TALKING TO THE CROWD

[shyamwestwind]

Hi Everyone
Do you talk to the crowd at gigs ? Do you crack jokes ? One liners?
Interludes between songs?
I used the word "crowd" because if they were an audience then obviously they are listening to you but its not that a way at the places we play. They are usually eating places, pubs etc and we are not the Main Act.
Its great if the jokes you crack are listened too and not just heard. When they fall along the way and no one responds, I feel like an ostrich wanting to hide his head in the sand !
There are times when whatever I say is lapped up and applauded.
What are your experiences?

[Emerald Midi]

Hi Shyam, here in Ireland it's usually best to say a few words other than, "Thank you very much" if you get someone applauding, a rare occurrence in my case A bit of banter can go down well but the trick is to read the crowd and not over do it.

Some bands don't even smile and go down rapturously. I do say a few words but try to keep it to a minimum. I guess some are better talkers than singers

[mark]

I sometimes link songs with jokes and life experiences stories.One minute you can have them laughing with you and with another song crying.It always breaks the ice. If they are listening I just sing and play.Its as Pat says you have to read the crowd.

[shyamwestwind]

I do change the lyrics and that always brings applause. "Wonderful Tonight" is presently my sign off song with the lyrics of the last verse altered to suit the mood. " I just called to say I love you " is another such song.
I guess its easier to sing than talk though I usually am requested by the hotel owners to make those special announcements. but then everyone listens to announcements !!!

[paulhcctt]

LOL, i got caught making a hotel announcement at a wedding once

the message read "Can you please ask the owner of the red Mercedes Vito, Registration 01-LK-**** to please move their vehicle, as it is blocking access to the fire warden"

Of course i read it............... then i realised it was MY van!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

talk about making a fool of myself, the laugh from the audience was priceless though!!!!

[ironbaden]

paulhcctt said:

LOL, i got caught making a hotel announcement at a wedding once

the message read "Can you please ask the owner of the red Mercedes Vito, Registration 01-LK-**** to please move their vehicle, as it is blocking access to the fire warden"

Of course i read it............... then i realised it was MY van!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

talk about making a fool of myself, the laugh from the audience was priceless though!!!!

That....... was FUNNY !!!!!

[shanless]

yip...had that happen to me too....only it was my wifes car and one of the staff had hit it when he was reversing out.....

[dingadong04]

when playing local i cud talk for ireland..but the farther away i played i noticed the ould Belfast accent is,nt a great traveller ..cos us belfast ones talk very fast so until the rest of the world catches up with us i ,,l just stay quiet when outta town
lol

cubb

[Emerald Midi]

paulhcctt said:

LOL, i got caught making a hotel announcement at a wedding once

the message read "Can you please ask the owner of the red Mercedes Vito, Registration 01-LK-**** to please move their vehicle, as it is blocking access to the fire warden"

Of course i read it............... then i realised it was MY van!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

talk about making a fool of myself, the laugh from the audience was priceless though!!!!

Priceless!

[shanless]

yeah dingdong...I remember playin in Bridlington ( east coast of England ) one year and the people told me that I talked too fast......I just told them that they listened too slow

[dingadong04]

hahahaha..spot on shanless

[jacqui01]

It's nice to have a bit of chat, but if your booked as an a singer or musician I guess that what you should do, if they wanted a comedian or speaker they would book one, sometimes I'll ask the audience to guess the original singer of an unusual song, or if they want requests, or music by a certain singer.
Jacqui

[thingyy]

You are there to entertain, jokes and gen chat between a few songs is the way to go.

[dingadong04]

yer right we are there to entertain .. but not everyone who sings or plays on stage is a talker on stage .. so entertain thru your music ..a we joke and a bit of chat is sound but not all the time thingyy..sometimes we are just wallpaper in the background..a lot of times punters want to talk with their own company and don,t want to hear us talking and as some one else pointed out it,s all about reading yer crowd

cubb

[thingyy]

I'm talking about proper gigs not wine and dine places with 20 people in it

[dingadong04]

hi ya thingyy..wat is a proper gig ? cos i have played to over a thousand at some wine and dine shows were the talking was more or less up to the guest artists i.ve played a festivals were talking was not required and i,ve played and am still playing small bars were it,s more intimate and it lends itself more to talking with the crowd .. cos ta me , two or two hundred they,re still punters who have paid ..to watch , listen , talk , dance , it,s entirely up to them..the point i,m trying to make is that not all entertainers are talkers and some talkers are,nt entainers ..wat works for one does,nt always work for someone else

cubb

[shyamwestwind]

Hey guys how many of you have said "Good night" after an afternoon gig ? All of us play at nights and we just cant kick the habit. Funny.

[thingyy]

A show is more of what I am used to doing Workingmens Clubs etc. where people come to see you and your act.
Wine and dines are more background entertainment and most of the punters couldn't give a $#@& who is playing.

[dingadong04]

smee again thingyy i think we shud have started a new thread wat is a gig ?
as far as i know ,working mens clubs , are,nt a big thing in Ireland but wine and dines are , Dinner Dance, as they have been called maybe they are called something else somewhere else.. but they are big ...as i,ve said before i,ve played at them often enough .. as to the crowd not caring we ve all had that , thats part of the game some you win some you lose but we will keep on doing wat we do.. big gig or small , good crowd or bad ...sure if we didnt we,d find somewhere to play for free lol

all the best fir nigh thingyy
cubb

[weegeo]

Wat`s a crowd ? lol lol