Chatty audience

roundthebend · August 2022

I was at a gig last week. I didn't know the band but they played Reading/Leeds a few days later and this was a warm up show promoted by the Music Venues Trust (MVT) and I liked what I heard online so thought I'd give them a go.

About half way into a fairly rocking set they slowed it down and the singer started a mellow song intro on his own. After about 2 lines he stopped and said "Could you guys shut the fuck up" to a couple that were loudly chatting to each other to the side of the crowd. It wasn't a big crowd so it was obvious who it was aimed at. They duly shut the fuck up and then walked out, probably embarrassed.

I thought the singer was a bit of an arrogant twat before that anyway, but I really didn't like his style. It seemed aggressive and, whilst I get the sentiment, I do feel that there are better ways to deal with it. I also think it is the band's job to capture the audience, they don't have a god given right to be listened to.

I remember going to see Mark Morriss of The Bluetones some years ago, playing an acoustic gig locally. My wife and my sister were chatting loudly and he paused then made a little quip, something like "sorry guys, didn't realise you were still talking, it's OK I'll wait". He's renowned for his humour, and we've chatted to him several times after gigs so knew it was a fun jibe. It dealt with the situation and added a bit of humour to it.

What's cool? Should a band act like the one last week, or more like Mark Morriss? Or even just play through and ignore it.

RocknRollDave · August 2022

Mark Morriss might not be the best person to use as an example of how to conduct yourself respectfully towards others…

ElectricXII · August 2022

I agree that the singer you mentioned handled that badly. There's a difference between learning to play a song, and learning how to work an audience and put on a good show. If the punters have paid, then they are your customers, and should be treated accordingly.

roundthebend · August 2022

RocknRollDave said:

Mark Morriss might not be the best person to use as an example of how to conduct yourself respectfully towards others…

Whilst I agree, that isn't particularly relevant here since I was being specific about how he acted and why I think it was good. Just because some of his behaviour is questionable, or even plain wrong, doesn't mean we have to overlook when he does things well.

fretmeister · August 2022

ElectricXII said:

I agree that the singer you mentioned handled that badly. There's a difference between learning to play a song, and learning how to work an audience and put on a good show. If the punters have paid, then they are your customers, and should be treated accordingly.

Unless 1 or 2 customers are ruining it for all the other customers of course.

My general view is that if they can talk - the band is too quiet!

roundthebend · August 2022

fretmeister said:

ElectricXII said:

I agree that the singer you mentioned handled that badly. There's a difference between learning to play a song, and learning how to work an audience and put on a good show. If the punters have paid, then they are your customers, and should be treated accordingly.

Unless 1 or 2 customers are ruining it for all the other customers of course.

My general view is that if they can talk - the band is too quiet!

I think that's why I liked Mark Morriss' approach. He apologised for ruining the conversation with his playing. In a similar position I might ask the people what they are talking about, and then ask the audience to vote on whether they'd rather hear the song or the conversation. Not in a passive aggressive way either, in a genuine way. There's likely only one answer (the song) but if they prefer to hear the conversation, I'll take that as feedback that I need to improve the performance somehow.

Sporky · August 2022

I think the singer sounds remarkably restrained. Two remarkably rude people spoiling the experience for everyone.

merlin · August 2022

I was doing a trio gig with a bassist and a pianist once. Someone answered their phone and said loudly and very audibly "I can't talk now I'm at a gig".

I immediately turned the words of the tune we were playing and sang

"he can't talk now he's at a fucking gig,
he's at a fucking gig,
he's at a fucking gig,
he can't talk now he's at a fucking gig,
and he can shove his fucking phone up his arse".

Audience went ballistic, guy bought me a pint, I got more hugs and hand-shakes off audience members after that gig than ever before or since.

mrkb · August 2022

Sporky said:

I think the singer sounds remarkably restrained. Two remarkably rude people spoiling the experience for everyone.

Totally agree - people talking at gigs should be kicked out. Stop spoiling it for others you selfish twats!

stickyfiddle · August 2022

@merlin that's excellent

Snags · August 2022

Context is everything as to whether "STFU" is inspired or counterproductive, really.

For any paid entrance gig, though, I neve understand why people chat away. I've been at Wembley Arena gigs where people have solid conversations all night, and just think what the hell are they doing? Why pay the money for an arena gig, for a loud-ish rock band (Black Stone Cherry was memorable for it). Just to shout at your mate all night. Fuck off to a bar if you want to catch up.

