Band Member Intros - Yes or No?

[Altitude]

I’m in a party rock cover band where nobody introduces the band members - not at the end of a set, not in the middle of a tune, not at all.

Other than this, the frontman is very good communicating with the audience. He repeats the band name, slides in a funny anecdote before a song here and there, all the normal stuff. But he doesn’t intro the musicians, ever.

On the one hand, I get it. It’s a cover band. Who cares what the drummer’s name is. On the other hand, it feels a little to me like a violation of tradition and makes me a little sad. It’s the only band (of dozens) I’ve played in where it’s this way.

Thoughts? How do you guys do it in your bands?

 

[gln1955]

Our front man does it towards the end of the first set. Usually at a time when the guitarist is switching out guitars for the next tune. Pretty quick, nothin' fancy like each member playing a few bars solo. That's lame, IMO.

 

[2saddleslab]

Band member intros are a good way to connect to your audience.

 

[Spent]

I never cared either way in the many years I’ve spent playing gigs; some bands did, some didn’t. For the most part I was just happy if they knew the name of the band. I’ve played a lot of out of town gigs and would most likely never meet anyone who was there ever again anyway. If the band is killing it and there’s a good crowd, it might just be a boost to the egos.

I just remembered something that happened many years ago that sums it up. We played a gig at a new venue, one we ended up with in rotation, and a young lady comes up at the end of the last set and asks for our autographs. We obliged but I asked “why?” She shrugged and said “you never know.” She ended up following the band for a while, but that stopped shortly after her new boyfriend got upset when he thought the lead guitarist was hitting on her. He wasn’t, but I understand why he got the impression. He came out of the bathroom to find them both dancing on the bar. That was a fun band, we gigged for nine years but never made it.

 

[bwildt]

We don't do any formal member intros. When we do a song that "features" or has one the members playing something difficult or unusual, his name often gets called out as the song is ending.

 

[saabfender]

There are bands that don't intro their members at some time over the course of the evening? Seems like bad manners.

 

[electracoyote]

People care. If the band is grooving, entertaining, giving people a good show and dance party, they will appreciate knowing the name of these hard-working musicians on the stage. It is a big mistake to not introduce the band. I have insisted every band I play in adopts the practice in some way and does it quickly at least once a set. Special solos deserve another shout out. It doesn't need to be a big production with spotlights and solos, you can go 'round the world and quickly tell everyone who is playing what. When I play in a band that's cooking, each member gets a round of applause after their name, further proof people care.

Not only that, I think it is a nice way for the BL or lead singer(s) to show appreciation to the hard-working musicians in the band.

I sub'd for a band recently at the Baker Street DTC. It's a pretty good gig, decent pay, one you want to protect once you get on their rotation. BL failed to introduce the band, not even once, and never said a word about appreciation for the the wait staff. Terrible way to build friendships.

 

[cmcbass]

I feel like if you're playing in a cover band it's all in good fun to introduce the players one by one. It's fun and it can be all part of the show. If you were doing originals it would be weird.n

 

[electracoyote]

I feel like if you're playing in a cover band it's all in good fun to introduce the players one by one. It's fun and it can be all part of the show. If you were doing originals it would be weird.n

Good point. Also, we don't introduce the band through the P.A. at private events. Those folks usually already have a guest of honor or are really into themselves, we don't need the attention. Same reason we don't set out tip jars at private events. We just charge the client a fair fee and let them tip us if they feel we deserved it.

I do often introduce the band to newlyweds and private clients (party planners, talent buyers) between sets when we're not on the stage.

 

[Altitude]

People care. If the band is grooving, entertaining, giving people a good show and dance party, they will appreciate knowing the name of these hard-working musicians on the stage. It is a big mistake to not introduce the band. I have insisted every band I play in adopts the practice in some way and does it quickly at least once a set. Special solos deserve another shout out. It doesn't need to be a big production with spotlights and solos, you can go 'round the world and quickly tell everyone who is playing what. When I play in a band that's cooking, each member gets a round of applause after their name, further proof people care.

