The Gig Guide: Some Advice for Punters
by Scott Esdaile on November 4, 2011
A small rant.
Seriously. Beats two and four. Two and four. Got it? But what are you doing clapping along anyway? You’re only going to get out of time – forcing the drummer to bust out some Gloria Estefan-inspired dropping of rhythms to turn the beat around. Clapping during songs – just say no.
The same goes for trying to sing along with the only bit of the one song you know – badly. Maybe stop to consider that there’s a pretty good chance that oh, you know, most of the people around you are there to hear the actual singer sing. It’s not Karaoke night at your local. Geebus.
And finally, watching the band that’s ripping it up on stage in front of you via your phone’s camera and screen is a pretty underwhelming experience. Really. Not every moment of your life needs to be recorded for posterity and bragging rights. So why not try fully enjoying the moment as it happens – live music is about more than just status updates, blurry photos and muffled videos.
I’m not saying you shouldn’t really get into and feel the music, nor am I wishing every gig was performed in a silent, seated concert hall. There’s just been a few too many gigs I’ve been at lately where a handful of punters could have been mindful that not everyone was as much of a mouthbreather as they were.
Damn mouthbreathers. That is all.
End rant.
// Feel free to give me some high-brow, music-snob grief or add your own advice in the comments. That is, if people even use blog comments anymore. Cheers! //
5 comments
Scotty, I think you have reached the tipping point where you are now… an old man. Welcome.
by Nathan on 4 November 2011 at 7:38 am. #
Bravo Scotty!
We must hit up a gig soon. I need to see in person how much your degenerative disease has taken hold!
by Masey on 4 November 2011 at 9:40 am. #
Thank you for the picture! (from a drummer) Love it.
by Andrew Carter on 4 November 2011 at 6:11 pm. #
depends on how generous your idea of audience is.
For them, you’re just entertainment, background noise, ignorable like all entertainment (checks iPhone) (laughs at iPhone. Fiddles and fingers iPhone. iPhone glows back).
Or, there’s a chance what you do on stage (improv, saxdance moves, unexpected return to relative minor or tonic) actually vibrates and connects with a jaded person in the audience, who stops to feel something and starts dancing.
Ok, that’s all pretty jaded too.
Scott, when was the last time you went to a non-jazz gig and checked out the audience? It’s like going to a pub. Phones, shouting, perving.
As long as some people* are moving, that’s all that matters. Everyone else: meh, they paid.
(Says he with no gigs for years
)
* related note: I don’t trust gigs with 1. too many blokes standing around (as opposed to a mixed crowd) 2. no bodies moving or dancing.
by Rino on 5 November 2011 at 8:50 pm. #
I used to go out with a DJ who mocked people at gigs who nodded / danced on the wrong beats. Sometimes, even now, I catch myself dancing along at a gig and stop, wondering if I’m doing it wrong and some hip DJ-type is laughing at me.
Lucky I don’t usually clap in songs… this would just be another level of lurking social anxiety to deal with.
by Fi on 8 November 2011 at 2:23 pm. #