Originally Posted by
allenhopkins
IMHO: Don't think of it as "banter." It's -- to use a weird analogy -- like jewelry: a "setting" for the music, that will show it off to the best advantage. The between-song conversation with the audience should be designed to focus their attention on the next musical number, and to prepare them in terms of mood. You don't get 'em guffawing in the aisles and then strike up Memories of Mother and Dad. You want your audience relaxed, attentive, friendly and alert.
In every band or group in which I've played (close to a dozen now, I guess) I've been either the "front guy" or the "co-front guy." So I've probably made every mistake possible -- and that doesn't count all the goofs I've pulled as a solo performer. I've been long-winded, inappropriately facetious, inappropriately sentimental, overly terse, hostile, inattentive, and just stupid. I've used profanity when I shouldn't, ridiculed audience members and got them mad, belittled my band-mates, introduced the wrong song, acted angry and sullen and goofy.
So -- don't do any of those things! Here are some (really modest) suggestions:
[1] Don't assume your audience knows a lot about your music; don't be afraid to talk about styles, instrumentation, song selection, how and where you found a song, what its background and history are.
[2] Personal stuff -- up to a point -- can be positive. How the band got together, where you come from, what you do for a living if you don't do music, how long you've been playing, why you like bluegrass/klezmer/Celtic/jazz/whatever.
[3] When the introduction is longer than the song, that's generally a bad thing (I make an exception for Utah Phillips here).
[4] Audiences soon catch on when you're working from a prepared script. If you have a standard introduction that you always use with a song, consider reworking it at some point. A marvellous performer, Bill Staines, almost always uses the same stories to introduce certain songs, and if you've seen him several times, you start almost filling in the words ahead of time. That's not the mood you want your audience in.
[5] Never show anger, disappointment, or hostility if you can help it (Michael Richards, are you listening?).
[6] Be, or become, sensitive to the reaction of your audience. I work with seniors, developmentally disabled, children, schools, historical societies, etc. etc., and I think I've learned to "read" an audience pretty well (usually). Some love it when you shmooze with them; others say "shut up and play your mandolin." It generally only takes a couple songs to get the mood of the room.
[7] Work things out with your band-mates ahead of time, so they have some idea of what you're planning to do. Don't contradict each other ("We learned this song from the Bluegrass Cardinals." "No, it was IIIrd Tyme Out."). Good interaction among band members is pleasing to the audience, but don't try to out-talk each other, step on each other's "lines," or publicly reveal any tensions, personality clashes etc. If this is the last show before you break up (been there!), don't let on.
[8] Be yourself. (Who else can you be?) Taking on a "stage persona" works if you're Minnie Pearl, but most of the rest of us aren't that good at it. If you're naturally humorous, go for it. If you tend toward understatement, use that. Only make sure it "meshes" with the other band members.
[9] Finally (jeez, 'bout time), selecting a "spokesperson" because he's the only one who doesn't have to change instruments, may not be the best criterion. I change instruments more than anyone else in my bands, and still act as "front man," because, despite all the mistakes outlined above, I've gotten fairly good at it.
Long-winded? Who, me? Hope there's a thing or two you can use...
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