freakin PARTY tonight!" It works. It totally works.

When I was playing out, we didn't do it any other way. Usually the alcohol and other substances kept us from doing anything flawless.

Mike

[Baryonyx]

I haven't seen Cloverfield yet.