JPF Home Page Forums General Messages General Message Forum Showmanship or Showwomanship

I've been watching a show about Harry Houdini on the history channel and started thinking about what a showman and self promotion genius he was. As musicians we must follow the same traits when we do live gigs.I haven't played live in three years but when I did I was totally unsure of myself and depended on my music to get by. I would tell some lame jokes occasionlly but that didn't help. It also depends on the venue. My last job was at an irish restuarant and pub. I told them that I don't do "Danny Boy" or "Tura Lora Lora" (sic) so they wanted to hear Gordon Lightfoot. Go figure. The point is that some people have a natural tendency to make an audience comfortible and others don't. I have two friends who are a Bluegrass duo (Guitar and Banjo) who constantly get gigs at major hotels (Ritz Charlton for example) because they not only play music but they entertain the audience as well.These guys actually heckle the audience. I would like to read some live gig horror stories and how you handle hecklers and drunks. I remember a Doc Watson live album when a guy in the audience yelled "Crank it up" I've seen Doc live before and I Know he is very acute to sound quality and detail. He retorted "I remember my first beer too boy"

Here's a few threads you might want to check out ....

Maybe this one will draw some new answers as well.

http://www.jpfolks.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Board=2&Number=152072&Searchpage=1&Main=17469&Words=%26quot%3Bgig+stories%26quot%3B&topic=0&Search=true#Post152072

http://www.jpfolks.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Board=2&Number=169335&Searchpage=1&Main=19589&Words=%26quot%3Bstories%26quot%3B&topic=0&Search=true#Post169335

http://www.jpfolks.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Board=3&Number=173068&Searchpage=3&Main=20522&Words=%26quot%3Bstories%26quot%3B&topic=0&Search=true#Post173068

http://www.jpfolks.com/forum/ubbthr...s&topic=0&Search=true#Post168048

http://www.jpfolks.com/forum/ubbthr...s&topic=0&Search=true#Post167812

http://www.jpfolks.com/forum/ubbthr...s&topic=0&Search=true#Post191163

Thanks Marty, I should have realized that this was a subject that has been well worn over but I am still interested in other peoples methods of taking an audience.

http://www.jpfolks.com/forum/ubbthr...y&topic=0&Search=true#Post132919

Another good one here. This topic has been good for testing some of the search functions in response to the other thread on whether search was working.

Glad I could help

I cut them down verbally, and if that doesn't work I kick their ass in front of everyone! {sadly I'm not kidding!}

I treat them like people and try to show them a good time. Gets better results than kicking their ass, in my experience. Sells more CDs, too.

I would worry about my expensive Martin guitar being damaged. All kidding aside I think the proprietor would take care of things unless they don't give a damn. As far as kicking their ass BC judging from your picture I think you could do it.So remind me to never heckle you.

Shandy, I do also { like to show people a good time} and after 20+ years, I like to think I pretty good at it! But there always seems to be "one in every crowd". As a Solo act I play a lot of smaller "intimate" venues that don't employ bouncers, and sometimes the proprieter isn't there either, so often times the only thing between me and an obnoxiuos heckler {or violent drunk } is a 100 lb female bartender. I've also had to rescue my wife a few times from would-be "suiters" who would'nt take no for an answer!
Ben, You'd think that my being 6'3, 280 lbs and scary-looking would be a deterrent, but liquid courage does amazing things to some people, and for some reason some drunks are more enboldened to mess with a solo act, than an entire band. That said, I find that verbal humiliation usually does the trick..By my estimate, I've had to resort to violence maybe 10 times in over 6,ooo gigs,{10 times too many!} so it's NOT something I make a habit of!

BC, I meant that in a jokingly manor. I have seen your expierience and totally respect you. I do apprieate your input on how to handle these misfits though.You can't please all of the people all of the time but maybe you can make them feel good while they are being entertained by you. That's the point. I have never been in a fight because of a drunk in the audience but have seen plenty of them dragged away.Like I said before even big name guy's like Doc run into them.

