The dont's of live performance

[7 Dying Trees]

We've all seen enough bands to comment, so what are in your opinions the things that kill a band off at a live enviroment? Basically, a list of things which are just absolute no's

 

[eaeolian]

Carry your 1000 pedals in their own separate boxes and then plug them up for your 1/2 set opening for three bands.

 

[NegaTiveXero]

Standing there looking at the fretboard the WHOLE show.

Like wise, not getting into the music at all, the audience sometimes needs to see energy to get moving.

Singers/guitarists turning away from the crowd for no reason. Especially during solos.

 

[7 Dying Trees]

Tuning instruments with the sound on. Even worse is two people tuning to each other with the sound on. This is summarised by:

Bands not having a tuning pedal.

 

[Lozek]

One of my pet hates on smaller shows is guitarists/singers that insist on getting down on the floor with the crowd. It always comes off as a bit desperate, if your music/stageshow isn't connecting with them then you need to re-think things.

Don't make personal jokes with your mates in the crowd, there's other people in the audience as well.

If there's technical issues, for gods sake someone else in the band cover it. An impromptu solo/jam/joke/dance routine is all it takes. (and don't call your audience names to cover it )

 

[Nick]

singers with their mic free hand in their pocket. might sound daft but it shows disinterest

 

[nitelightboy]

Band members getting totally obliterated prior to hitting the stage. Drugs and alcohol in moderation may help you get up there, but go too far and you're gonna play like crap (even though you hear yourself as being the next guitar god).

 

[halsinden]

being mikael akerfeldt.

stunning music, stellar vocals, drab to watch.

H

 

[nitelightboy]

And let's not forget abouta band that just stands there. FRIGGIN' DO SOMETHING!!! Hear that Dream THeater?

 

[halsinden]

One of my pet hates on smaller shows is guitarists/singers that insist on getting down on the floor with the crowd.

um...

shit.

H

 

[Makelele]

being mikael akerfeldt.

stunning music, stellar vocals, drab to watch.

H

Bullshit.

Opeth rules live. In every way.

 

[halsinden]

spitting.

H

Bullshit.

Opeth rules live. In every way.

like i say man; i love their music and almost everything about them, i was engaged, i just didn’t enjoy watching them.

this was overall several sittings a few years ago, mind. he may have pulled something out the bag since then, but being glued to a mic stand just doesn’t do it for me.

H

frontmen who apologise / explain / are overwhelmingly negative.

“i know we’re shit, but, my postman kicked me this morning and that’s why i didn’t hit that note in…”

just get on with it, nobody’s interested in reasons or excuses for pulling punches.

H

 

[Lozek]

While we're on that one, DON'T forget to entertain your audience. Unless you're Dream Theater/Steve Vai etc, your audience is not entirely made up of musicians and they really don't care if you're playing in a 'Mixolydian half gypsy nunchuck' scale. Entertain them for the sake of all that is carbon based.

 

[Lozek]

Oooooh ooooh oooooh, another one. Don't, please please don't, dedicate the next song to your girlfriend. No-one else sees the beauty in your saggy, mole ridden walrus of an attempt at human likeness. Just don't. really.

 

[halsinden]

Oooooh ooooh oooooh, another one. Don't, please please don't, dedicate the next song to your girlfriend. No-one else sees the beauty in your saggy, mole ridden walrus of an attempt at human likeness. Just don't. really.

or perhaps as a second to that - overly long diatribes between nearly each & every song, a la phil anselmo / axl rose.

and perhaps then once actually off the stage (and sometimes on) - laypeople such as bono genuinely postulating on politics as if he’s in a position to be revered. it’s an abuse of profile, IMO.

H

 

[Lozek]

or perhaps as a second to that - overly long diatribes between nearly each & every song, a la phil anselmo / axl rose.

H

And also conversely, long silences/technical fiddling between songs.

 

[halsinden]

technical fiddling between songs.

necrophagist on a violin? how would that be a good filler? you’re weird.

H

 

[Lozek]

necrophagist on a violin? how would that be a good filler? you’re weird.

H

'If by technical, I mean........' etc etc

 

[Groff]

You know what I hate?
Singers who get all pissed off at people who aren't standing right up front in their face. Now it's one thing to say "I wanna see some movement!" or "Hey, lets all get up and mosh!" But when they go up and be a complete ASSHOLE about it, it's just fucking stupid. For example: "Hey!! You stupid mother fuckers at the bar sitting down! Get your drunk lazy asses up here! I wanna see you mother fuckers moving right now!!" *Crowd simultaneously thinks this guy is an asshole and stops paying attention* "Hey! I'm talking to you! Get the fuck up!"

...Nothing makes me want to NOT pay attention more.

 

[Nick]

being mikael akerfeldt.

stunning music, stellar vocals, drab to watch.

H

when i saw opeth he was moving around the stage and having fun.

Some guys just arent going to go crazy on stage they just arent like that.