Order of importance

Posted by: zuki

Order of importance - 03/28/08 09:29 AM

What are the things you find that your audience wants/realizes or appreciates the most in a live performance?

My experience (all venues):

1. Song selection
2. Singing
3. Showmanship
3. Mingling
4. Music ablility (sadly)

Anyone with different opinions?
Posted by: DonM

Re: Order of importance - 03/28/08 09:38 AM

That pretty much sums it up. Song selection includes the right tempo, and playing stuff they know, in most cases.
DonM
Posted by: Stephenm52

Re: Order of importance - 03/28/08 09:39 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by zuki:
What are the things you find that your audience wants/realizes or appreciates the most in a live performance?

My experience (all venues):

1. Song selection
2. Singing
3. Showmanship
3. Mingling
4. Music ablility (sadly)

Anyone with different opinions?


Zuki for the NH gigs I play DITTO.
Posted by: chony

Re: Order of importance - 03/28/08 09:50 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Stephenm52:
[QUOTE]

1. Song Selection
2. Showmanship
3. Singing
4. Music ability
5. Mingling

[This message has been edited by chony (edited 03-28-2008).]
Posted by: cgiles

Re: Order of importance - 03/28/08 09:52 AM

In jazz clubs, #4. Miles spent half his career playing with his back to the audience (not necessarily recommended......unless you're Miles).

chas
Posted by: ianmcnll

Re: Order of importance - 03/28/08 10:06 AM

At my gigs, mostly dinner music, it is:

1. Music loud enough to be heard, but not too loud to distract or interfere with conversation.

2. Song selection(related to #1)

3. Mingling.
Posted by: captain Russ

Re: Order of importance - 03/28/08 12:06 PM

1. Song Selection
2. Music Ability
3. Singing.

Jim, this is my list for me only. I'm not a singer or entertainer, so I THINK this is what's important to those tone deaf folks who come to see me. Chas is dead on...in jazz, ability is everything.


Agree with your list for others I know!


Russ

[This message has been edited by captain Russ (edited 03-28-2008).]
Posted by: Dnj

Re: Order of importance - 03/28/08 02:05 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by DonM:
and playing stuff they know, DonM



Excactly Don.....alll this means squat if you cant cut the mustard and produce a great product.



[This message has been edited by Dnj (edited 03-28-2008).]
Posted by: Fran Carango

Re: Order of importance - 03/28/08 02:24 PM

one thing no one has mentioned...The Audience needs to see that you are having a good time...it is contagious...I will have a great time tonight and tomorrow night..

I will be working with one of the hottest lady vocalist....That is another thing audiences love....
Posted by: Dnj

Re: Order of importance - 03/28/08 02:25 PM

Fran.....take pics/videos for us
Posted by: DanO1

Re: Order of importance - 03/28/08 02:39 PM

Surprised no one puts Over all sound quality as #1.

You gotta have the right mix...
Posted by: ianmcnll

Re: Order of importance - 03/28/08 02:46 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by DanO1:
Surprised no one puts Over all sound quality as #1.

You gotta have the right mix...


Yep...good point.

Also having the right speaker system/PA for the job is very important.

Ian
Posted by: travlin'easy

Re: Order of importance - 03/28/08 03:02 PM

Dan,

Overall sound quality is more important to the performer than the audience. Zuki hit the nail on the head, and that doesn't just apply to nursing homes. The same rules apply to all gigs/jobs (sorry Uncle Dave). DonM is right on as well--you have to play the song(s) they know.

Cheers,

Gary

------------------
Travlin' Easy
Posted by: zuki

Re: Order of importance - 03/28/08 05:42 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Dnj:

Excactly Don.....alll this means squat if you cant cut the mustard and produce a great product.

[This message has been edited by Dnj (edited 03-28-2008).]


Well, let's just assume that most of us here can...........
Posted by: Dnj

Re: Order of importance - 03/28/08 05:44 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by zuki:
Well, let's just assume that most of us here can...........



I guess we'll never know eh?
Posted by: zuki

Re: Order of importance - 03/28/08 05:46 PM

I know
Posted by: Lucky2Bhere

Re: Order of importance - 03/28/08 09:50 PM

"What are the things you find that your audience wants/realizes or appreciates the most in a live performance?"

I would say:

1) showing up for the performance
2) showering just before you come and having your fingernails neatly trimmed
3) the type of vehicle you arrived in (a Maserati or a Chinese rickshaw?)
4) not discussing politics
5) not inviting your son's Cub Scout pack to be on stage with you
6) having your girl friend on the stage with you (but only if she has great frontal cleavage)
7) not holding a bottle of Poland Spring drinking water in your hand throughout the show
8) looking up from your instrument and looking directly at your audience once in a while (applies to Barack Obama also)
9) having a minimum high school education
10) able to play a song with at least ONE of your hands
11) wearing sox and closed shoes
12) not using a pair of refrigerators instead of speakers
13) passing out free ear plugs before you crank up the volume to what you would hear if you were standing next to a 747 on takeoff
14) at least one song during the performance that they recognize
15) survey sheets handed out after the show that only have "yes" boxes to check and with questions like "Did you enjoy the music?" ...."Would you come back to see another show" "Would you care to donate to the OMB Retirement Fund?" (saves embarrassment for a bad performer)

In reality, every single audience is different. Even if you're playing in the same club every night or playing the same type of music in different places. So, in answer to "What are the things you find that your audience wants/realizes or appreciates the most in a live performance?"...I'd say ALL of what you fellows wrote. But the real art is in being able to "read" that audience that's in front of you at the moment and determine what is the most important to this particular group.

My own formula is to be an accomplished musician, but spend more time talking in between songs. And......Zuki is right: "music ability" sadly at #5. After reaching a certain level of expertise, the return on your "investment" (practicing) diminishes out of proportion to your effort!

Lucky
Posted by: John DiLeo

Re: Order of importance - 04/09/08 08:35 PM

1- Timing
2- Singing in key
3- Tempo
4- Showmanship
5- Song selection
6- Reading the audience
7- Looking at the audience not at the music
8- Continuous Flowing program
9- Schmoozing