[Dixielandjazz] The Original Million dollar question

Mon, 15 Jul 2002 13:10:32 -0600

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The original Million dollar question was not why some Festivals hire
particular bands, but rather WHY is one band "exciting" with full rooms
and other good bands with good players entertaining a small crowd.

My opinion:

1.  The band looks like it is having fun and is having fun.  I've been to
lots of sets
with good musicians who look bored; indifferent to the audience; consumed
with
the arangement they have to  read, etc..    If the band is relaxed and
having fun, 
the possibility of the audience also having fun rises expotentially.

2.  Humor.  It doesn't have to be slapslick or jokes or silly stuff; but the
band
that laughs WITH the audience, at each other, a unique situation or
occurance
with make a much better connection with the audience.

I understand the hottest festival band at the moment is the Titan Hot 7.
The musicianship
is incredible (lots of people think Bob Draga is one of the greatest stick
men in history)
and the others are excellent, but this group has so many antics and schicks
that the
audience leaves holding their sides and wiping tears from laughter.

Wooden Nickel.   Great humor from Bob Williams and Brady McKay and the
others.

High Sierra-  Incredible audience connection.  Howard Miyata leading the
audience in
clapping to one of those high energy tunes.  They band members speaking to
people they know in the audience.  Lots of Dutch humor (oxymoron) from Peter
Meier.
At set end, people think the band had at least as much if not more,  than
the audience.

Jean Kittrell, Red and John - Boy do they know how to romance an audience.

Night Blooming-  Chet is certainly one of the great wits anywhere.

In fact, pick a popular band and describe what they do OTHER THAN MUSIC, and
I'll
bet they've got a lot laughing and/or audience connection going on every
set.

3.  Sense of timing.  The popular bands never stand around and discuss what
to play
next, or looking for music in the book.  There is no dead time on stage.
The show cooks.

4.  Matching the audience with the tunes.  Blue Street will do an entirely
different
set in a "trad" or small venue than they do in the big top.  Lots of bands
don't like to
do requests... but the ones who do and acknowledge special numbers for
people in
the audience build loyalty and are probably playing songs the entire
audience wants 
to hear. Some bands play very few "dance" tunes.  In a room with lots of
dancers, a band
that draws big crowds will play mostly danceable music.

In short,  my belief is that people fill those rooms because they are
ENTERTAINED by
the band, not just serenaded with music.   Perhaps "serenading" is where the
"musicians
musicians" come into play.  But, most festivals can't make a living off of
musicians. 

It will be interesting to hear others ideas on this!!

Cary Hobbs

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<TITLE>The Original Million dollar question</TITLE>
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<BODY>
The original Million dollar question was not why some Festivals hire 
particular bands, but rather WHY is one band &quot;exciting&quot; with full=
 rooms 
and other good bands with good players entertaining a small crowd. 
 
My opinion: 
 
1. &nbsp;The band looks like it is having fun and is having f=
un. &nbsp;I've been to lots of sets 
with good musicians who look bored; indifferent to the audience; consumed w=
ith 
the arangement they have to &nbsp;read, etc.. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;If the band=
 is relaxed and having fun, 
the possibility of the audience also having fun rises expotentially. 
 
2. &nbsp;Humor. &nbsp;It doesn't have to be slapslick or jokes or silly stu=
ff; but the band 
that laughs WITH the audience, at each other, a unique situation or occuran=
ce 
with make a much better connection with the audience. 
 
I understand the hottest festival band at the moment is the Titan Hot 7. &n=
bsp;The musicianship 
is incredible (lots of people think Bob Draga is one of the greatest stick =
men in history) 
and the others are excellent, but this group has so many antics and schicks=
 that the 
audience leaves holding their sides and wiping tears from laughter. 
 
Wooden Nickel. &nbsp;&nbsp;Great humor from Bob Williams and Brady McKay an=
d the others. 
 
High Sierra- &nbsp;Incredible audience connection. &nbsp;Howard Miyata lead=
ing the audience in 
clapping to one of those high energy tunes. &nbsp;They band members speakin=
g to 
people they know in the audience. &nbsp;Lots of Dutch humor (oxymoron) from=
 Peter Meier. 
At set end, people think the band had at least as much if not more, &nbsp;t=
han the audience. 
 
Jean Kittrell, Red and John - Boy do they know how to romance an audience.<=
BR>
 
Night Blooming- &nbsp;Chet is certainly one of the great wits anywhere. 
 
In fact, pick a popular band and describe what they do OTHER THAN MUSIC, an=
d I'll 
bet they've got a lot laughing and/or audience connection going on every se=
t. 
 
3. &nbsp;Sense of timing. &nbsp;The popular bands never stand around and di=
scuss what to play 
next, or looking for music in the book. &nbsp;There is no dead time on stag=
e. &nbsp;The show cooks. 
 
4. &nbsp;Matching the audience with the tunes. &nbsp;Blue Street will do an=
 entirely different 
set in a &quot;trad&quot; or small venue than they do in the big top. &nbsp=
;Lots of bands don't like to 
do requests... but the ones who do and acknowledge special numbers for peop=
le in 
the audience build loyalty and are probably playing songs the entire audien=
ce wants 
to hear. Some bands play very few &quot;dance&quot; tunes. &nbsp;In a room =
with lots of dancers, a band 
that draws big crowds will play mostly danceable music. 
 
In short, &nbsp;my belief is that people fill those rooms because they are =
ENTERTAINED by 
the band, not just serenaded with music. &nbsp;&nbsp;Perhaps &quot;serenadi=
ng&quot; is where the &quot;musicians 
musicians&quot; come into play. &nbsp;But, most festivals can't make a livi=
ng off of musicians. 
 
It will be interesting to hear others ideas on this!! 
 
Cary Hobbs 
 
=20
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