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Bad gig, or: Things NOT to do at a show

#41
Rules are fine but I believe it really depends on the situation. I take exception with many I have read on this topic. No jokes, you're not funny? I don't know about anyone else's situation, but in the club, hip party scene you damn well better be funny. Club owners and clients pay big dollars at least around my area to have their patrons entertained. Talking, joking, interacting with them gets them involved. They feel like THEY also are part of the show. Inside jokes within the band? Been there too. If you build up a very loyal following, they too get the joke over time. Once again they feel involved. Same goes with talking to a patron between songs. If the front man or whomever is worth anything other than being a pupet, they can turn that interaction into a good bit that everyone can chuckle at. Personally, I did the serious route for many years. Played for huge crowds as well as intimate setting for record execs. Do the rules still apply? Sort of, IMHO. Of course you wouldn't go for the comedy thing in that situation. Entertainment parameters are not just black and white. One thing I have learned over the years. Don't take youself so seriously that it stops being fun. Did that too! Music is meant to be fun, at least for me. Life is too damned short to sweat the small stuff. How many times have you heard someone say "I'll stop doing this when it stops being fun"? I don't know about how others feel, but I never want to stop. Let the fun continue!
 
#43
bimplizkit said:
Excellent post, Jay-Z!! (Jerry Ziarko)

Your advice speaks with the voice of reason and experience.

:cool: :)
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Ya beat me to it!

Exactly what I was thinking, the "rules" for a quiet jazz quartet, are much different than a classic/top 40 party band. My band does an acoustic coffee shop kind of gig as well, which we present ourselves much more professionally than our electric club-set, which is aimed towards partying drunks there wanting to dance, drink, and have a good time.

Totally different demographic.
 
#44
i only have 1

if the singer forgets the lyrics, either dont play that song, or just break into the chorus. if the drummer remembers the song, dont have him sing it.

even tho this wasn't really a gig, it was a show sorta thing for someones party, and people were laughing like crazy. so embarassing
 
#45
The Scissor Sisters from NY are pretty hot over here in London right now (first single went straight into the top 10) and I caught them at a free gig in a record store. They definitely took the Jerry Z route, and did it very well - lots of jokes and banter, and profusely thanking the audience for coming, for buying records, generally came over as very nice, unpretentious and it worked very well.

On the other hand our singer doesn't like doing the talking, we take the (virtually) non stop music approach, which works for us.
 
#46
thinking of you said:
i only have 1

if the singer forgets the lyrics, either dont play that song, or just break into the chorus. if the drummer remembers the song, dont have him sing it.

even tho this wasn't really a gig, it was a show sorta thing for someones party, and people were laughing like crazy. so embarassing
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Sorry, but I'll have to disagree here. If the singer forgets the lyrics, continue the song as rehearsed. To get everyone to "break into the chorus" would be near impossible unless you rehearsed it that way. If the singer forgets, let him forget. He'll figure out what to do.
 
#48
MuzikMan said:
Please don't look around at the band making sure everyone is ready after every song. Make sure you're ready and keep it going. At least that's what I wish our band would do.
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Yup. And if somebody is taking time getting ready - tuning, searching for a chart or patch etc. - leave it between him and the drummer (or whoever is doing the count-in). Nothing shouts:"We´re unprofessional and we don´t know what we´re doing" than the whole band looking at that one poor guy and going:"What gives?". A smooth talker is invaluable in those situations, he/she can take the audiences attention off of pretty big problems. Of course, he shouldn´t say something like:"All right, just having little technical difficulties here". You should NEVER advertise your problems if it´s not absolutely necessary.
 
#49
Make sure all your equipment is plugged in and unable to become accidentally unplugged...I played at a youth conference and for 2 whole songs I was wondering why I wasn't hearing myself. Turns out my cord was too short and come out of the DI...but then, that was back when I knew nothing of the bass.
 
#51
CoolHat said:
You should NEVER advertise your problems if it´s not absolutely necessary.
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That's about it.

I know the original poster just had an issue with a drunk in his band, and it turned out to be an interesting thread.

There's loads of demographic as well as geographic differences that play a part in "the rules." No, generally, Grandma and Grandpa don't like to have Gwar puppets hump their legs and vomit blood on them when they're being entertained by a band at dinner. Your audience determines what you do. That should be a no brainer.

What goes over good in Milwaukee WI may not go over so good in LA CA. By the same token, what goes over great in LA may not be cool in Zebulon NC.

I still can't think of a good reason to purposely dump beer on someone. It wastes a perfectly good beer, and it's just one more thing to smell like beer when you get pulled over on your way home.

I personally think the only rule is to maintain your confidence and don't "advertise your problems." The rest are just good suggestions- your band- your "rules," find what works.
 

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