Band Member Intros - Yes or No?

[Altitude]

One time our singer, who makes the quick introductions, forgot my last name. Instead of just letting it slide, he went over and asked the guitarist

I guess I should be glad he doesn't introduce me like "and on bass...the bass player".

I saw John Mellencamp once, he went through his band intros and did not know his keyboardist's name. He said it was her first show on the tour and did seem to feel bad about it.

 

[higain617]

I don't see many bands doing this anymore unless one member is a guest. But there's no reason not to.

 

[lfmn16]

I guess I should be glad he doesn't introduce me like "and on bass...the bass player".

Are you in The Wonders??

 

[akane3]

NOOOOOO. Nobody cares.

 

[Slinger]

We used to use "Time Is Tight" to intro the band. It worked pretty well.

 

[Eddie LeBlanc]

Need to do it during a song, while the song is being played. Get the singer to practice on this, and find a song that he can drop out of, and start the introductions while everyone is still playing the song. Then come back in and sing another verse and end the song.

That is a very professional way to do it. Just remember, the audience likes that and wants to maybe know who they are listening to. Not just the band name, or some cutesy banter in jokes between songs.

 

[mantaraya]

I completly dislike intro members with non sense playing show. I like when a memeber is introduced in a dialoque with audience, or during some part of song. But when the show direcltly goes to intro all band members and they start doing some BS show off completly turn off....

 

[Marc valero]

Our female vocalist sometimes introduces the band in the middle of a set. One of our guitar players tunes after every song so there is plenty of opportunities to do it. We do it quick but I usually hit a few notes or pop a string.
Also, to kill time between tuning I have a bit of running gag, I say "Now that we have a moment there is one thing I'd like to say ..." then I let out a big "Ronnie James Dio!!!" (I worked in radio and can get that ballsy announcer sound.) the other guitar player has started playing metal or a Sabbath riff or something after I say it.

 

[silvertone]

I think the best way to integrate this in a set is do it at the end, during a stretched out vamp where the band is chugging along but not crushing the life out of the tune. Using the groove as a backdrop for introducing the band and then nailing the last closing verse to its conclusion....

 

[Mugre]

I'm slightly in favor of it but as band member or audience member its absence doesn't mean much to me. A good gig is a good gig for the vibe not whether or not I hear my name. In a typical bar/club cover band, when it's done, I don't like the whole stop everything and spend 5 minutes introducing everyone with the 8 bars of wankery between each one. I much prefer the less momentum killing name of the player before or after a feature spot. It can be effectively used in the long form though as a planned resting point for a tuning/guitar change and or resting point for the audience after a string of high energy set. A lot of what you can get away with depends on how well your front person (doesn't have to be the lead singer here) connects and communicates with the audience.

 

[J-Mags]

I'm not a fan of the everybody takes a solo thing, but I do think it's necessary for most bands to say, I'm Joe X, this is Dave Y on drums, Sarah D on guitar etc. He doesn't need to make a big deal out of it. Just some quick chit chat in between songs. Just say who's who. Exceptions for certain punk/goth etc. bands that emphasize anonymous group contributions, and for very large bands.

 

[Altitude]

A couple of the guys in my group are National Guard guys, very active in the music scene there. It's occurred to me that the culture in that organization might be to avoid individual recognition, so it's just become culture bleed-through in my group.

It's no big deal, just thought it would be an interesting topic.

 

[Eddie LeBlanc]

A couple of the guys in my group are National Guard guys, very active in the music scene there. It's occurred to me that the culture in that organization might be to avoid individual recognition, so it's just become culture bleed-through in my group.

It's no big deal, just thought it would be an interesting topic.

Culture Bleed through...... is that a term that is necessary???? Almost sounds like something to worry about when washing clothes??????? Sorry... just had to LOL......

 

[eldorado2001]

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.

Well stated.

 

[Meyatch]

We usually get a "say hi to ______" before a bass intro, or guitar solo or whatever. We used to play ballroom blitz, "are you ready _____?" was a good enough intro. I think the typical introduce the band thing is pretty lame.

 

[madbass6]

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?

as long as I get introduce to the money at the end of the night & get paid what agreed on, that's all the introduction I need.

 

[VincentGrim]

Original rock/pop bands mostly don't, I guess, on the grounds that they expect to have fans and the fans are expected to know, but I saw Herbie Hancock and Thundercat last year and they both did.

I was gonna say, there are probably genre specific standards and culture at play as well. I do mostly play in the indie-rock/pop vein and, in my very specific experience, have never encountered member intros or them even being desirable.

That being said, nothing against the practice.

 

[Artman]

BB King introduced every band member every time that I saw him. Joe Bonamassa also does it. Class.

 

[Raw N Low]

I don't mind doing as long as I don't have to perform a cheesy riff or line along with it.

What aggravates me to no end is when our singer says, "and slapping the bass we have..."

Annoys me to no end. It's not cute and I don't even know how to slap.

 

[hardtop]

obviously, I'm in the minority here. But that's a huge No for me; unless you're in a slaying jazz ensemble or a bada$$ blues band, where everyone is killing solos, I could not care less if the bongo's player is Ted. Really, it just seems so self indulgent, and no one cares, IMO.