As far as Live perfomance goes... what do you think is most important?

[AudioPhile777]

Option A:

Play 100% of the notes/chords properly, but stay relatively motionless on stage. Focusing mainly on the music.

Option B:

Play 95%-98% of the notes/chords properly, but move around quite a bit and put on a decent show.

Option C:

I'm not going to bother listing anything lower than 95%, because I wouldn't want to see anyone that couldn't play the great majority of their songs properly...


I'm finding myself in the Option B area mostly... depending on the music. I try to be very mobile and engage the audience.

*Note: If you're able to run around like a crazy person and never play a wrong note... I hate you and I don't believe you.

 

[JeffTD]

Option B. It's a performance, after all, not a showcase.

 

[Nebulous]

Yeah definitely B with slight modifications to suit each band and song.

 

[Line666]

A is for the record, B is for live.

 

[Jackal_Strain]

B definitely. Somtimes you have to sacrifice a note here and there for the sake of the show.

 

[deanbailey]

If possible, Play 100% during B? otherwise option A.

IMO A band plays music, not perform theatre, the performance should always come secondary to your playing.
You can't have a performance without the music, but you can have music without a performance.

That way you don't have to re-record the instruments on your bands DVD

 

[professorlamp]

I would've said C

It's a performance, I'd like to see them have a little fun and it rub off on me.
Also im not into uber tightness, I saw dream theater live last year and i haven't listened to them since not a joke.

 

[Scissors61]

I'd say that people usually come to a show to see the band actually put some energy into their performance.

Why bother going to see a band if they're just going to stand still and play the songs? You may aswell have just sat in your room listening to their CD whilst looking at a photo of them...

I'd say it sort of comes with the metal genre... If you're going to see an orchestra, then yeah, you'll probably want the focus to be on the playing, but metal is such an aggressive form of music that it's sort of expected for people to actually put a little bit of passion into their live performance. If you're playing an incredibly heavy song, it almost looks un-natural to just stand still

Just my two cents, but I just know that I personally would rather see energy and passion over 100% technical perfection.

 

[Sweetnothing]

B is what I want to see when I go to some gig, and it's the same thing I try when I play live

 

[shred101]

I saw dream theater live last year and i haven't listened to them since not a joke.

So a band plays well live and they go down in your estimate? Hmm...

-

I think its about the comfort zone of the player in relation to the music to be honest. If I go to see a band then I just end up propping up the bar if theres no energy in the performance but at the same time, theres nothing worse than hearing people severely fuck up live. Especially if you're a member of the band . Being tight, confident on stage and having the endurance to pull it off well is where its al for me.

 

[professorlamp]

I wanted to see DT for ages and then I went there and... it honestly felt like thousands of hairy guys listening to a CD in a field, they were stood perfectly still with james la brie ruining every song as usual

 

[Jarkko Mattheiszen]

I've seen some shows where the band is playing pretty horribly (even though they were definitely good bands, just having one of those days), laughing about it and putting on a fucking great show. I'd take that before option A any day To me it's all in the enegy, so I choose B.

 

[El_Gato]

B, unless you're playing classical

 

[smy1]

C - who needs 95% perfection when 75% is more than enough? Energy, groove and audience rapport are what matters.

 

[Jarkko Mattheiszen]

C - who needs 95% perfection when 75% is more than enough? Energy, groove and audience rapport are what matters.

This is pretty much how I feel. It's also the reason I prefer small, intimate club gigs to big venues and festival shows.

 

[JayB]

Definitely B , I hate when bands pull a Slayer and stand there like fuckin statues

 

[crazykarl]

OPTION D

Be a drunk douche and use a beer bottle as a guitar slide for a whole set.

 

[JayB]

OPTION D

Be a drunk douche and use a beer bottle as a guitar slide for a whole set.

HAHA yes

 

[DolphinSplatter]

C

 

[slashvanyoung]

More than often you'll deal with sub-par sound (especially if you're still trying to get a foot in the door), so standing around like a statue, trying to be 100% tight, will be worth fuck all anyway.

If you're Dream Theater, people will come anyway. They know what to expect and 90% of the audience isn't bothered by lack of movement anyway because that would just make it unnecessary hard to stare at JP's fretboard.

However, an energetic performance can't be an excuse for blatant non-tightness.

Edit: Anyway. haha.