I close my eyes all the time. I love concentrating solely on the sound. But I am trying to keep them open more.
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Anybody Occasionally Play With Their Eyes Closed?
- Thread starter vince a
- Start date
If I see a musician with his/her eyes closed the whole time, I automatically think "stoner," then I think "Is this musician playing something so incredible to where his/her lack of interest in entertaining a crowd is warranted?" Once in a great while it is. The rest of the time it's not. OTOH, some folks like those hippie type bands and that's cool. But if you're not in one, then you either have to go find a band who's into the hippie thing or adjust to make it look like you're in the same band.
I don't really see how this is an issue for the crowd at a gig. When I play live I don't care if the people like what I play, I'm there for myself and not to please their ego with giving them attention and if they like the music and stay, great. How would primarily looking at your bandmates and instrument be any different from not looking at the crowd?
That said, when I play I'm always looking at everything and everyone. Especially if the music is high in dynamics.
That said, when I play I'm always looking at everything and everyone. Especially if the music is high in dynamics.
Another bizarre post. You might be better off just playing in your bedroom.
There are many gigs where people pay money to be entertained by a band playing live music. I think it is absolutely vital to play for the crowd. If not, maybe just stay home and release your music on the internet.
You pay money to hear music. What's bizarre for me is people caring whether or not you close your eyes when you play. How does that make or break a gig? Most of the concerts I've been to or played in, was too dark, too far from the crowd for them to even notice if when my eyes were even open.
It's also different depending what role you are in. I can understand to an extent if you are a lead vocalist, but even then its pretty normal for me to see them sing with their eyes closed. If a fan walked away from a gig because I didn't make eye contact with them, that's really too bad and I could care less for their soft ego.
It isn't. Both are extremely boring. But I do get a kick out of how you choose not to play up to the audience's alleged ego by giving them the time of day because you're so into your own ego. Known plenty of bands like that in my day...they were the first to complain about not getting any gigs after a while, too.
Only when they're singing really high and hard. The good ones who actually connect with crowds don't stand up there all night with their eyes closed.
It is really cool when bandmates acknowledge and hype up the crowd, I do see the value in that and I have done that before. but for me it wouldn't make a difference to me if a band I really liked performed and they didn't even look my direction once. I usually get too lost in the music to even care.
EDIT: Anyways, agree to disagree to an extent I guess lol.
I'm with nysbob I close my eyes when I sing. It doesn't count if you're signing because the band is supposed to follow you.
In a gig setting, not really. I like to be engaged in everything going on around me. Just how I am with band settings.
At home, if I just want to feel what I am doing more than watch it, all the time.
At home, if I just want to feel what I am doing more than watch it, all the time.
Well said, neither party is being unreasonable. Some bands want to put on an energetic performance if one member doesn't it's probably just not a good fit.
I pay money to watch and listen to a band play music. I pay to see a performance, especially if it's a rock show.
Plenty of bands can sound great on record and live, but sometimes they are dull live performers. Eric Clapton comes to mind. I'm not a big Clapton fan at all, but I went with some friends to see him about 2 years ago. By far, the most boring concert I've ever attended. No engagement with the audience whatsoever. After the first 30 minutes, I spent most of my time in the beer line.
No, but I'm going to have to remember to practice with my eyes closed more and listen to my (bad) intonation and correct it instead of relying too much on my eyes for intonation.
Then again, during gigs I often stare at my fingerboard without actually seeing it, I'm just staring into space and trying to concentrate on the notes/intonation. Also depends on the song. Some songs require my "active" participation such as "Hot Tamales" or "Has Anybody Seen My Gal?".
I disagree. The OX just stood there while the rest of the Who were in total bedlam, though admittedly he did have his eyes open.
If the whole band is going nuts, then why not have one calm cool collected band member "sleeping"? Yin to the Yang, Salt to the Pepper, balance is achieved and the lunacy of the rest of the band appears even more chaotic if there is a foil to sharpen the contrast.
As with most opinion OPs, it all depends on each situation. Some bands may require all members to go into full showmanship mode, other bands will require restraint from all members (wedding bands, background dinner music combos or any situation where the band isn't the main attraction) and then there's the band that NEEDS the foil because the showmanship isn't that great but looks better when juxtaposed by an opposite. Opposites attract...
Ramble on. . .
All I know is, Charlie Haden is well-known for playing with his eyes closed and also known as a "feel" player. Good enough for me and the bands I date...
Then again, during gigs I often stare at my fingerboard without actually seeing it, I'm just staring into space and trying to concentrate on the notes/intonation. Also depends on the song. Some songs require my "active" participation such as "Hot Tamales" or "Has Anybody Seen My Gal?".
I disagree. The OX just stood there while the rest of the Who were in total bedlam, though admittedly he did have his eyes open.
If the whole band is going nuts, then why not have one calm cool collected band member "sleeping"? Yin to the Yang, Salt to the Pepper, balance is achieved and the lunacy of the rest of the band appears even more chaotic if there is a foil to sharpen the contrast.
As with most opinion OPs, it all depends on each situation. Some bands may require all members to go into full showmanship mode, other bands will require restraint from all members (wedding bands, background dinner music combos or any situation where the band isn't the main attraction) and then there's the band that NEEDS the foil because the showmanship isn't that great but looks better when juxtaposed by an opposite. Opposites attract...
Ramble on. . .
All I know is, Charlie Haden is well-known for playing with his eyes closed and also known as a "feel" player. Good enough for me and the bands I date...
Charlie Haden also plays a stationary instrument in a stationary way, plus he's a jazz guy, plus his playing is captivating enough to where people don't care if his eyes are closed.
It's important to remember the context in discussions like this. Charlie Haden is a very well-known and important jazz musician. You and I are not Charlie Haden.
It's important to remember the context in discussions like this. Charlie Haden is a very well-known and important jazz musician. You and I are not Charlie Haden.
Not meant as an insult, either 
That's just how it is. If I went all Charlie Haden in my oldies band instead of getting out on the dance floor doing upright stunts, the guys in my band would have my head!
That's just how it is. If I went all Charlie Haden in my oldies band instead of getting out on the dance floor doing upright stunts, the guys in my band would have my head!