BillDL · August 2022

fretmeister · August 2022

BillDL said:

I was just going to post that!

fretmeister · August 2022

I used to have this problem a lot when I was doing magic shows - especially for kids.

The parents would be really loud at the back and ruin it for the kids. It was even worse if it was a small party and I didn't take a PA.

One of the best things to do is to ask the parents if they wanted to ruin the birthday child's party.
Or tell the kids that I will be expecting them to be really loud when I need them to be and get the kids to drown them out.

I did start taking a little PA to every show and it made a massive difference.

But I also (eventually) started every show by asking everyone to refrain from chatting during it, or even better come and sit with their kids for the show because they will want to share the experience with them.

Then I'd pick on a couple of adults to be the stooge in a trick, making the kid look clever and the adult look thick. The kids loved it. Most of the adults were happy to go along with it.

The occasional arsehole was easily dealt with... "Hey kids, why are we here" (Jim's birthday) "Do we want this to be the best birthday he ever has?" (YEEEEESSSSSSS). "Do we want anyone to ruin it for Jim?" (NOOOOOOO)

Combined with a stare at the arsehole and a raised eyebrow did the trick.

merlin · August 2022

I also did a street theatre show at the International Garden Festival in Liverpool with a friend, a kind of clown/circus show way back in 1984. I'd been working and living up there for a while so I knew my crowd. It was outside the Britannia Inn on the waterfront and part of the show was the first 5 minutes or so setting up and looking at our watches repeatedly. There were about 250 people there waiting for us to begin. So we went behind our screen and came out at the start of the show, smoking cigars and looking at our watches.... and there was a group of 10 or so scally teenagers heckling us the whole time.

One of them yelled "what time is it mate? "
I said back calmly, "time you bugger off".

Again, 250 very entertained scousers falling into laughter and applause.

The scallies buggered off pronto.

axisus · August 2022

merlin said:

I was doing a trio gig with a bassist and a pianist once. Someone answered their phone and said loudly and very audibly "I can't talk now I'm at a gig".

I immediately turned the words of the tune we were playing and sang

"he can't talk now he's at a fucking gig,
he's at a fucking gig,
he's at a fucking gig,
he can't talk now he's at a fucking gig,
and he can shove his fucking phone up his arse".

Audience went ballistic, guy bought me a pint, I got more hugs and hand-shakes off audience members after that gig than ever before or since.

You are my hero!!!!!!!!!!

axisus · August 2022

As with most people, I DETEST twats talking through gigs. I would love to see such people thrown out on their arse by security. I have no problem at all with the original post response, I think that 99.9% of gigs the audience would cheer if that happened.

I was at a Fish gig a few years ago, between songs he was pouring out his heart over the death of an old friend and people just kept talking at the back, he asked them to stop and they just continued. He got really pissed off and it rather spoiled the gig at the time.

roundthebend · August 2022

FWIW the crowd at this gig didn't react in any notable way, unless staying quiet and pretending nothing weird just happened is notable.

I think the guy misjudged his crowd. That's some craft he could do with learning. I hadn't warmed to him or the band really - too much showing off for my liking.

BillDL · August 2022

Had the audience paid to get in, or had the band been booked to play at a small venue that maybe doesn't normally host bands and is actually the "local" of some of the audience members?

Stuckfast · August 2022

Back in the dim and distant past when I ran a singer-songwriter night we used to get all sorts of audiences because it was free to get in. One night a whole bunch of foreign language students came in and sat at the front talking all the way through. One of the acts dealt with it brilliantly. He unplugged his guitar and came and sat on the front of the stage playing very quietly and singing without a mic, so that no-one could hear him at all unless everyone shut up. To my surprise it worked a treat.

Supportact · August 2022

I was playing a solo acoustic set one time in a small bar. There were two lads sat at a table just of to the side of the low stage, talking constantly through the first three songs. Not really loud, but just non stop. I could hear every word, and one of them was basically consoling the other about his relationship problems. Pretty sure the rest of the audience were hearing it too.

I tried to ignore it and concentrate on the gig. Towards the end of the set they both got up to leave in between songs. On mic in front of everyone, i said to the guy with the relationship issues, 'Mate, if I were you I'd dump her, I don't think she respects you and maybe you're not right for each other, eh'. They both looked pretty freaked out.

sev112 · August 2022

roundthebend said:

About half way into a fairly rocking set they slowed it down and the singer started a mellow song intro on his own. After about 2 lines he stopped and said "Could you guys shut the fuck up" to a couple that were loudly chatting to each other to the side of the crowd.

