Sometimes, playing a band, you have a gig where everything seems to be going right with the band. All the stuff you worked on is going just as planned, the vocals are crisp and the solos are sparkling. It feels great – but then you look at the audience, and they are clearly not engaged. What’s going on?
It could be a number of things. Maybe the venue isn’t fit for the kind of music you’re playing. They’re a blues crowd and you’re playing bluegrass. Still, if the band is good enough, it should impress any music lovers, right?
Sometimes, it’s nearly impossible to fix things when the band and audience aren’t in sync. That can make for a very long, uncomfortable evening as the band plays their hearts out to an audience that is trickling their way out the door.
Other times though, the band can fix things by being especially observant to audience reactions as you’re playing. Some audiences prefer vocals (good vocal harmonies have an appeal that is generally genre-proof), and some appreciate instrumental virtuosity.
In my experience, good vocals is the most consistently effective fix, though. Ears not used to hearing mandolin, fiddles or banjos can be basically immune to the most astonishing pyrotechnic displays on those instruments. And inflicting more won’t solve it.
Imaginative arrangements with ear-catching things like trading 4s or 2s can be aurally exciting in a way that transcends familiarity with the material. Keep in mind that the senses are designed to detect changes, so songs and arrangements that highlight sonic changes will help the listeners stay engaged.
Finally, keep some old standards in your repertoire. Despite your steadfast dedication to the best in Scruggs/Flatt/Monroe obscure masterpieces, it can completely change things by whipping out a rousing version of Foggy Mountain Breakdown, Lonesome Fiddle Blues, or even a heartfelt Man of Constant Sorrow. Suddenly folks are paying attention, and they’re thinking of songs they’d like to request.
You have a vision of how you want your band to sound, and what songs you want to feature. But if you’re playing in public, that’s not a vacuum – the audience has a right to be entertained, and it’s up to the band to try and bridge the gap and help them achieve that. If you’re playing in a venue accustomed to bluegrass, this is pretty easy to do. If it’s a venue that features a variety of music, you may have to find a way to help make new bluegrass fans.
