Do you introduce band members on gigs?

[ELG60]

I'm more partial to Lenny Clark's old line:
We're (name of band). If you like us, tell your friends. If your friends like us...
Get some new friends.

 

[RichardW]

We tend to call out individuals throughout the set on a per song basis: "Our bass player Richard is singing lead on this next tune" (which usually prompts a rush at the bar). We intro the whole band on either the penultimate or final song. Lately that's been during the outro on Stevie Wonder's "I Wish."

 

[DirtDog]

We'd do off the cuff stuff. Like after a song with a killer solo, the frontman would say something like - "that was __________ ____________ soloing on the Fender Electric Guitar" or if I was wandering offstage like I used to: "and in the red corner, weighing in at 245lbs, the Beast of the East, ________ _________ on the bass guitar". Quick acknowledgement, no solo. I was skinnier back then! Over the course of the night, everyone got a mention.

We never did the round robin thing of breaking down, announce name, 4-bar solo thing. Overdone and cliché.

 

[ThudThudThud]

I like introductions as part of the inter-song patter from the frontman/woman. It's also good over a long intro or outtro to a song (if timed properly), but I don't like solos as part of it.

There. I said it.

 

[shawshank72]

No.

 

[two fingers]

My favorite way of doing it is to introduce an individual member right after that person did something cool.

So, instead of going through the whole band at any given one time, take care of it throughout the night.

Maybe after our drummer sings a song that gets a good crowd reaction, we will give him a shout out. Then if we break down a blues song and let the guitar player have some, about the time it gets loud again we mention him.

If it's a casual bar gig, I will give myself a different name every few minutes just to see if anyone is paying attention. I used the name of another local musician once (an old friend of mine). The next day local social media blew up with the "scandal" that I was claiming to be the other guy. So these days, at least once per show if I did something that gets applause I'll announce "Thank you so much. My name is NOT (enter his name here)."

It's music, usually in bars. It's not tax preparation or court where everything is rules. Relax. Do it if you feel like it. Don't if you don't.

 

[rtslinger]

My new singer has cut it down to Hi I'm Tom and we're the PHOENIXBAND sometimes he will mention other band members after say a solo
but nothing to a point of stopping the show.

 

[Engle]

We tend to call out individuals throughout the set on a per song basis: "Our bass player Richard is singing lead on this next tune" (which usually prompts a rush at the bar). We intro the whole band on either the penultimate or final song. Lately that's been during the outro on Stevie Wonder's "I Wish."

We just started playing I Wish and I was thinking of doing exactly that.

 

[JRA]

part of the show, but often done when something needs to be 'fixed', resolved, changed, etc.

 

[TeamScorpioRI]

We used to use the breakdown in "Uptown Funk" to introduce the band. It got a little tired after a while so we mention band members names throughout the gig with stories. Like we would say "This next song was co-written by several of Tom's tinder dates, 3 of which are actually here tonight" and then go into You Ought To Know.

 

[Slevage]

Yes, but I tell them not to shake hands on stage when I introduce them to each other.

 

[darkestsun]

Yes i do. This fits well with the stage names thread i started earlier this week. It is part of our thing, we are the Born Outcasts, and i always introduce us, my name is Homeless Dave.

 

[Richland123]

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 that same "schtick" and people get a chuckle out of it.

 

[TKnights]

Yes . But the names would vary depending on the venue .

 

[Bunk McNulty]

Our BL introduces us on the last song of the night, Ike & Tina's version of
"Proud Mary." We bring the groove way down, and she does a very conventional intro--instrument, name. Unless she's feeling really good. A couple weeks ago I was introduced as "On bass, our very own D2, from Northampton Massachusetts, where all the women are STRONG!" (Reference to Smith College. Google it yourself to find out what she's talking about.)

 

[Billy C.]

ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS, INTRODUCE your band members! The audience REALLY DOES CARE!! They also like to know WHERE each member is from! IF you expect to go over AND you are PROUD of the work you ALL have put into the band, I highly suggest you take a few seconds and introduce yourselves!! After all, You POST everything under the sun on Social Media about yourselves, WHY would you not tell the people WHO you are by name, when performing LIVE?????? DO IT, it really DOES make a POSITIVE Difference!!!

 

[MD Stingray]

No, but it is not stupid. Bit weird to add that to the "no" choice.

 

[Joedog]

It's a good way to fill some dead air time (broken string, whatever). I'm always stunned at the positive response. It must be the alcohol....LOL.

 

[Plectrum72]

Usually extend the intro to the 2nd or 3rd song of set 1 and introduce the band over the intro.

 

[Bassist4Eris]

I always introduce my band. I would agree that it's more appropriate in some genres than others. We play funk fusion, and I think it's kind of expected.

One night I tried something different. I told the audience that everyone always introduces their band by who the members are and what they play, and I told them that I thought that was boring. So, I said, tonight we'll introduce the members by who they are not, and what they do not play. "Seated behind me, this is not Britney Spears, and he does not play Monopoly..." Yeah, it was pretty stupid.