The Financial Importance of Performance Patter
While you don't want to talk too much or between each song on stage, last night's gig illustrated that you never know when a brief explanation or plug of your CD will result in a sale. The one song that turned into a trainwreck (though nicely resolved by all parties -- after the solos, half the band took one route through the chart, the other half took the other, leaving me no choice but to start singing the outro vamp) ended up being the reason one fan came up to me and said "I want to buy the CD that has that original song you said that DownBeat reviewer liked." Surprised but delighted, I sold him the CD and filed away a mental note: You just never know what will catch someone's interest, but it's helpful to give them guideposts to your music along the way.
posted by Alexa Weber Morales @ 7/31/2008
1 comments
1 Comments:
I actually think patter between songs is extremely important and what sells a performance -- along with, of course, the performance. I love hearing singers (for example) talk about what they're going to sing and what they've just sung -- like DJs. And on stage, who else is going to do that job? Some background on how and why the number was composed, who's performed it, memorable renditions (which you're going to emulate or depart from, and why), an interesting story about a time you heard it in Antarctica or over feijoada in BahÃa or whatever, a few names as famous as possible strategically but casually dropped in... all of that gives a context for the listener, especially the first-time listener, to hear the song and appreciate the remarkableness of you. It also creates a rapport, an intimacy, a sense of knowing who you really are (not available on CD) for the audience. So I say, patter, patter, patter away -- when you first come out, reminding everyone who the band members are and what you're going to give your listeners tonight; front- and back-announcing between numbers in the manner described above... and just generally creating a relaxed mood and even helping people absorb each song at a little easier pace than the cut, cut, cut of a CD. Patter -- not overdone, of course -- displays your personality as distinct from your persona, and it's what makes live gigs more interesting than records (along with the possibility of wardrobe malfunctions).
But maybe that's just me.
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