Quote:
Originally Posted by CaptJohn
 Being a long time musician myself in concert and dance bands, audience participation can really improve a fun evening for all. Different venues can affect results too. Having the 'fixed' audience far away and with all the dancers in between makes for a difficult mix. Some bands can combine both with their performances and others just don't quite have "it". I've always preferred audiences close to the stage so we could interact with them better. |
CaptJohn, you are right on. I played sax in HS, college and a few dance bands. Sometimes our music just wasn't what the audience wanted, but when playing at a night club, the more the audience got into it (and applauded) the better we got (well, maybe the drinks helped too)!
Maybe with entertainment 7 nights a week, people start taking it for granted. Nothing helps more than making requests. Even if the group can't play your request, you have at least made a connection with the group and can thank them personally.
I also clap when we've been to TV and plan to continue that courtesy when we get moved down.