Ever been annoyed by an audience?

rascaljim · Post by **rascaljim** » Tue Dec 18, 2007 3:20 pm

I once flipped a kid "the bird" at a parade while playing.

I was riding a float playing with a brass quintet and he threw a piece of candy at me. Fortunately it missed me, but it hit the bell of my MW2000. I wasn't too happy. Fortunately, the group leader had a sence of humor.

Last time I'll play a parade in Zion.

Rick Denney · Post by **Rick Denney** » Tue Dec 18, 2007 8:51 pm

When the TubaMeisters played at Fiesta Texas, we loved those days when the water park was open. That elicited an important instruction given by one member to another, when distraction was causing a problem (or likely to), "Stay between the lines."

But I wouldn't call it annoying.

Rick "annoyed by audiences mostly while being an audience member" Denney

TubaRay · Post by **TubaRay** » Wed Dec 19, 2007 8:14 am

Rick Denney wrote:When the TubaMeisters played at Fiesta Texas, we loved those days when the water park was open. That elicited an important instruction given by one member to another, when distraction was causing a problem (or likely to), "Stay between the lines."
But I wouldn't call it annoying.
Rick "annoyed by audiences mostly while being an audience member" Denney

I've gotta agree with Rick. It was not annoying. It may have been distracting, but not annoying. Unfortunately, Rick, Fiesta Texas has a dress code in place now, which has had a considerable effect on this situation.

And to respond to the original question: Of course!

LoyalTubist · Post by **LoyalTubist** » Wed Dec 19, 2007 8:36 am

When I was the band director at Sekolah Pelita Harapan-Bukit Sentul in Indonesia, the headmaster requested that I play a recital as part of the school's Christmas program. Of course, I played very light music. I played before the band played (and I needed the energy to conduct them). Well, the choir director began by singing, the music theory teacher played a couple of Chopin pieces, I played some old Bill Bell things, the choir sang, then the band played.

All during the concert, everyone talked. I don't think anyone really listened to what was going on. Since I was the third person to go up (and the only one who wasn't from Indonesia), I realized that they were that way to everyone.

I have noticed this even in Vietnam. Today, I tried to teach all my English classes some Christmas songs. As soon as I started singing, they began talking and not paying attention. Hopefully, part of my mission here will be musical: to teach people that the polite thing to do in a concert or a recital is to be quiet.

Maybe I mentioned it before in this forum, but when Julio Iglesias and Willie Nelson went to Jakarta to perform (at different times, not together) the audience did the same thing. Julio kept his cool but swore he'd never go back to Indonesia, except as a tourist. Willie got mad and didn't finish. He told the Jakarta Post that he tried eye contact with everyone he could see in the audience and couldn't get any.

Welcome to Asia!

TubaSteve · Post by **TubaSteve** » Wed Dec 19, 2007 10:56 am

We had a Christmas concert that we were recording for a CD as pepple have been asking for a Christmas recording for years. We had a lady somewhere near one of the mikes that sang through most of the concert.

We recorded the concert again last Saturday. There was a big snowstorm, so the audience was down significantly, perhaps she didn't want to brave the snow, but she was not there. We may finally have a CD for next year.

Steve

Art Hovey · Post by **Art Hovey** » Wed Dec 19, 2007 11:43 pm

1. Political events are the absolute worst. Those people never stop talking and don't give a s***t about music of any kind.

2. Did you hear about the marriage counselor who was getting nowhere with a certain couple? After trying for an hour he walked over to a closet, pulled out an upright bass, and started playing. Within two minutes the husband and wife were talking to each other. He's never seen anyone who wouldn't talk during a bass solo.

windshieldbug · Post by **windshieldbug** » Wed Dec 19, 2007 11:52 pm

... the guide turns to the hunters and says, "Uh oh, drums stop!".
The hunters shoot a worried glance between them and ask, "What does that mean?"
The guide, with a shocked look, says, "Bass solo!"

DonShirer · Post by **DonShirer** » Thu Dec 20, 2007 8:09 pm

One famous occasion of audience misbehavior happened during a vaudeville performance by the comic duo of Sweeney and Duffy. Both were somewhat drunk and the audience hissed them constantly. Finally Duffy stepped up the the mike and stated: "In appreciation of your enthusiastic response to our act, my partner, Mr. Sweeney, will now pass among you with a baseball bat and beat the bejesus out of you!"

tofu · Post by **tofu** » Fri Dec 21, 2007 2:58 am

eupher61 · Post by **eupher61** » Fri Dec 21, 2007 6:49 am

Several times, I've been audienced by an annoyance.

lgb&dtuba · Post by **lgb&dtuba** » Fri Dec 21, 2007 7:42 am

tofu wrote:What amazes me at concerts that I attend is how much people get up and move about and yack. I don't seem to notice it when I'm onstage playing but when I sit in the audience. And the people that just talk continuously. Why do they even come? It always seems like the worst offenders are women in their 50's.

I think that music is just the ubiquitous background noise to life these days. There's nothing special about its presence. It's everywhere. Most of the audience has probably heard what you are playing many times. It's called classical music for a reason. Sort of the ultimate oldies.

Many of the people who come to concerts are there to see and be seen. It's a social event. Not to actually listen to you (or me). And that's nothing at all new. Read accounts of the shenanigans at the Paris Opera from over 100 years ago.

skinnytuba · Post by **skinnytuba** » Fri Dec 21, 2007 1:38 pm

I went to a concert of Mark Moore's at U of IL, and about halfway through a long piece, an older woman near the front of the hall started to unwrap and eat a large sandwich.

windshieldbug · Post by **windshieldbug** » Fri Dec 21, 2007 1:42 pm

skinnytuba wrote:I went to a concert of Mark Moore's at U of IL, and about halfway through a long piece, an older woman near the front of the hall started to unwrap and eat a large sandwich.

Why!? Was it flat?

TubaRay · Post by **TubaRay** » Sat Dec 22, 2007 12:03 am

skinnytuba wrote:I went to a concert of Mark Moore's at U of IL, and about halfway through a long piece, an older woman near the front of the hall started to unwrap and eat a large sandwich.

I believe this simply confirms that some people just don't care.

tofu · Post by **tofu** » Sat Dec 22, 2007 1:10 am

Biggs · Post by **Biggs** » Sat Dec 22, 2007 2:01 am

skinnytuba wrote:I went to a concert of Mark Moore's at U of IL, and about halfway through a long piece, an older woman near the front of the hall started to unwrap and eat a large sandwich.

That's nothing! I've eaten a sandwich while GIVING a concert!

Northern · Post by **Northern** » Sat Dec 22, 2007 10:20 am

You know the audience is too close when, after playing a loud passage, somebody leans over and hands you a Tic Tac.

windshieldbug · Post by **windshieldbug** » Sat Dec 22, 2007 11:14 am

Dean E wrote:Ever been annoyed by an audience?

You mean that there are other people around when we play these things!?

TubaRay · Post by **TubaRay** » Sat Dec 22, 2007 11:59 am

Northern wrote:You know the audience is too close when, after playing a loud passage, somebody leans over and hands you a Tic Tac.

LOL(VL)