BAND MAGIC
Professional musicians can play! They also shout out the crowd, each other.
Sometimes it’s hard to get out to see live music. Once upon a time, a friend/neighbor and I had season tickets for the symphony. That was a hoot! She was a trained pianist, so she was familiar with the music. Me, not so much! I really preferred the opera; opera had it all — a story with characters, costumes, sets, beautiful music, dancing, sung conversations between and among the artists. Best of all, English translations ran across a screen above the stage; I could half-way figure out was happening, in case I couldn’t tell from the expressions on the faces and/or from the body language of the singing actors.
Nowadays, my preference is for live music — usually bands with a singer or two. The settings vary from bars to clubs to taverns to “listening rooms.” There will be food and/or beverage service. The music may be “covers” of some well-known, popular hits, or original songs composed by the band members themselves. I have noticed that the real pros interact with the listeners in the venues: “Where you from?” “Do you have requests?” “Sing along with us on this chorus!” “Look at these cuties dancing!” And so on.
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The real pros also acknowledge the skills and contributions of each member of the ensemble. They also make sure to feature each member on at least one song, name them by name, SO their home-towns, and maybe identify some musicians or bands that they have played with.
I also like when head-liners are there for the opening acts. In fact, I think that every artist ought to see the performance of every other artist at the show. Techniques are shared, and contacts are made. And it shows a degree of respect for the others “on the bill.”
Music is an art, of course. It is also a business, with best practices that contribute to a fun night for performers and for fans.
