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Cool Stuff To Do On Stage?
- Thread starter MatWoods
- Start date
Hearing this stuff about DJs makes me understand that many of you dont really understand the concept of DJs. With dance DJs , crowds perceive it as a live performance. They see the DJ as the source and creator of all the sounds they hear. Its important for them to see the DJ in position moving around and twiddling his knobs. With the recent changes in digital DJ software like Traktor theres even less for them to do if they choose, in some cases virtually nothing ,with even the playlists prearranged, but the crowd want to think someone is doing something in real time, for them. Bands also need to make the crowd feel that something has been created right then, for them. Good DJs know when its the right time to drop that massive techno bomb track and when its time to slide in some obscure 60s phsychadelic track to keep people dancing according to their taste. A band playing to a crowd needs to interact with the audience to make everyone feel like a part of whats going on. Bad djs and bad bands exclude the audience and make them feel like observers, usually critical observers. Good DJs and good bands make the audience feel like what they're hearing could not have happened without their presence.
Light a huge- I mean huuuugeeeee joint up on stage. Invite Entire crowd up on stage to take a hit. Either you get arrested or you just get a large crowd very high. Either way that's entertaining.
I've done this with the drummer from time to time....
http://youtu.be/Uc4oPqmCbFA
...but i always insist on having them use hot rods!!
http://youtu.be/Uc4oPqmCbFA
...but i always insist on having them use hot rods!!
Freekmagnet
Commercial User
My advice is watch story of the year play a show. The move that impressed me the most was the back flip of the cabs and going right back into playing. Try not to get hurt though.
Well said. Something that a lot of people (me included) need to be reminded of from time to time.
My 16 year old twin brother pulls a stevie ray vaughn and swings his guitar behind his back and plays the afro circus theme, works pretty well! I mostly just kinda stand there and at some heavy points in the song I've turned my bass sideways and a few times when we played career of evil by BOC I just did the entire bassline with only hammer-ons with my strumming/plucking hand in the air. Worked well too, just be creative!
Cut your bass in half with a circular saw. Wave a towel over it and magically put it back together.
This made me laugh, then I noted the source of wit. "Anal Chug" made me laugh, too, and cringe.
What part of Scatbass's statement "Oh - and not to state the obvious, but play the song well while being an entertainer" did you not understand? To me "play the song well while being an entertainer" doesn't imply the music is unimportant at all, quite the opposite Scatbass clearly acknowledges the importance of the music. Ever met a clown, a real one? Or a comedian? Too often they're not taken seriously and yet they work just as hard at their craft as any musician I've met.
Been done, saw Cypress Hill do it at a festival, with a huge inflatable bong, but real joints. I'll just say I was there to see other acts. Well spoken, sir. I once saw a great DJ work the crowd to a feverish pitch, then let the dancers chill and then take them up again even higher. I finally "got" DJs. Best DJ I've ever seen and I'm not a fan of DJs at all. DJ Daddy Vegas should be a household name, if you're into that stuff. First DJ that earned my respect. Alas, I still don't "get" most DJs and the throngs that follow them.
Ladies take note, grow 'em long but do NOT set your beards on fire.
Jaco did it better, and with his four-string.
That would be the Penn Ultimate Trick.
This one usually goes over well.....
Link Removed
But seriously...maybe you and your drummer can work in some variation of this.....
Recently saw a cool video of a drummer hitting the bass strings with his sticks while the bassist's left hand fretted the notes.
You mean this one right? Cool Bass! ^^^ and orangey-gold sparkle drums.
Good choice with the hot rods, And Bob's your uncle...
What part of my statement, "cover bands need to entertain" did YOU not understand?
The difference between my question above and your question is that in the case of your question, there never was a misunderstanding on my part.
Please review the thread, if you think hard enough you might reach a better level of understanding.
Have a great day!
Performance is a key part of a live show.
Very different performances can be successful.
There is no one way to perform.
Watch Harry Conick Jr and Red Hot Chili Peppers.
design your show. choreograph your show. Almost Everything you do on stage is noticed and scrutinized.
Since your a high energy show, do stuff that is high energy.
BUT... also include really mellow moments. These will make your craziness look even crazier by comparison.
How about pick a song that starts with drums, and start the first 4 bars with bouncing basket balls on stage, then roll the drums into that beat and your off and running.
Read a poem just before your fastest song. such as http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/get-drunk/
or any Charles Bukowski stuff would work.
how about wrap your body in those low voltage Christmas lights, turn the stage lights off and play a song like the that.
Play one of your songs with a pick attached to a dremel.
a couple of guys (eddie van halen included) used a pick on a cordless drill, but a dremel is way faster.
Janes Addiction used to use a vibrator to play some solos.
Keep 20 pairs of underwear stuffed in your pants, after each song reach in and pretend to magically pull them off (like zoolander). throw them out into the crowd (clean would prolly be better, but tastes may vary)
Whatever it is, make everyone in your audience say Holy #### that was a sweet show! Those guys were crazy.
By the way, the above techniques do not go over well for chamber music.
Very different performances can be successful.
There is no one way to perform.
Watch Harry Conick Jr and Red Hot Chili Peppers.
design your show. choreograph your show. Almost Everything you do on stage is noticed and scrutinized.
Since your a high energy show, do stuff that is high energy.
BUT... also include really mellow moments. These will make your craziness look even crazier by comparison.
How about pick a song that starts with drums, and start the first 4 bars with bouncing basket balls on stage, then roll the drums into that beat and your off and running.
Read a poem just before your fastest song. such as http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/get-drunk/
or any Charles Bukowski stuff would work.
how about wrap your body in those low voltage Christmas lights, turn the stage lights off and play a song like the that.
Play one of your songs with a pick attached to a dremel.
a couple of guys (eddie van halen included) used a pick on a cordless drill, but a dremel is way faster.
Janes Addiction used to use a vibrator to play some solos.
Keep 20 pairs of underwear stuffed in your pants, after each song reach in and pretend to magically pull them off (like zoolander). throw them out into the crowd (clean would prolly be better, but tastes may vary)
Whatever it is, make everyone in your audience say Holy #### that was a sweet show! Those guys were crazy.
By the way, the above techniques do not go over well for chamber music.
I always go for the power stance/putting my foot on the bass drum or monitor. I have to stay stationary most of the time because we all hit each other onstage more often than not.
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