Mickeyboro Posted June 28, 2023 Share Posted June 28, 2023 Is it audience reaction (eg the number of people dancing/clapping along), how you play yourself, the overall tightness of the band, the sound? Let’s try percentages: audiences: you: band: other. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gjones Posted June 28, 2023 Share Posted June 28, 2023 If the onstage sound is good, the band's performance is good, the energy is there and the crowd are enjoying it, then I'm happy. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marky L Posted June 28, 2023 Share Posted June 28, 2023 50% happy excited audience. 50% happy excited me. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mykesbass Posted June 28, 2023 Share Posted June 28, 2023 Depends. My absolute favourites are the ones with a great audience response. I have, however, thoroughly enjoyed gigs where, due to the room set up, or being booked by people who loved the band, but we were completely unsuitable for the event, we've had a great time being totally ignored! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doctor J Posted June 28, 2023 Share Posted June 28, 2023 Depends on the band and why you're playing the music you're playing. If you're trotting out covers for money, I'd imagine audience numbers and reaction plays a big part in how you percieve the gig went. If they don't sing along to your Sex on Fire, then were you really that sexually fiery? Perhaps getting the cash money eases that pain? For originals, it's always nice to get a positive response from people after the gig. I mean, it's great if people turn up at all but, when they do, if people seek you out to tell you they really enjoyed music you wrote, that's always a good feeling. If they buy a CD and a t-shirt too, even better. I was in a band in the early-90's where we were chasing a sound of very selective appeal. We got a weekend support to a reasonably popular mainstream band and we bombed. I remember looking over at the guitarist during the set and seeing two people in the crowd, beyond him, mouths agape in slack-jawed wonder/repulsion. I was delighted. I thought that if we were alienating people who liked the mainstream stuff, then we were on the right track. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Downunderwonder Posted June 28, 2023 Share Posted June 28, 2023 23 minutes ago, Marky L said: 50% happy excited audience. 50% happy excited me. This. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedX Posted June 28, 2023 Share Posted June 28, 2023 For me the important thing is that the audience enjoy it. I do plenty of gigs, so if as a band we do't play brilliantly at one, then if it's an actual problem and just not an "off night" we can fix it at rehearsal and then next gig is likely to be great. However most of the time for the audience the first impression is the one the counts - our next gig will probably be in a completely different part of the country - so if they didn't enjoy we'll probably not get given another chance. IME most audience members don't pickup on all the problems that musicians seem to obsess over when they play, so unless someone makes a mistake so bad that it causes the song to grind to a halt less than 60 seconds after it has begun, don't worry about it, carry on as if nothing happened and look like you are having fun (unless like me you play in a goth band, in which case carry on staring moodily at the audience). If the audience has had a good time, they are more likely to buy something of the merch table (which is where originals bands make most of their money) and when you do play another gig in that town they are likely to come back to see you and maybe bring some more friends. That's what counts. 5 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peteb Posted June 28, 2023 Share Posted June 28, 2023 40 minutes ago, Mickeyboro said: Is it audience reaction (eg the number of people dancing/clapping along), how you play yourself, the overall tightness of the band, the sound? You forgot the money! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted June 28, 2023 Share Posted June 28, 2023 I’m pretty much where @BigRedX is on this, if the audience had a good time then all is well & good for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uk_lefty Posted June 28, 2023 Share Posted June 28, 2023 Audience 80% me 5% band 10% other 5% It's all about the audience. If the band is absolutely on fire but there's nobody there... Let's say you are headlining an event but the week before the organiser bumps you to FIRST on and that means 6:30pm on a Friday... Then I'm glad we got a paid rehearsal but I'm not buzzing all the way home. If me and/ or the band make a load of mistakes but the audience reaction is so good nobody notices or cares then that really, really does outweigh it. I love it when we get a good audience reaction and the band is really on it. Last gig I had a huge grin in a song we play well but the drummer just decided to go really heavy on the cymbals. I didn't see it coming, he just decided then and there and it worked and lifted everything, including the audience. That is 90% of the enjoyment, if not more, for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neepheid Posted June 28, 2023 Share Posted June 28, 2023 Covers band gig success == good audience reaction, repeat bookings from venues. Money is nice, but "paid rehearsals" sap the soul. Originals band gig success == getting a gig in the first place, having anything that can even be technically described as an audience, people coming up and saying nice things afterwards. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
