JPF Home Page Forums General Messages General Message Forum Humorous Things to Say Between Songs

Jean,
I understand where you're coming from on this, however, it's easier for us as musicians and/or songwriters to focus and listen to a piece of music or a song. Because of our musical backgrounds we pay attention to those things more readily. As for the average listener, sometimes they need to be prodded into paying attention so that they can hear that someone else is going through the same things as they are and find relatabilty through a particular song. Case in point, my song "Eugenia" which I posted on the Lyric Board #2 recently. When I introduce that song and explain how it was written and the things I went through with the passing of my Mom, I can see the audience take notice of what I'm saying and actually stop chatting (which people often do in coffeehouses) and LISTEN to the song which always results in very positive reaction from the audience. As well, I've had people come to me between sets and tell me how touched they were by the song. Furthermore, when people are actually listening to what I'm performing, they have a tendency to come over to the merch table and look at my CD's to find which CD the song they connected with is on, which usually leads to sales. I'm not attempting to "dumb down" an audience, but I know for a fact that I listen to music much differently than say my brother, wife or sisters. I can listen to a song and block out other parts enough to just study the hi-hat pattern on the drums and how it's subdividing the rhythm, or find little guitar lines that are interwoven through a section. Either approach to communicating with the audience is really neither right or wrong, I guess it's just a matter of learning to read the audience and figure out through experience what's gonna work or not. I guess we'll have to agree to disagree on this one, yet I respect your honest opinion.
Best,
davey O.

[This message has been edited by 3daveyO3 (edited 11-09-2002).]