Ben,if you've ever seen one of my show's you know that no-one try's harder {and succeeds 99%of the time}to show people the time of their life, which is why it amazes me to this day that there are miserable people out there who try to ruin that good time for the performers and the other patrons, but I guess alchohol is always the X -factor. I don't recomend my method to everyone, but in my case it's effective {LOL}} P.S, I knew you were joking...one of these days I'll figure out how to use those "smiley faces" P.S.S Go to the photo section of my website www.bobcushing.com , and ask yourself "why would someone want to mess up this guy's show?!

BC, I live in an area where alot of fishermen work. Some of the best venues are on the islands so they are your audience besides the tourists. These guys can be a rowdy bunch. Think about it , they have been out on a shrimp boat for three weeks and are ready to cut loose. Most of these guys are in their 20's. Just play some Jimmy Buffet and they calm down.

I think most of the audience I usually play to would walk out if I started playing Jimmy Buffet tunes...

One of the reasons that I stopped playing music in bars was because of the heckling...it became too stressful, and I was not able to deal with it effectively. I admire those who can toughen up and play music in spite of it!

Emily

Marty, I refuse to play Buffet music but on the west coast of fl. the tourists expect it. You can't get a gig unless you at least play "Margaritaville". There are some other clubs inland where you can play other music. And don't let Jimmy Buffet catch you playing one of his songs.He will charge you. I don't blame him.

Emily, thanks for the input. I'm not too crazy about having produce thrown at me. Ben (Ihope you understand my feeble attempt at humor)

For my first time playing out again in years, (solo), I just said a welcoming sentence and some thanks, then got into playing the song "to and for" the people. I just found that I was looking at their eyes, and seeing them look back! I then focused on comminicating the song's lyrics to each one I looked at. Felt like story telling, which I usually would freeze doing if just talking. But in song, I was so comfortable doing that. I couldn't believe how much fun it actually was, as I felt a part of them, not seperate, or alone on stage. Felt like we all were one.

Can't wait to play out again!
John

Thanks John, sounds like your pretty comfortible with yourself. Here's a new twist and I'm sure It's been discussed before. How about when you want to play your own music but the managment and audience just want to hear covers.I heard Rodney Crowell could not play his own music in Nashville when starting out.The club owners didn't want to hear it.

The places the band played at knew clearly what we would be doing. (Would not get booked and then be told what to play. Our music gets talked about first). We hunt out only the places that allow us to do our songs. There's plenty of covers bands around here for hire.

The people? GOT to just play the songs from the heart, and hope most will like something about the songs, (the beats, the sounds, the stytles,,IGGY!),,Something! Then the original bands and solo acts could better be accepted as; "they're having fun playing"!

the only way I know to get originals across to a cover type audience is to play covers they know and once they're listening slip some originals in here and there.

I had a fun experience this past weekend playing a gig I hadn't planned on - the folks who were booked had to cancel. So I was playing a last minute happy hour set to folks who weren't there to see me. I played a couple of covers and requests and then some of my own tunes. Typically the applause and attention of a bar crowd drops off when they don't recognize the songs you're playing but this time the applause was actually stronger after my tunes. So my in between song banter: "I really got to tell you you're my kind of crowd. You cheer louder for the originals than the covers" and I got more applause and requests for more original tunes back. It was a good night.

I love when people mess with me when I'm busking; that's when I freestyle lyrics about them and embarrass them in front of busy sidewalks full of people.

One night last spring on Thayer St. (Brown University country), some drunk fraternity boys threw a handful of change at me. It scattered all over the sidewalk and was meant to be degrading.

So, I freestyled the following lyric mid-song:

"Throughout human history, we've asked what knowledge is;
now we know it can't be bought by spoiled college kids."

About 20 or so people heard it and burst into laughter and applause. The frat boys were shocked, and they ran away. One of my favorite performing moments of all time!

I only got heckled once. It was a kid at a private party who was upset he wasn't the center of attention. The drunk little turd got right between my partner and me and attempted to sing along with us. But his words were degrading. Gave him an elbow and off he went. After the gig, and we were leaving, the kid was bent over puking his guts out by some hedges. I didn't kick him, it was more like a push, right into them bushes. All we heard was moaning coming out of them. It was just one of those things that you had to do...