"Dumbing Down" Set so Headliner Sounds Better

[bassliner50]

I would play my best, but be careful to play repertoire and style different from the headliner. Don't lower your art or performance, just keep it separate and differentiate it from the the headliners Shtick.

 

[lz4005]

What if Hendrix had gone on BEFORE The Who at Montery?
Who knows. But Jimi DID say that he had to follow The Who, he was gonna pull out all the stops!

He also opened for the Monkeys on a US tour. Scared the crap out of the tween girls in the audience.
The headliners, on the other hand, stood at the side of the stage every night with big smiles on their faces.

That said, on one of my current band's first gigs we opened for another band made up of friends of ours. During the changeover one of them passed me carrying his amp on stage and said "gee, thanks" because he knew we had blown them out. Then he winked and we laughed about it later.

 

[JKB1957]

I'd rather have people say that the opening act killed it, but the headliner was meh, than the other way around. Play full out and have no regrets. Keep the groove.

 

[JohnnyBottom]

Nobody cares except maybe the other band.
We've played shows where our opening act killed it.
Tight, had the crowd roaring, on thier feet etc..
By the time we came on, nothing matters except whats
going on at that moment. Don't hold back at all.

 

[unbridled]

I guess we were just over thinking it. We've all done our fair share of opening and headlining. I guess the only difference is the added dimension of the shared guitarist and the knowledge that their set is weaker.

Full on it is.

 

[Old Garage-Bander]

Whoa dude. Check out the guitar player for the headliner. He so cool that he’ll even play along with the opening band.

 

[lermgalieu]

I think it takes a certain kind of arrogance to assume you are going to blow them away and "hold back" as a favor. Don't assume anything. Give it your all. Don't go off what your lead player says.

 

[mellowinman]

If I were the headliner, I would want my opener to do their best. If they were using my sound crew/gear, I would want them to sound their best.

I realize that's not how the world of performers goes all the time, but in theory, it's the way to be: professional at all times; best effort by all.

 

[two fingers]

TO me, a show is a job.

When I do a job, ANY job, I put MY name on it. MY reputation is on the line.

I will do my best, period.

I'm not phoning in any show. If a wedding band calls me to fill in, and the set is comprised of Mustang Sally, Brown Eyed Girl, Brickhouse type songs, I'm STILL gonna play the ever loving crap out of every single note. Every note.

Relax. Knock their socks off.

 

[Redaxes]

Give it your best....
You are playing to give you exposure.
Maybe soon somebody will be opening for you.

 

[packhowitzer]

Zeppelin blew Iron Butterfly out of the water when they were still trying to make it.

On October 15, 1968, Led Zeppelin, made up of Page, Plant, Jones and Bonham, made it’s official debut at Surrey University. The

group began touring the US, backing up such headliners as Vanilla Fudge, and The MC5 shortly thereafter. Instantaneous recognition followed. The groups popularity was soaring. On January 31, ’69, Led Zeppelin opened for Iron Butterfly, then one of the world’s biggest bands. Led Zeppelin received such a resounding approval from the audience, which Doug Ingle, lead singer for Iron Butterfly decided to scrap the show. Reasons being are that Iron Butterfly was afraid that they can’t produce such an effect on their crowd… in their own concert…in which they are headlining.

just saying....

 

[onda'bass]

No!! You give 100% regardless. Ymmv

 

[PhinDude]

Play like it's your last gig!

 

[Nev375]

So, to paraphrase... you are basically wondering if you should suck a little bit ...on purpose.


Well, I wouldn't.

 

[fhm555]

Seems to me the primary purpose of the opening act is to prime the pump, so prime the effin pump.
Most headliners broke out by being exceptional openers, your boss is trying to help you, don’t let them down by delivering a halfassed performance.
Do them proud so next year they can brag at the MTV Music Awards about introducing you to the world, but don't be surprised if they snipe your guitar player.
Welcome to the Jungle.

 

[groooooove]

you do your best show.

a headliner who wants you to not play your best set for their benefit is not worth working with.

I've had sets where the headliner set they can't follow us anymore - they meant it literally, they would not hire us anymore - but also as a compliment, that we were such high energy and the audience loved it so much they had a hard time following us. it was more that "this match is off" than anything else. nothing wrong with that

but you come to kill. they're a headliner (presumably) for a reason - they paid their dues following all sorts of acts. I've played jazz sets after hardcore thrash metal bands leave the stage - it made me a better musician.

 

[Charlzm]

Here is what is going on in a nutshell:

The headliner borrowed the lead player from my band for a decent sized (maybe 1000 people) show. Our band is opening for the headliner. Our lead player says our show is better than the headliner and his group.

We're having a moral dilemma about making our set less stellar so the headliner sounds better. We aren't going to purposeley mess up, but are reconsidering song choice, energy level, etc.

I say that we should throw everything at the audience like we normally do and to let the headliner sink or swim, even though he's paying us.

Thoughts?

They're not paying you to suck, right?

 

[gln1955]

Our lead player says our show is better than the headliner and his group.

Maybe it is, maybe it isn't. Maybe it's just different and your guitatirst doesn't like the headliners material.

Everyone needs to do everything they can to put on a kick ass show and not worry about it.

 

[DirtDog]

Bingo. If they're the headliner it's on them to outshine you, not you to shine less for them.

+1 on that

 

[MDBass]

Here is what is going on in a nutshell:

The headliner borrowed the lead player from my band for a decent sized (maybe 1000 people) show. Our band is opening for the headliner. Our lead player says our show is better than the headliner and his group.

We're having a moral dilemma about making our set less stellar so the headliner sounds better. We aren't going to purposeley mess up, but are reconsidering song choice, energy level, etc.

I say that we should throw everything at the audience like we normally do and to let the headliner sink or swim, even though he's paying us.

Thoughts?

Play at 100%

The folks who buy tickets to your show deserve no less

This is the ONLY answer.

The headliner will already be getting better lighting and sound than you will.