Members zekmoe Posted July 29, 2009 Members Share Posted July 29, 2009 I haven't played in a cover band in years, but am again, and have been reading lots about it. Mostly over the last 10-20 years, I've played in original music bands that had stages or at least some barrier between the crowd and band. But I see all the cover band pics, where the girls (mostly, thank gawd) are right there in between the players, dancing, tamboreening, sometimes singing etc. I played in a cover band in the 80's and though we played enough dancable music, I don't remember this phenomenon. When did this start happening? When did the band and the crowd become one? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members GCDEF Posted July 29, 2009 Members Share Posted July 29, 2009 I haven't played in a cover band in years, but am again, and have been reading lots about it. Mostly over the last 10-20 years, I've played in original music bands that had stages or at least some barrier between the crowd and band. But I see all the cover band pics, where the girls (mostly, thank gawd) are right there in between the players, dancing, tamboreening, sometimes singing etc. I played in a cover band in the 80's and though we played enough dancable music, I don't remember this phenomenon. When did this start happening? When did the band and the crowd become one? Probably when wireless became popular and affordable. It's fun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members zekmoe Posted July 29, 2009 Author Members Share Posted July 29, 2009 Probably when wireless became popular and affordable. It's fun. I probably wasn't clear. When did the crowd coming up to the band, not the band going into the crowd, become popular? Just walking up to you while you're playing and dancing and singing into your mic? Seems to be standard in alot of the pics being posted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members LightingPimp Posted July 29, 2009 Members Share Posted July 29, 2009 While we dont always encourage it and depending on alot of places where we play there is little to NO room so it happens. if we have a stage thats taller then 8" ( just a 2x8 platform laid out covered in plywood ) which is the above pictured stage layout. And its normally just one ... two songs that they do it on. Most of the time its the regular groupie type that do it cause they let them do it . I always cringe when they get up there waiting to here mics knocked over , cords unplugged , or god forbid the chicks that stand on the drum riser ( or BASS & FRONTMAN ) as above i picture the drummer and them all going WIPEOUT. ( i make a practice of punching out all mics other then the leadsingers during these events of mayhem to keep the yelling in the songs or feed back if the try to get all fancy ) It also makes for one helluva fun time by all involved in the mayhem ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members georgestrings Posted July 29, 2009 Members Share Posted July 29, 2009 Yeah, we get some chicks up there shakin it sometimes - makes for a fun evening... - georgestrings Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Hegmatronicon Posted July 29, 2009 Members Share Posted July 29, 2009 I probably wasn't clear. When did the crowd coming up to the band, not the band going into the crowd, become popular? Just walking up to you while you're playing and dancing and singing into your mic? Seems to be standard in alot of the pics being posted. I dont know - but it {censored}s me sometimes. Random ppl grabbing my mic and yelling into it....or people stepping on my pedals and leads....usually because they are drunk. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members tim_7string Posted July 29, 2009 Members Share Posted July 29, 2009 This seems to happen to me more when there is no stage, where we are just set up on the floor in a corner somewhere. I dunno, I guess that 'barrier' doesn't appear to exist for some people and they just come right up into the band area. I don't mind hot chicks doing it, but unfortunately, it's usually overly-excited dudes that want to sing with the band during a song. Ugh! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members chadd Posted July 29, 2009 Members Share Posted July 29, 2009 I probably wasn't clear. When did the crowd coming up to the band, not the band going into the crowd, become popular? Just walking up to you while you're playing and dancing and singing into your mic? Seems to be standard in alot of the pics being posted. A lot of people have an attitude of entitlement. Even if they don't have any talent, they expect to be part of the show. Your band can be average, but if you let them get up and yell with you, or if you let them think they are actually playing along, you will become more popular with those people. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members twostone Posted July 29, 2009 Members Share Posted July 29, 2009 Probably when metal bands allowed stage diving. Then it spilled over in to the bar scenes and biker bars that encourage drunk women to come up and strip on the stage while the band plays. Did a few bars like that. Bikers bars can get pretty mean and nasty sometimes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members zekmoe Posted July 29, 2009 Author Members Share Posted July 29, 2009 Yea, it looks both fun and dangerous at the same time. I'm waiting to see the pic of the drunk chick who impaled herself on a cymbal stand. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members A_Gitarman Posted July 29, 2009 Members Share Posted July 29, 2009 Y...I'm waiting to see the pic of the drunk chick who impaled herself on a cymbal stand. ...or one who tripped on the mic stand and knocked out your Bass players front tooth (happened to the Bassist in my cover band) . Thankfully, most of the places we play have a proper stage. But, I've also noticed that the drunks seem more and more comfortable these days making themselves a part of the show. I think it has a lot to do with our 'constantly connected' lifestyle. People are used to being able to immediately share everything with their friends/ family via email, text messaging, cell phone/ digital cameras, etc.... if some drunk gets up on stage & makes an ass of themselves, their pictures is more likely to end up on the bands website, their friends camera/ phone, MySpace, etc.... "look at me!" