Do you introduce band members on gigs?

[Runnerman]

Jumping off a bit from the thread asking about stage names....got thinking about how I always introduce the band members during a pause in the action usually about half way through the night. I introduce them by name and their home town...and they do a little flare on their instrument. Usually a fun part of the show and the audience enjoys it. I don't know why I as the bass player always do it...but for some reason it's become my thing.

Wondering if your bands usually do this and if anyone has any unique/creative ways of giving the individual members their due.

 

[AaronVonRock]

I voted "No", but I don't think it's a stupid thing to do.

For our band and our style, I think it's a time killer and slows down the momentum of our set. We try to minimize pauses between songs and have some sort of effect/feedback going on during short pauses so there isn't any dead space.

As an audience member, I usually don't care what the band members' names are, where they are from, or their favorite flavor of ice cream. But if it is done quickly, I guess it is pretty harmless.

 

[BassAndReeds]

We play covers. We introduce the band during a song. Specifically Spice Gurls “wannabe”. Changing the lyrics a little to reflect who we are. Also, single call outs for people. Like “All About The Bass” Megan Trainor, specifically noting yours truly. And guitar solos and such. Not a big deal.

 

[mike o]

Yes, our band leader will say at midpoint I’d like to introduce the band. The band then proceeds to shake each band members hands and share their names like we never met before. Always gets a laugh.

 

[juancaminos]

We did it (do it). We tried a lot of different ways to do it. I prefer "a little flare" rather than a full solo, we're at a bar gig ya know. I have been known to stop playing when introduced then get the audience to agree that the band is nothing with out the bass or some funny banter like that.

 

[Nephilymbass]

Jumping off a bit from the thread asking about stage names....got thinking about how I always introduce the band members during a pause in the action usually about half way through the night. I introduce them by name and their home town...and they do a little flare on their instrument. Usually a fun part of the show and the audience enjoys it. I don't know why I as the bass player always do it...but for some reason it's become my thing.

Wondering if your bands usually do this and if anyone has any unique/creative ways of giving the individual members their due.

For us it’s mainly a way to sorta keep the show going during a Guitar change. I think it’s a little cheesy but I don’t mind it as long as it’s not during certain shows like where we open for national acts and have to hussle through the set. When we open for nationals the talk is mostly focused the band name, getting the crowd to come talk to us after the set, and hyping the other bands

 

[jlbbassist]

we usually do it with about 3 songs left we end a song then go into a rehearsed jam where the singer intros every body and their home town

 

[KohanMike]

My ukulele group does it two ways, when the full contingent of 60 are playing, the leader says to us, "Introduce yourselves." We then shout out our name all at once as a joke. When we have 10 or fewer playing, she introduces each one in between a couple of songs and we say how long we've been playing uke and a little description of our instrument.

 

[soulman969]

Typically yes unless it would be inappropriate or unnecessary to do so.

 

[hrodbert696]

Yes, part of the show. The whole point of live music is that there's something special about the music coming from a real human being rather than prerecorded from an electric box. That being the case, if you're getting any traction with the audience at all, you enhance it by giving them a feeling for who these people are they're listening to.

The usual way we would do it is coming off the tail end of a dance song when the crowd is on their feet and happy. Keep comping the dance groove so they don't sit down, introduce the band one by one, and each can solo for just a bar or two over the groove. Then maybe go back through a final chorus and end it.

There are gigs where you wouldn't do that. Wedding/function gigs are supposed to have the client in the spotlight, not the band, so it wouldn't be called for. But regular bar and club gigs and such, sure.

 

[Old Blastard]

Sometimes we do.
Sometimes we forget.
It's all good.

 

[sean_on_bass]

We have our piano player do a repetitive vamp and the BL will introduce each member and give a little flattering description of each band member. Like for our singer "The little woman with the big voice...Sara!". We do it toward the end of our last set. Seems to work well.

I think bands that don't do it are likely bigger commodity type groups, but we are a down home local group and not a cover band.

 

[Ed Fuqua]

Yes, our band leader will say at midpoint I’d like to introduce the band. The band then proceeds to shake each band members hands and share their names like we never met before. Always gets a laugh.

That's a Dizzy Gillespie routine.

I was gonna say - I generally try to introduce the band members BEFORE the gig....

 

[Need Gigs]

My main one does, we bring it down in the last number and the bandleader introduces each of us in turn. We used to each take a short solo but this hasn't happened for about a month. Makes sense, we're usually a 9-piece

 

[7dollarbologna]

I've been in bands that didn't even introduce the songs - just whip through the set and head for the bar! It's a good way of generating curiosity/dialogue - if someone wants to know about us they'll have to engage us and buy a CD!

 

[gitfiddl]

Yes, our band leader will say at midpoint I’d like to introduce the band. The band then proceeds to shake each band members hands and share their names like we never met before. Always gets a laugh.

We do the same thing. It goes over well.

 

[mellowinman]

If you have an enthusiastic crowd; good sound; and strong performances, you are missing out on a crowd pleasing opportunity when you skip band member introductions. Say, "here's the amazing Bob on guitar," and have Bob play something cool that lasts only a few seconds, repeat for each player.

If you are doing an originals show, or if your crowd is not engaging, absolutely skip band member introductions.

Play to the moment, man.

 

[40Hz]

If the show went well and we felt we had won over the crowd most bands I was in would quickly introduce the band and its members during an up tempo vamp that segued into the final song for the night. We'd also put in a good word for the hosting venue and remind folks (again) to tip the servers. That's just showing common courtesy. Shouldn't go longer than 30-45 seconds top to bottom.

If the evening didn't make us feel we were getting warm fuzzies from the crowd (it happens sometimes despite playing a good show) we'd just mention the band name and do the venue and servers thing instead. (Nothing can do a number on a band's confidence more than introducing each member only to be greeted with a smattering of polite applause - or dead silence. Saw that happen to Grace Potter's band once despite them putting on very fine show. It was pretty excruciating to watch.)

 

[ZachM]

I can go either way, depending on the type of gig and band. It's also genre-specific for me - band member intros are kinda out of place at a metal show, but IMO would be really weird if they didn't happen at a jazz gig.

If it's a solo artist with a hired gun band, I think everyone should be introduced. Doesn't have to be a long, drawn-out thing, but I think it's professional courtesy for the frontman/woman to introduce their band members in those situations.

If you're in an original band where all members have equal standing and ownership, I don't think intros are really that necessary. You're a unit, not a bunch of individuals.

The only time it ever irks me is when some members get introduced but not all. I was in a band for a while where the lead singer regularly left me as the only unfeatured / unintroduced band member, which frankly was really rude and inconsiderate. So don't do that!

 

[SLO Surfer]

All three of my bands have a breakdown section of a specific song where the lead singer thanks the audience and introduces all the band members one by one with a short 2-5 second “solo” on our instruments that people probably can’t hear anyways because they are clapping/cheering. Usually played near or at the end of a set when appropriate.