Solo and Duo Acts

[deepflight]

One of the things I like to do when performing is to try to get the audience to sing along with me.  So I found this article pretty interesting: http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2012/07/sing-along-songs/

(If you are interested in that sort of thing, here's the actual paper the researchers wrote: http://www.doc.gold.ac.uk/~mas03dm/papers/PawleyMullensiefen_Singalong_2012.pdf)

Some of what they say seems pretty obvious to me, like the observation that people are more likely to sing along on high energy songs.  Do any of you have suggestions on things that make a good sing along, or things that you do to encourage people to sing along?  One thing I will do if the situation is appropriate is to outright tell the audience that I want them to sing along.  

[Bobby1Note]

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deepflight wrote:

One of the things I like to do when performing is to try to get the audience to sing along with me.  So I found this article pretty interesting: http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2012/07/sing-along-songs/

(If you are interested in that sort of thing, here's the actual paper the researchers wrote: http://www.doc.gold.ac.uk/~mas03dm/papers/PawleyMullensiefen_Singalong_2012.pdf)

Some of what they say seems pretty obvious to me, like the observation that people are more likely to sing along on high energy songs.  Do any of you have suggestions on things that make a good sing along, or things that you do to encourage people to sing along?  One thing I will do if the situation is appropriate is to outright tell the audience that I want them to sing along.  

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I absolutely agree with that approach, in fact, I always bring a mixer that has enough channels, and spare mics, to do specifically that. It's a great way to break the ice.

For me, it's fairly easy to create an opportunity by singing a song with a very familiar chorus. You'll usually spot somebofy in the crowd, mouthing the lyrics in synch with you. That's when I look them squarely in the eyes, as if it's just me and them in the room, and let 'er rip. They'll usually sing their hearts out, and the next thing you know, their friends are joining in. It's always great fun, and at the scheduled end of the night, they just want to keep going. I love those gigs.

[J.Paul]

good thread There are always things like : ~they know (and sing) the FIRST verse to "shook me all night long" but not the second one ~ they sing the double turnaround to "Summer of 69" after the 1st chorus (instead of the 2nd)... just play along and milk it. ~ the concept as a whole is bigger than just "singing along". People want to be reactive and interactive. ask them a question - they answer say something funny - they laugh mention the local football (or sports) team that won - they cheer sing something easy that they know (and like or are "supposed to like")- they sing along yadayadayada

[J.Paul]

WRIITEN IN RICH TEXT THIS TIME man I hate the new code for the site~ it's supposed to look like this :

good thread

There are always things like :

~they know (and sing) the FIRST verse to "shook me all night long" but not the second one

~ they sing the double turnaround to "Summer of 69" after the 1st chorus (instead of the 2nd)... just play along and milk it.

~ the concept as a whole is bigger than just "singing along".People want to be reactive and interactive.

ask them a question- they answer say

something funny - they laugh

mention the local football (or sports) team that won - they cheer

sing something easy that they know (and like or are "supposed to like")- they sing along

yadayadayada

[Weird Uncle Tim]

Going to start a new gig soon where there is a large screen on the stage behind me. I can project lyrics via OnSong and I hope this will encourage singing along. According to your article, I am doing it all wrong for sing alongs. My songs are not particularly high energy, and my audience is decidedly older and not single. But...I always see people mouthing the words and/or singing along out loud. I play solo acoustic and stick to the classics (old and new).

[doezer]

id love to see you guys setlists .! what are the ten best singling tunes for example?

on another note. i sing in a relatively high key. often just one or two down from originals.. i firstly d i get the best vocal sound that way... but i think that causes problems for sing along maybe. i was playing in a house party with friends recently and they couldn't sing along so i had to drop they three or four semi tones and then they did... but i would hate to do that for gigs cos then my voice won't sound too good thru the pa...

[RoadRanger]

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doezer wrote:
i was playing in a house party with friends recently and they couldn't sing along so i had to drop they three or four semi tones and then they did... but i would hate to do that for gigs cos then my voice won't sound too good thru the pa...

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Sometimes it ain't about you - eh? 

[doezer]

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RoadRanger wrote:

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doezer wrote:
i was playing in a house party with friends recently and they couldn't sing along so i had to drop they three or four semi tones and then they did... but i would hate to do that for gigs cos then my voice won't sound too good thru the pa...

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Sometimes it ain't about you - eh? 

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hi there..

yes your right..   does that mean  you do actually do your tunes in a key that doesnt suit you??? 

do you do that?   maybe your right thats whats gotta happen... its just when you do another type gig where they are all up on the dancefloor then you need the vocal coming thru so have to go back to the higher key too?!   uugghh.. sounds messy is all..  i was gonna do a thread on this actually..  asking do people purposely keep their keys in the lowere registers so folks can sing along...?

[RoadRanger]

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doezer wrote:

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RoadRanger wrote:

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doezer wrote:
i was playing in a house party with friends recently and they couldn't sing along so i had to drop they three or four semi tones and then they did... but i would hate to do that for gigs cos then my voice won't sound too good thru the pa...

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Sometimes it ain't about you - eh? 

yes your right..   does that mean  you do actually do your tunes in a key that doesnt suit you??? 

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I don't sing lead - plus I'd be the guy singing the bass line in Doo-Wop LOL. Our singer has a faily low voice for a female - we have dropped a song three half-steps so she could sing it - so if/when we ever do play out I don't think it will be an issue LOL .

[daddymack]

you could always modulate a key change into the song for the singalong...or...make them do it in your key...I mean, for the most part, they are just going to be making noise anyway, right? I doubt it will make a difference to the audience what key you are in...

[steve mac]

I encourage sing a longs, but would never change a key that's comfy for me to help out the crowd, nor give a member of the audience a mike to sing with, for me that's a whole different act.
With regards to the songs, I don't think that you can rely on any songs as bankers with the exception of Sweet Caroline, it's a phenomena, it just works everytime. I remember playing Lazy Sunday Afternoon by the Small Faces for the first time, thinking I wonder if anyone will remember this one and being blown away by everyone not only joining in but knowing all the words, probably better than me. Sometimes it's just a couple of words that they will sing for example "The Oasis" in Friends in Low Places (although to be fair that's not that well known) and with songs like that I find that by simply stopping singing/playing at that point the crowd will be encouraged to fill in the gaps.
I am just learning Drift Away specifically to have the crowd sing the chorus.
Cheers Steve