Must admit, I thought you were going to say they replied “ why don’t you guys shut the fuck up instead”

(I’ve heard similar when bands are playing in a locl pub full of regulars)

roundthebend · August 2022

BillDL said:

Had the audience paid to get in, or had the band been booked to play at a small venue that maybe doesn't normally host bands and is actually the "local" of some of the audience members?

This was a proper music venue, hence being promoted by the Music Venues Trust. However, there were 3 bands on the bill and it wasn't a case of the headline act bringing their own support - it was 2 local support bands. I believe the chatty folk were friends of one of the local bands so they weren't necessarily there to see the headline act. It was actually the first band on that had the biggest following.

merlin · August 2022

Stuckfast said:

............came and sat on the front of the stage playing very quietly and singing without a mic, so that no-one could hear him at all unless everyone shut up. To my surprise it worked a treat.

This is one of the techniques that Victor Wooten writes about in his book "The Music Lesson".

hollywoodrox · August 2022

merlin said:

Stuckfast said:

............came and sat on the front of the stage playing very quietly and singing without a mic, so that no-one could hear him at all unless everyone shut up. To my surprise it worked a treat.

This is one of the techniques that Victor Wooten writes about in his book "The Music Lesson".

That’s a good read ,I’ve got that

ToneControl · August 2022

At the Jeff Beck gig recently, Sharon Corr was playing her slow quiet ballad, and everyone was chatting at the bar at the back.
She stopped and said "Sorry, am I disturbing you?" Which worked for a while

I think I understood the problem later that evening, the crowd was seeded with female Johnny Depp fans, who all left en masse after he left the stage, I assume that they had little interest in the main or support act

ToneControl · August 2022

Stuckfast said:

Back in the dim and distant past when I ran a singer-songwriter night we used to get all sorts of audiences because it was free to get in. One night a whole bunch of foreign language students came in and sat at the front talking all the way through. One of the acts dealt with it brilliantly. He unplugged his guitar and came and sat on the front of the stage playing very quietly and singing without a mic, so that no-one could hear him at all unless everyone shut up. To my surprise it worked a treat.

no issue with crowd noise, but at the start of a large venue gig, Ben Harper picked up his chair, carried it to the front of the stage, and played and sang with no PA. You could have heard a pin drop, it's an excellent trick if the crowd want to hear you

prowla · September 2022

A while back I went to see a band and there was a couple of blokes in front of me just shouting a conversation in each others ears; it was bloody annoying.

springhead · September 2022

prowla said:

A while back I went to see a band and there was a couple of blokes in front of me just shouting a conversation in each others ears; it was bloody annoying.

I had that happen a while back at a Kirk Fletcher gig. They kept going even while he was playing a quieter slow blues. I told them to go and stand at the back if they just wanted to talk. They did, much to the pleasure of other people standing nearby.

TheBigDipper · September 2022

I don't like it when people chat during a performance. It's rude to the performers and the other people in the audience. OK, so the singer might have handled it better, but I approve of the sentiment. If you don't want to listen, you over-entitled chatters, why are you even there? And why do you think your conversation is more important than my attentive listening? Or sensitive playing, for that matter... :-)

TheOtherDennis · September 2022

hollywoodrox said:

merlin said:

Stuckfast said:

............came and sat on the front of the stage playing very quietly and singing without a mic, so that no-one could hear him at all unless everyone shut up. To my surprise it worked a treat.

This is one of the techniques that Victor Wooten writes about in his book "The Music Lesson".

That’s a good read ,I’ve got that

Apparently Alex Harvey used to do that early in his career. He went on with the band as the support act to a much bigger band, the audience took one look at them and started howling abuse. He made a smart crack back and they went fucking ballistic, screaming all manner of abuse.

So he started whispering.

Within seconds, the crowd was silent and eating out of his hands.

As for the OP's view, I think it's a case of context. There are times when telling people to stfu is the only approach. In this gig, it wasn't, and it's about judging the right way to do it.

I have to say @Merlin's approach was genius, though.

Howdy, Stranger!

Categories

In this Discussion

Become a Subscriber!

Chatty audience

Comments