For me it depends on the venue and the audience ... if it's a dancing crowd, very little patter, except for maybe "... here's a song recorded in 19something by whomever..." if it's primarily a 'sit down' we're just hear to listen audience, I will add a little something about the song or the artist(s) that recorded it ...

PS: I LOVE listening to Elvis' original SUN Label recordings: That's All Right,Mama; I Don't Care If The Sun Don't Shine; I'm Left, You're Right, She's Gone; Blue Moon of Kentucky; etc. guitar, stand up bass, high hat cymbal, snare, bass drum ... simple ...

Hello Friends

At least from most of all the Phoenix and Metro Area, the people like more music than talking, a friend of mine that also plays, he has ADD, and sometimes he talks to much between songs, and that has hurt him.....

I keep it musically continuos, perhaps a remark here and there, but no more.

My 2 Cents

Manuel

You'll like THIS then!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8v0OdyUSoQw

Sounds like an occasional humorous one-liner between songs is the way to go. Anything more and it sounds like you've got a limited repertoire and you're trying to stretch it .

chas

Thanks for the link Don. Like it.

I am with the majority in that I will throw out a quick remark about title and date. I have one group of challenged people that talk above each other, and if I open it up too much, bedlam ensues. They are a great group, but you have to keep control.

Uncle Dave will love number 18!

Yep ...

Donny.....I'm not sure I understand. Are you now saying DON'T do whatever you have to do to entertain like you've been advocating in the past?

Chas......the reason Victor Borge was so succesful was because his audience knew the dude could play. And he did in his act often enough to remind them of that side of him. That's how I get away with it...a lot of talkin' but also a lot of good music when I'm not talkin' (notice the talkin' instead of talking?).

Don......I really have to thank you for digging this up. I'm with Tony when it comes to songs like this. So much so.....I recorded the whole 52 minutes. Now I can be in Hillbilly Heaven whenever I want.