Members joshmac Posted August 10, 2012 Members Share Posted August 10, 2012 After each song you play, what do you do? Do you wait for people to clap and say "Thank You"? Do you acknowledge them with banter between each and every song? What do you do in the time BETWEEN the tunes? Ive been doing a lot of duo shows recently and im really starting ti make everything flow. I do two songs back to back and then pause for a few seconds of interaction. Once or twice throughout the set I will have a longer crowd interaction part. I tend to single out tables with witty conversation or tell a funny story. Introducing songs is sometimes cool too. What do YOU do? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members stunningbabe Posted August 10, 2012 Members Share Posted August 10, 2012 It all depends. Not every show will you get the same crowd....so you have to change and react in real time. takes a lotta experience...I tell ya! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Sgt. Rock Posted August 10, 2012 Members Share Posted August 10, 2012 Maybe 15 seconds max. between songs, unless someone drums up a conversation with me or I'm making fun of someone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Potts Posted August 10, 2012 Members Share Posted August 10, 2012 Some gigs I interact like crazy and it's more of a "show" and I get to tell stories and introduce songs and stuff. Many of the other gigs are just too silent between songs even though people are into it. I can crank through 5-10 songs without any break in between. I'm usually trying to figure out the next song a few minutes into the song I'm playing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members MDLMUSIC Posted August 10, 2012 Members Share Posted August 10, 2012 If the audience applauds, I thank them, then launch into my next song. Nothing is weirder to me than an entertainer who thanks the audience when no one has shown their appreciation. If a song requires some sort of setup (like putting on a prop), I'll talk while I'm preparing, then go right into the song. I try to keep the between song times fairly short (10 to 15 seconds), so I don't lose the flow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Potts Posted August 10, 2012 Members Share Posted August 10, 2012 If a song requires some sort of setup (like putting on a prop) Prop? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Telecruiser Posted August 10, 2012 Members Share Posted August 10, 2012 Maybe 15 seconds max. between songs, unless someone drums up a conversation with me or I'm making fun of someone. I have taken a few minutes between songs. I like to establish a banter between myself and the crowd. I have little jokes and gags. Sometimes I'll play a number of songs in a row, it depends. If the crowd is feeling conversive I take advantage of it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members donkey 12 Posted August 10, 2012 Members Share Posted August 10, 2012 We always pause between songs, but the extent to which we chat or provide historical context (I am a historian, we play a lot of early Blues music, and are often asked to include an educational dynamic) varies with each performance. For some performances, I talk more than I play, for others, I mostly just play music. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members joshmac Posted August 10, 2012 Author Members Share Posted August 10, 2012 I play two weekly duo shows and Ive found that stopping briefly to even make eye contact and smile between songs works wonders. My philosophy is minimal dead air. If Im not playing music, I am talking. It is a real art to get it so that it doesnt seem like youre rushing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Telecruiser Posted August 10, 2012 Members Share Posted August 10, 2012 I play two weekly duo shows and Ive found that stopping briefly to even make eye contact and smile between songs works wonders. My philosophy is minimal dead air. If Im not playing music, I am talking. It is a real art to get it so that it doesnt seem like youre rushing. Right on! I see so many single and duo acts that don't get this. The guy I saw last week had good material for songs but had zero personality between them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators daddymack Posted August 10, 2012 Moderators Share Posted August 10, 2012 Prop? yeah, unlike Mike McL, MDL plays in costumes, hats, headpieces, odd instruments...I still have yet to go see him (my bad! He came to see our band once), but over the years he has posted some pics...ask him about the cheese guitar Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Mike McLaughlin Posted August 10, 2012 Members Share Posted August 10, 2012 yeah, unlike Mike McL, MDL plays in costumes Hey! I use a hat sometimes, LOL! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Potts Posted August 10, 2012 Members Share Posted August 10, 2012 I'm with you guys about interacting with the audience because that's a good chunk of my show. But if you don't have the type of crowd that's "communicating" that night, there is nothing worse that trying to force the talking, comedy or banter thing. There is also nothing worse than no applause after a song ends. On nights like that when I'm just musical wallpaper, I'll string as many tunes as I can together. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Potts Posted August 10, 2012 Members Share Posted August 10, 2012 yeah, unlike Mike McL, MDL plays in costumes, hats, headpieces, odd instruments...I still have yet to go see him (my bad! He came to see our band once), but over the years he has posted some pics...ask him about the cheese guitar Cool..I'd like to see some of those! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members MDLMUSIC Posted August 12, 2012 Members Share Posted August 12, 2012 Cool..I'd like to see some of those! Go to my website that's in my sig...there are a couple of pics of me in various costumes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Potts Posted August 12, 2012 Members Share Posted August 12, 2012 Go to my website that's in my sig...there are a couple of pics of me in various costumes. Awesome! You're a man of many hats! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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