Band Member Intros - Yes or No?

[dennis james]

I wouldn't even consider it an issue. You say your guy otherwise does a good job of engaging the audience, I'd be happy with that. I know when I'm on the other side and am watching a band, introductions go in one ear and out the other, but that's just me. If you and the others in the band want to be introduced let him know. It should be easy enough to work out.

 

[kdogg]

the audience gonna remember your name?

Exactly. I think it's cheesy, unless your a well known artist showing some appreciation for your less well known backing band.

 

[glocke1]

I've never been into it but most bands i've been in do intros...I find it a little uncomfortable for some reason.

 

[west*coast*bass]

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?

We do it at the end of the night...lead singer introduces everyone as we vamp during the final song, right before the last chorus.

 

[Lava]

I do it, but mostly as filler material. During a killer conga/timbale or guitar solo or a longer breakdown in a tune, I'll intro that musician to start and then just kinda go down the line. I don't recall ever hearing a bad response to a band member intro, so why not.

 

[MobileHolmes]

We usually do on something with a long instrumental section. Anymore, we do it as a second set opener. Singer will also mention names after solos or songs with solos on occasion

 

[selowitch]

Our bandleader does introduce the band and I'm fine with it. I do a silly little bass lick after he speaks my name. A few people applaud. I don't think it's a big deal one way or the other.

 

[Jimmy4string]

I yell out someone's name if they are playing something noticeable throughout the night.
like "Ed Mcmahon on guitar everybody!"

 

[Joedog]

I vote carrots.

 

[Witters]

I find it really embarrassing. Our singer will often say "Big hand for .....on keys/guitar/etc" which is nice for auduence members to show some appreciation if they want to, but sometimes he will make a feature of one of. When it's me I find it embarrassing as I don't think anyone in the audience is bothered, even though it's nice of him to like us enough to want us to get some good feedback! Complicated, innit?

 

[Muddslide]

I yell out someone's name if they are playing something noticeable throughout the night.
like "Ed Mcmahon on guitar everybody!"
View attachment 3133943

Hayyy-ooohhh!!!

 

[Altitude]

Once I saw a singer introduce everyone in the band as Pete Johnson, one by one. None of their names were really Pete Johnson.

 

[Indexed]

Personally, not a fan of being introduced but our BL does it because a rhythm guitarist loves the attention. But lately the BL has been introducing me as "our bassist Indexed, the man Stormy Daniels paid hush money."

 

[klokker]

I'd like to be intoduced but it's never happened. And I usually don't ever think about it at the gig. Just something like "on bass tonight from (name the town etc.) we have ding a ling.

I'll bring it up at our next rehearsal if I remember. My guess is that I'll get laughed at, but that's OK. It's not that big of a deal.

We have a guy that's pretty good talking with the crowd. He has this dumb introduction that starts off our show. Something like, "now, from in your pants productions" we are....................... It's terrible. I mean if we can do that we should be able to introduce the members of the band.

 

[darwin-bass]

Intros are a pointless practice forced on an uninterested audience. People don't care who you are and half the time can't even understand the name due to the music vamp covering it up.

Well, that is my opinion. I may be wrong.

 

[TrevorR]

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.

No they won't. All the audience of a function/party band (really) care about are that the danceable hits keep on coming and that you play a few of their favourites. They really have no interest that it's Nigel on lead guitar, Derek on bass and Mick on drums. If they're drunk enough and your front person is good enough they might do a drunken comedy cheer when each name is called but that's it.

 

[Wesley R]

I always assumed it was a given, at least for the venues I saw bands play.

 

[MYLOWFREQ]

I personally don't care if the band members are introduced or not.. A 'band' band members don't need to be introduced but the band's name. Introducing every member is more of a jam band or singer songwriter thing imo.

 

[lo_freq_geek]

MY BL is hit or miss with intros and I don't care one way or another. The last time he made a big deal with intros there was a woman in the crowd who I hadn't seen in 35 years. She didn't recognize me, but came up when she heard my name. Kinda cool that way I guess,

 

[Shanannigan]

I don't think it matters. In general I would say no to band member intros, because nobody really cares. However if the crowd is rowdy, really into the music, and having a really good time then it can work pretty well to introduce the band members near the peak of the night.