police squad Posted June 28, 2023 Share Posted June 28, 2023 yep it's all about the audience for me. My job is to entertain and if they're enjoying it, dancing etc The job's a goodun 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mickeyboro Posted June 28, 2023 Author Share Posted June 28, 2023 3 hours ago, peteb said: You forgot the money! You mean we get paid?!?😂 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat Burrito Posted June 28, 2023 Share Posted June 28, 2023 When the audience outnumber the band.... that's how my duo work anyway! 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mickeyboro Posted June 28, 2023 Author Share Posted June 28, 2023 (edited) Loving this thread! Keep it coming… What inspired it was a band I saw this weekend that unwisely invited the (seated at tables) audience to dance to a little known song very early in the set. On finding no takers, Art looked at Paul (giveaway!) with an expression that said ‘sod this for a game of soldiers’. I rather felt their motivation dipped thereafter. Then again, they didn’t play ‘Keep The Customer Satisfied’ 😂 Edited June 28, 2023 by Mickeyboro 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mykesbass Posted June 28, 2023 Share Posted June 28, 2023 1 minute ago, Mickeyboro said: Art looked at Paul Then again, they didn’t play ‘Keep The Customer Satisfied’ 😂 The guys from The Detectorists are on tour?! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nilorius Posted June 28, 2023 Share Posted June 28, 2023 I am satisfied if audience is happy and i am, too. I also like the gig where was no problems with sound checking and every band member is comfortable to play or sing. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ezbass Posted June 28, 2023 Share Posted June 28, 2023 4 hours ago, Mickeyboro said: Is it audience reaction (eg the number of people dancing/clapping along), how you play yourself, the overall tightness of the band, the sound? All of the above, in pretty equal proportions. I would add in a nice venue, where there’s space to play and the load in/out isn’t too much of a PITA, with that in place you’re more likely to be positive about playing there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fretmeister Posted June 28, 2023 Share Posted June 28, 2023 Got paid. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peteb Posted June 28, 2023 Share Posted June 28, 2023 (edited) What makes a successful gig can be one (or hopefully more) of a number of things: 1) A great reaction from the audience 2) If you know that the band has played really well 3) If it's a great hang and you meet cool people and make useful connections 4) You enjoy some gigs just because you know that you're making a decent amount of money (although personally, I would avoid too many gigs that you are doing just for the cash) I remember someone saying (but I can't remember who right now) that before he joins a band / project he looks at three factors: whether the music is great, whether the gig will advance his career & if he likes hanging with the people involved. If he can answer yes to two of those three questions, then he will take the gig! I would say that you can apply the same kind of criteria (but sort of in reverse as it is looking back after the show, if you know what I mean) to what makes a successful gig. Edited June 28, 2023 by peteb 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leonard Smalls Posted June 28, 2023 Share Posted June 28, 2023 Personally I'm happiest if we've played well enough to a reasonable sized audience, none of whom ignored us, none of whom threw anything at us and at least one of whom came up and said "wow, fantastic bass playing, I'd like to offer you a deal where you get 50% of total take" and after all that, still get home for a nice wee dram by 2200. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nilorius Posted June 28, 2023 Share Posted June 28, 2023 2 minutes ago, Leonard Smalls said: Personally I'm happiest if we've played well enough to a reasonable sized audience, none of whom ignored us, none of whom threw anything at us and at least one of whom came up and said "wow, fantastic bass playing, I'd like to offer you a deal where you get 50% of total take" and after all that, still get home for a nice wee dram by 2200. Cheers ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woodinblack Posted June 28, 2023 Share Posted June 28, 2023 4 hours ago, BigRedX said: carry on as if nothing happened and look like you are having fun (unless like me you play in a goth band, in which case carry on staring moodily at the audience). Sadly I carry on staring moodily at the audience and I am in a covers band! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nilorius Posted June 28, 2023 Share Posted June 28, 2023 5 minutes ago, Woodinblack said: Sadly I carry on staring moodily at the audience and I am in a covers band! Lucky You! Sadly i can't allow myself to do so, because, as i mostly play fretless and i don't have a good muscle memory, i always have to watch either on my song chord notes or fingerboard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asingardenof Posted June 28, 2023 Share Posted June 28, 2023 As well as all the excellent points made above, I find having a good interaction with the audience helps, not just the reaction to what we've played. That can even happen afterwards, getting compliments is always nice 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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