Bassistclem Posted May 12, 2015 Share Posted May 12, 2015 After been fortunate to perform in from of some large audiences over the years, people have often asked if it's more scary. I don't really suffer from gig nerves anyway but find the bigger the crowd the easier it is. Is this unusual? What are your experiences? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andydye Posted May 12, 2015 Share Posted May 12, 2015 (edited) I'll let you know how I fare in my first festival season this summer but thus far it's definitely worse playing to a few mates in a pub than it is to a packed room at an o2 academy ...it's originals too rather than covers Edited May 12, 2015 by andydye Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yorks5stringer Posted May 12, 2015 Share Posted May 12, 2015 I always find the dog barking at me quite off-putting...! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marc S Posted May 12, 2015 Share Posted May 12, 2015 (edited) Hmmm, Interesting..... I've played in front of some fairly big crowds But in different situations.... I tend to get slightly nervous before a gig, and I quite like that A bit of adrenaline can really help. Too much can be a problem too, of course Some small crowds have been tougher than bigger crowds, yes But these tend to have been either free gigs (oddly enough, as the crowd are getting a free show) and at a couple of the few open-air gigs I've done, the crowd have been slightly "cold" on a couple of occasions A couple of recent gigs, the crowd wasn't huge, but the place was packed and the atmosphere seemed much livelier, and better, cos more folk were dancing So if you can get a bigger crowd either dancing or singing along, or both - yes, a bigger crowd can be better ... but not always I've had some great gigs in front of small crowds too EDIT: I've also had a couple of really good open air gigs too, where the crowd was great - just to balance that earlier point Edited May 12, 2015 by Marc S Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedX Posted May 12, 2015 Share Posted May 12, 2015 For me personally it makes no difference. As a band you should always put on the best performance you can whether it's to 1 person or a few thousand adoring fans. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CHW Posted May 12, 2015 Share Posted May 12, 2015 Bigger crowds I find easier- Most I've done is about 700 though. To me a large crowd is less intimidating. In a crowd of 10 (most of us have probably been there) you can hear every word between songs, no matter how good you are there won't be a great atmosphere and its a lose lose scenario. A Crowd of 500 is so much less personal, although if that crowd turns I can imagine that it could be quite tough. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mykesbass Posted May 12, 2015 Share Posted May 12, 2015 No experience of performing to such a crowd, but a couple of years back I was introducing a band on stage, special guests on a tour playing 1200/2000 seater gigs. Went out to introduce them at the Hammersmith Odeon (or whatever it is being called this week) to find about a dozen punters in, with the typical London crowd all in the bar. I did feel a bit self conscious on that one, thinking I could go around and tell everyone individually!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MacDaddy Posted May 12, 2015 Share Posted May 12, 2015 I think there is psychology involved. At some point the size of an audience rather than being a number of individuals, becomes one audience. As you are then dealing with one entity, it can be easier psychologically to deal with. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
urbanx Posted May 12, 2015 Share Posted May 12, 2015 The worst bit about TINY crowds is that half of them are usually made up of the other bands. Meaning at least 50% of the audience are musicians...watching your every move... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bilbo Posted May 12, 2015 Share Posted May 12, 2015 Biggest audeince ever - 4,000 at a Jazz gig. Smallest - nil (bar staff excluded) at a Rock gig. Same band also drove from Wales to London to play for 3 people. We did have an audience at some gigs though, honest. I don't do nerves. I am a bass player. No-one knows what I am doing so they don't know if I have done it wrong. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bassistclem Posted May 12, 2015 Author Share Posted May 12, 2015 [quote name='yorks5stringer' timestamp='1431439346' post='2771351'] I always find the dog barking at me quite off-putting...! [/quote] Haha been there Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bassistclem Posted May 12, 2015 Author Share Posted May 12, 2015 [quote name='MacDaddy' timestamp='1431441928' post='2771401'] I think there is psychology involved. At some point the size of an audience rather than being a number of individuals, becomes one audience. As you are then dealing with one entity, it can be easier psychologically to deal with. [/quote] That's the way it seems to me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bassistclem Posted May 12, 2015 Author Share Posted May 12, 2015 [quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1431439673' post='2771357'] For me personally it makes no difference. As a band you should always put on the best performance you can whether it's to 1 person or a few thousand adoring fans. [/quote] Amen to that. Not always been on stage with people who think the same though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RAY AGAINST THE MACHINE Posted May 12, 2015 Share Posted May 12, 2015 (edited) My first gig was in front of 200 people in the west end . A. Bit scared at first , after the second song it was good.😀 Since then, I've played in front of big crowds and one man and his deaf dog. I always looked like i was enjoying myself , but one of the reasons I don't miss gigs is because of the very pitiful turnouts you get.seeing that I/ we used to put so much effort into it , whether it's practice or giving your all. I prefer big crowds . Edited May 12, 2015 by RAY AGAINST THE MACHINE Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cameronj279 Posted May 12, 2015 Share Posted May 12, 2015 I can't say I've ever played to a large crowd (largest was maybe 100ish) but I find the less people watching the colder the reception. don't really get nervous at any gigs though (although I will on Fridays as we're doing a rather tricky song (mostly worried the drummer won't forget changes!)) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike257 Posted May 12, 2015 Share Posted May 12, 2015 [quote name='Bilbo'] 4,000 at a Jazz gig. [/quote] Really? Had they double booked the venue or something? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JapanAxe Posted May 12, 2015 Share Posted May 12, 2015 [quote name='Bilbo' timestamp='1431443872' post='2771434'] Biggest audeince ever - 4,000 at a Jazz gig. [/quote] [quote name='mike257' timestamp='1431449557' post='2771513'] Really? Had they double booked the venue or something? [/quote] Ooh - harsh! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seashell Posted May 12, 2015 Share Posted May 12, 2015 It's scarier if you can see the whites of their eyes! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rogerstodge Posted May 12, 2015 Share Posted May 12, 2015 Supported Iron Maiden in Denmark in front of 25,000 'eadbangers, nuffin to it.. (Shudder) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AntLockyer Posted May 12, 2015 Share Posted May 12, 2015 [quote name='rogerstodge' timestamp='1431455181' post='2771575'] Supported Iron Maiden in Denmark in front of 25,000 'eadbangers, nuffin to it.. (Shudder) [/quote] Blimey! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rogerstodge Posted May 12, 2015 Share Posted May 12, 2015 Midtfyns festival Ant, bout '96, we stayed for the whole weekend so i got to see zz top, Blur, and Maiden of course among others. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AntLockyer Posted May 12, 2015 Share Posted May 12, 2015 [quote name='rogerstodge' timestamp='1431456214' post='2771586'] Midtfyns festival Ant, bout '96, we stayed for the whole weekend so i got to see zz top, Blur, and Maiden of course among others. [/quote] Excellent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redbandit599 Posted May 12, 2015 Share Posted May 12, 2015 Biggest I've ever played to is only about 250, but much prefer it when there are lots of people in. Probably because the punters are a bit less inhibited in a big crowd, if one cheers/dances/leap about then a good few will join in and so it builds. Smallest 3, although we did stop mid -song and applaud the audience when for brief period there was more of them than us... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rogerstodge Posted May 12, 2015 Share Posted May 12, 2015 Bugger Redband, i thought that i held the record for smallest audience of 4, in some dingy boozer in Essex. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JTUK Posted May 12, 2015 Share Posted May 12, 2015 Always bigger crowds and better stages for me. I can't be doing with playing to 30 people in a pub, tbh. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.