Not only that, I think it is a nice way for the BL or lead singer(s) to show appreciation to the hard-working musicians in the band.

I sub'd for a band recently at the Baker Street DTC. It's a pretty good gig, decent pay, one you want to protect once you get on their rotation. BL failed to introduce the band, not even once, and never said a word about appreciation for the the wait staff. Terrible way to build friendships.

Agreed on all counts.

We’re in the rotation at Baker DTC about monthly. It’s indeed a great gig. Weird stage though. It’s shallow where it should be deep, and vice versa.

Who did you sub for, out of curiosity? PM me if you’d rather.

 

[Matt B]

And I don't like it when I am introduced and I typically cringe a little when i hear them. Don't know why.

 

[trailer]

Pick a song that your singer is particularly good on then say "Give it up for 'his/her name' ladies and gentlemen" at the outro/end of the song. Maybe that will give him the idea that the rest of you guys deserve some notoriety too. I also like to do that when someone has really screwed the pooch on a song as well....ahhh good times.

 

[VincentGrim]

I can understand why you'd want this done in a cover band. There is generally far more at stake as an individual, so to be acredited during the performance should be expected. I have never seen this done in all my time playing in original bands though.

 

[BassBrass]

I've seen a couple lately where I could not understand what was being said because the vocalist mumbled, talked too fast--names especially can be incomprehensible, or didn't speak into the mic so only a few people up front could hear, and their inside jokes might have been funny if you knew what they were talking about. Why don't people speak clearly anymore? Some kind of cool style seems to be more important. Waste of time if you can't be understood. "On drums...da be ba ba ba!"

 

[wideload]

Band leader always does intros during our version of “Kansas City”, with each taking an 8 bar solo, but I could do without it. What good is witness protection when they blab your name over the PA?

 

[JimmyM]

Do it quickly but do it.

 

[Old Garage-Bander]

If you do intros, be sure the drummer isn’t in the witness protection program.

 

[Jeff K]

Unless you're a world-famous act like the Stones, etc., I think there should be band member intros. Cover band OR originals. People in the audience are often there BECAUSE of the music, so why not give a shout-out to the guys/gals in the band??

I know that when I'M in a bar or any concert, I like to hear everybody introduced. Sometimes I'm thinking, "Whoa! That lead guitar player is phenomenal!" Or, "That bass player is really laying down some clean bottom!!" I enjoy putting a name with the faces. If nothing else, for future reference in case I see a particular musician referenced. Then I might think, "Oh yeah, I remember seeing him/her play at the (whatever venue)...

 

[AngelDeVille]

I do it, whether the band members like it or not.

 

[HolmeBass]

People care. If the band is grooving, entertaining, giving people a good show and dance party, they will appreciate knowing the name of these hard-working musicians on the stage. It is a big mistake to not introduce the band. I have insisted every band I play in adopts the practice in some way and does it quickly at least once a set. Special solos deserve another shout out. It doesn't need to be a big production with spotlights and solos, you can go 'round the world and quickly tell everyone who is playing what. When I play in a band that's cooking, each member gets a round of applause after their name, further proof people care.

Not only that, I think it is a nice way for the BL or lead singer(s) to show appreciation to the hard-working musicians in the band.

I sub'd for a band recently at the Baker Street DTC. It's a pretty good gig, decent pay, one you want to protect once you get on their rotation. BL failed to introduce the band, not even once, and never said a word about appreciation for the the wait staff. Terrible way to build friendships.

This is how I feel about it. One of the main bands I play with the leader always does it. He also says where we're from, and lays it on a little thick, our keyboard player (monster player) moved into town from San Fran a couple of years ago, and he still says that he's from SF.

And I don't like it when I am introduced and I typically cringe a little when i hear them. Don't know why.

Then the BL in the other main band I play with feels like this. He thinks it's cheesy and people don't care and he won't do it.

He says only famous bands should do it. I pointed out that for really famous bands it is unnecessary because the audience already knows who everyone is.

I prefer a short introduction - doesn't even need to be once per set, but at least once during the show. I think it works well after a feature or a tune where that member's part really shines.