A Happy Band Means A Happy Crowd

Have A Good Time Onstage!

   I previously wrote an article called A Happy Crowd Means A Happy Band, in this post I’ll discuss the opposite point of view. It’s true that the band feeds off the audience, that being said, the audience is the most unpredictable part of your gig. We as live musicians would like to have a pumped up, excited audience every time we play. We can’t control the audience mood but we can control our mood. Or at least how we appear when we’re playing. Whatever your mood appears to be onstage, it will carry over to the crowd. So even if you’re having a terrible night, keep things light and keep a smile on your face.

   The thing that we have to remember as performing musicians is that people are watching us every second that we’re up there onstage. If you have a sour, pissed off look on your face I can guarantee that the audience is going to give it right back to you. There are always going to be jerks in the audience that are going to try to push your buttons and get you to give them a negative reaction. The thing is, if you sink to their level and get angry and start fighting with them from the stage, the rest of the crowd will see that you lost your cool. Even if you tell the jerk off and give him the finger, the crowd sees you acting like a lowlife jerk as well. Most of the crowd won’t see or hear the jerk in the audience that’s harassing you but they’ll see how you’re acting onstage. The next thing you know, the whole audience will tone down because enough of them saw you lose your cool and you just killed the mood in the room.

   That’s why it’s so important that you keep a level head onstage. It’s okay to call a jerk out and let them know they’re being a stupid idiot. It’s just that you have to do it while staying calm and cool. Instead of launching into a profanity laced tirade over the microphone, you could simply say “Sir, I would take you a lot more seriously if you didn’t have that big booger hanging from your nose.” Then as he tries to wipe the booger away, keep telling him he missed it. That should get a good laugh from the crowd at least and keep the mood in the room light.

   WIth that being said I’ll leave you with a few more of my favorite comebacks. Remember to say them with a big old smile!

  • If your Mom would have had change for a 10, I coulda been your Daddy.
  • Somewhere there’s a village missing it’s idiot.
  • Isn’t it sad when brothers and sisters marry?
  • Hey buddy, do I come to your job and interrupt you when you’re asking people if they want to Supersize?
  • We barely know the songs that we know!



Author: Live Musician Central

My name is Matt Rushton. I have been playing in bands for 27 years. I've been playing professionally for 21 years. I have opened for Sheryl Crow, Barenaked Ladies, Joan Jett, Little River Band, and Quiet Riot.

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