While you’re on stage, you own that real estate. There is a whole lot of shit that can you can do as a part of your performance to get the crowd riled up, or to mellow them out, depending on your style. That being said, there is also a whole lot of shit you can do to piss off the people that are working the show, including the other acts playing with you.
While on stage, never ridicule any other act on the show, especially the headliner. If you’re a musician or performer of any kind, you need to respect what other artists do with their time on stage. You don’t have to like what they do, but you can’t start shit with other performers at the show. You end up looking like the biggest, whiny, ingrate pricks, especially if you’re making fun of someone that’s billed higher than you are.
Along the same lines, don’t make fun of the club, promoter, bar staff or security. Especially security. We’re dealing in reality here, folks, and the reality is security is pretty typically made up of huge steroid-using, gym-going, UFC-watching meatheads, while bands are typically made up of unhealthy, beer-drinking, out-of-shape musicians. Bouncers don’t give a shit about your band, unless they happen to like your music. If you lip off to them enough, you might find yourself getting choke slammed through the front door where the only legal recourse is to sue the promotions company. The company will then never want to book your band again. This may be a viable option if it’s some hack operation that doesn’t know their asses from their elbows, but if it’s a larger company, you definitely don’t want to close that door. So tread carefully around those big lugs.
I could go on, but I’ll state my final pet peeve here. DO NOT PLAY AN ENCORE UNLESS YOU ARE THE HEADLINER, EVER! If you are not the headliner it is not your show. Period. If the crowd is chanting for one more song, you’ve done your job. Leave it at that. There’s nothing wrong with leaving the crowd wanting more. If you play another song, you are saying, “We don’t care that we aren’t headlining. We don’t care that this isn’t our show. We will do what ever we want, even if we make the show run late.” In short, you’re being an asshole.
The only time this is ever ok, (and it’s only kind of ok) is if the headliner themselves are telling you to go back onstage. But beware, if you do this, you still run the risk of getting an earful after the show. I know from experience. You just have more of a leg to stand on because they told you to do it.
That’s it for this week. Next week: Not sure yet. We’ll see. Stop pressuring me.
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I disagree with all of this. I play in an all girl band and mouth the fuck out of security, bar staff, headliners, etc. because I know that NO ONE will say anything to us. We're girls so we've got to be kidding around, right? It's hilarious the shit we can get away with because of our tits.
ReplyDeleteWe run long, play as many encores as we want and usually leave the mics in puke, backline covered in beer and never watch the other bands. It's the best! FUCK EVERYONE ELSE. The music industry isn't about making friends... it's about being memorable and, in the long run, no one remembers the quiet, polite guy.
You would disagree with this, McCool. And it must be nice to not get fucked up by burly angry dudes because you're a girl, so it's easy for you to say.
ReplyDeleteI remember many polite guys. The boys from Moneen are the nicest and sweetest dudes ever, and they are an amazing live band. Mute Math were some of the politest and down-to-earth guys we've ever played with. Another dynamite live band.
And not everyone can be the dick and not give a fuck. At some point someone has to clean up the mess left behind. It's your right to be that way, but it's also the right of everyone working around you to not want to work with you if you constantly act that way.
Not everyone has the pure unbridled talent and chemistry to make it as a not-give-a-fuck musician. Some people have to work really hard at getting all the small breaks they can.
And don't pretend... You're nice to me every time you see me. You can't fool me, McCool. You're a nice gal at heart.
its funny cause you're both right!
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