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How do you get them to dance?

B

Bass2Go

Jul 3, 2007
2
0
#1
We've been together for about 4 years and have learned to play many songs and have gigged about 6 times. How do you get the audience to dance? We are playing to a teen-aged to 40's crowd? What songs have worked out best for you to get the audience rocking?
 
#6
Disco. All signs point to disco.

That, or obnoxiously loud rap and reggaeton (or however you spell that), and sometimes reggae.

In other words, dance music. Having loud kick and bass help, and so does having an audience that's been drinking. I've found that prime dancing hours are between 10:30 and closing time. My cover band doesn't bother playing much dance music before then, since even the mighty "I Will Survive" fails to bring people on the floor if it's too early.
 
#10
Bass2Go said:
We've been together for about 4 years and have learned to play many songs and have gigged about 6 times. How do you get the audience to dance? We are playing to a teen-aged to 40's crowd? What songs have worked out best for you to get the audience rocking?
Click to expand...
mitch ryder never fails ,but a good uptempo song that most know.....sometimes the front guy can do a springsteen if there are no jealous bf/gf issues.....check out the venues when you are not working and see what songs work
 
#11
Beg or bribe a dozen of the hottest girls you can find to go out there and start dancing first. Pay them if you have to (or at least buy them a drink). It works.

As far as go-to tunes:

- Mustang Sally
- Brown Eyed Girl
- Play That Funky Music

Or for the slow dancers:

- Stand By Me
- Wonderful Tonight

Even more important than getting people on the dance floor, is keeping them there.
 
#12
Mustang Sally or any line dance songs are great
you can never go wrong with Brick House or any other funk-like KC Sunshine Band songs.
Smoking in the Boy's Room, TnT..metal will get them fired up too.
slow wise
Wonderful Tonight, Don't Close Your Eyes, Goodbye Time seem to be popular or maybe some older slow metal songs.

this is coming from a line dancer and a person who likes to dance while not playing.
 
#18
The absolute, positive best thing that can happen to your band on a "slow" night is for a big ol' bachelorette party to come through the door. We've had that happen to us a couple of times and it has totally turned the night around. If that happens, do whatever you have to to keep those ladies in the club and dancing as long as possible.

Or, what MnAirhead said.
 

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