What audiences hate about live musicians

[Wood and Wire]

We'll agree to disagree then @OrvCraig because every live show I've ever attended or every gig I played was made better with audience participation, crowd engagement, and all that stuff. Some of my best memories were shouting along with the crowd and feeling like I was a part of something, like I belonged.

Audience participation for the win! Bands exclaiming "Clap your hands!" or "let's see you make some noise!" is fun and I love it! Yeah, sometimes it might feel try-hard, but I gotta respect them trying hard to get the crowd going. Even if it goes completely wrong, at least it's never boring.

I think this falls under "read the room". If your audience wants more engagement, they'll let you know pretty clearly.

I'll never forget being in some art gallery / venue / bar in Portland, back in 2011, and there was some out of town Indie Rock originals band that nobody had heard of, playing to about 25 people.

Suddenly, during a song they were particularly proud of, their keyboard player launched a PowerPoint presentation from his laptop, synchronised with their additional synth and vocals backing tracks, that displayed the lyrics - replete with a ball bouncing along the top of the relevant lyric, and including vocal "whoa-ooh" bits - projected onto the backdrop.

Five guys crammed onto a tiny stage in the corner of a room full (well, empty actually) of people that couldn't give a crap.

I was with my friend, who was the drummer in another band; and I've never seen anyone in more severe danger of literally having their sides split - she was rolling around on the floor crying with laughter, and gasping for air.

I narrowly avoided pi$$1ng my pants...

Narrowly!

 

[Low End Scum]

Don't know your market, but around DFW most bands already have four hours in the tank. If yours don't, I wouldn't woodshed a band for a couple extra hours over a one-off at that pay scale.

And hauling yourselves and your gear up a mountain road? By itself, maybe not a deal breaker. Stack it with a few other red flags - it's an easy pass.

And weather has a way of showing up uninvited on those roads. After the gig, in the dark, when everyone's tired, it doesn't take much for the drive home to become a local news story.

When I was in DFW we had that, but we doubled as a cover band to shore up more funds for the van/gas/recordings. 3 hours of covers at any given time and 4 hours of original material. This ask was sent to my originals project though so we don't really have any covers save for a 20 minute Audioslave set.

Funny you should mention that, my best friend used to be a lifty up there. Totaled his van on his way into work when he lost traction and slid into oncoming traffic. Very easy to be the latest local news story.

 

[Dincrest]

I'll never forget being in some art gallery / venue / bar in Portland, back in 2011, and there was some out of town Indie Rock originals band that nobody had heard of, playing to about 25 people.

Suddenly, during a song they were particularly proud of, their keyboard player launched a PowerPoint presentation from his laptop, synchronised with their additional synth and vocals backing tracks, that displayed the lyrics - replete with a ball bouncing along the top of the relevant lyric, and including vocal "whoa-ooh" bits - projected onto the backdrop.

Five guys crammed onto a tiny stage in the corner of a room full (well, empty actually) of people that couldn't give a crap.

I was with my friend, who was the drummer in another band; and I've never seen anyone in more severe danger of literally having their sides split - she was rolling around on the floor crying with laughter, and gasping for air.

I narrowly avoided pi$$1ng my pants...

Narrowly!

Now if that was my band, I would have turned THAT audience reaction into a viral moment! Turn chicken poop into chicken soup! Ain't no such thing as bad publicity.

I would be proud to say that I was in the band that literally made someone ROFL!

THAT is winning the Internet!

 

[bass12]

One funny experience, related to what audiences hate. After one of my gigs, an audience member came up to compliment my playing, but she also told me that I seemed to be completely self absorbed. Now this goes against how I think I play, since I'm usually looking out into the audience, making eye contact, interacting with the other players. But I realized she only noticed me during my solos, and indeed, I'm pretty deeply absorbed when I solo, usually trying to manage my technique and figure out what to play next.

And it's not really necessary. I know where my notes are, they're in the same place where I left them. So I'll think about that a little bit more in the future. It might be the first time anybody ever noticed.

That makes me think of how clueless some audience members are regarding solos. Last week during a restaurant gig someone approached the guitarist- who was quite obviously in the middle of a solo - and started having a one-sided conversation with him. I've seen this happen on more than one occasion and I find it equal parts frustrating and hilarious.

 

[pepj]

If a band is good and worth listening to..you shouldn't really have to do too much, imv...because the reaction is instinctive.
Too many bands here sound poor and play average. They are bailed out by playing the same set as everyone else...but it is distinctly more noticeable that more regular music goers actually mention the same set syndrome as a turn off.

 

[Bass4ThePublic]

A couple things bug me

Backing tracks. I understand there’s a use for them, but also understand that I don’t like them

Those influencer types. Especially on the Nashville country scene. Cmon man, I don’t really care about your fill over a Garth Brooks song

People staring at their fretboards kills me.

 

[pepj]

Having the audience in the palm of your hand is a talent..no doubt. Reading the room is also a good skill.
You know the stand out ones when you come across them and they aren't so common because plenty of bands don't have them.

 

[sleddogn]

it has to be fedoras, pretty sure that starts fights nightly

 

[gln1955]

it has to be fedoras, pretty sure that starts fights nightly

Shorts.

No wait, that's not audiences, it's other musicians.

 

[Spectrum]

it has to be fedoras, pretty sure that starts fights nightly

LOL

 

[pepj]

4hrs for $600 is not good money, imv.

Some bands here play extended sets...probably for their own reasons on the day, but no one tenders that price and if the venue tried to dictate those terms the only takers would be the bands without any credence in the market.
The venue might consider that a risk worth taking..

 

[bassdude51]

 

[roccobass]

I think this falls under "read the room". If your audience wants more engagement, they'll let you know pretty clearly.

Not so sure if that worked all the time for GG Allin.