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members GCDEF Posted July 29, 2009 Members Share Posted July 29, 2009 I probably wasn't clear. When did the crowd coming up to the band, not the band going into the crowd, become popular? Just walking up to you while you're playing and dancing and singing into your mic? Seems to be standard in alot of the pics being posted. All I can speak for is my band. We do the more roaming around in the crowd thing. In some sing along type songs the singer walks around with the mic and gives people in the audience a line or two to sing with the band. In the crowd picture I posted where people were on stage, I guess I instigated that. There were people up front singing along and I just told them to come up and sing into the mic. One thing led to another and a good time was had by all. Other than an occasional drunk, we don't get people just coming on stage uninvited. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members sickman Posted July 29, 2009 Members Share Posted July 29, 2009 Is this another one of those jam night/open mic threads? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members jeff42 Posted July 29, 2009 Members Share Posted July 29, 2009 saturday at an outside restaurant gig we played an older gentleman decided to walk up to the stage area and "help us" sing Mustang Sally. (yeah yeah I know mustang sally sux...) After that he stood there and bugged us to play Kansas city so he can sing with us... we did it even though none of us knew it but it was funny. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members J.Paul Posted July 29, 2009 Members Share Posted July 29, 2009 Good thread this is one of the most annoying things about playing live.... they just seem entitled sometimes it's a little more tolerable when they're naked or half undresses Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members ckcondon Posted July 29, 2009 Members Share Posted July 29, 2009 We'll invite some girls on stage for a couple of specific songs, but other than that we discourage anyone from invading our space. Dudes are not welcome unless they are someone we know and have asked them to sit in! It's tough when the only thing separating the crowd from the band is the monitors! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members J.Paul Posted July 29, 2009 Members Share Posted July 29, 2009 not sure which is worse them jumping up onstage or just plain ole ignoring you Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members fenderbender66 Posted July 29, 2009 Members Share Posted July 29, 2009 When did this start happening? When did the band and the crowd become one? Ever since Guitar Hero hit the streets. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators BATCAT Posted July 29, 2009 Moderators Share Posted July 29, 2009 Sometimes when my band ends up playing some crappy little place with no stage and no monitors, we'll just set up spread out over the room instead of on the "stage". It's fun! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members wheresgrant3 Posted July 29, 2009 Members Share Posted July 29, 2009 We've always encouraged it. It started with us years ago when we would play small bars and it seemed ridiuclous to have this invisible wall up. It was much easier to feed off the energy of the crowd instead of playing to a bunch of wallflowers. When we started playing larger rooms we kept chicks coming onstage as party of our show. It makes us accessible and keeps people coming back again and again to see us. And when a venue won't allow us to bring people onstage, we reach right out and get down with the crowd. [YOUTUBE]77adajHaizM[/YOUTUBE] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members jmondabass Posted July 29, 2009 Members Share Posted July 29, 2009 We have a few songs that we play where we invite girls on stage with us. Girls only of course. "Gimme Gimme":eek: girls are always welcome in my book.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members zekmoe Posted July 30, 2009 Author Members Share Posted July 30, 2009 From all the pics it seems fun, but also seems a big chance to have your pedalboard stepped on/ruined, someone poked with a guitar part, some wires ripped out and a loud BUZZ attacking the PA, and all sorts of other logistical stuff. I also wonder if you increase the chance of a fight when you say yes to one person (hot chick) and no to another (guy or obnoxiously drunk chick). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members DLR_41 Posted July 30, 2009 Members Share Posted July 30, 2009 Probably when metal bands allowed stage diving. Then it spilled over in to the bar scenes and biker bars that encourage drunk women to come up and strip on the stage while the band plays. Did a few bars like that. Bikers bars can get pretty mean and nasty sometimes. My LORD, the truth in this statement! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members tlbonehead Posted July 30, 2009 Members Share Posted July 30, 2009 It was the norm way back to the 70s from my personal gigging experience. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members drewl Posted July 30, 2009 Members Share Posted July 30, 2009 We encourage it as soon you half a bunch of hottie's dancing and grinding you while playing, in various states of undress.The only problem is when they knock over the beer. This is why I don't use vintage pedals at gigs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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