Gauging audience reaction

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Something's been bugging me. Audiences go to gigs with the intention of enjoying themselves, and more often than not as fans of the band. So when journalists write that a band was rapturously received, how can we tell if this was just the fans jumping up and down because they always intended to do so, or because much of the audience was swept along by musicians playing at the height of their powers? How do you gauge audience reaction?

― Japanese Giraffe (Japanese Giraffe), Wednesday, 1 June 2005 11:42 (twenty years ago)

"chatter"

― The Sensational Sulk (sexyDancer), Wednesday, 1 June 2005 13:20 (twenty years ago)

I'm more shocked by audiences "rapturously receiving" bands they couldn't have possibly had enough time to get into (especially with the current barrage of bands of the week). You know -- people religiously mouthing lyrics in the front row of some UK band's first-ever US concert. (Just don't bring up the Beatles on Ed Sullivan, I'm talking Razorlight etc)

― joseph cotten (joseph cotten), Wednesday, 1 June 2005 13:26 (twenty years ago)

That's a very fair point. Bands appear to get followings with indecent haste these days, and people do dish out their enthusiasm very quickly and easily, it would seem. It's a steep trajectory.

― Japanese Giraffe (Japanese Giraffe), Wednesday, 1 June 2005 14:13 (twenty years ago)

Bands appear to get followings with indecent haste these days...

They're called "street teams." Having a line of kids mouthing lyrics to your songs on your first show in the US is very transparently a stunt.

― Xii (Xii), Wednesday, 1 June 2005 15:23 (twenty years ago)

This is another reason why most gigs suck. There should be more booing, bored chatter or appalled silence. I'm sure this sort of thing happens at Classical events all the time.

― Jetlag Willy (noodle vague), Wednesday, 1 June 2005 15:26 (twenty years ago)

http://www.trainerswarehouse.com/images/hoot-collagehome.gif

― hstencil (hstencil), Wednesday, 1 June 2005 15:29 (twenty years ago)

"a band was rapturously received" = "I even left the bar"

― Tom (Groke), Wednesday, 1 June 2005 15:31 (twenty years ago)

They should have a panel at the side of the stage with those score cards they hold up for Ice Dancers.

― Jetlag Willy (noodle vague), Wednesday, 1 June 2005 15:46 (twenty years ago)

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