When I write about how the show went, I imagine people could make the mistake of confusing MY point of view on the show with how a listener would see it. You see, my idea of what makes the show good for me is much different than what would constitute a good show for one of the listeners. For regular readers of this journal, it's important to keep that in mind when I talk about "how the show went".
For me, a successful show is based on three points:
+ I manage to sing well overall
+ I manage to maintain a consistent level of entertainment through the drops (sound effects) and on-air segments of the show (which essentially means I was more or less funny overall and had the majority of the audience on my side over the course of the night).
+ I get through the show without technical problems (computer crashes, bad cables, other random bullshit).
If I can keep all these plates spinning for the entire night, I consider it a three-point show, and I go home happy. These shows happen regularly enough that I don't just give up, but obviously not as often as I'd like. This problem is compounded by the fact that I sometimes am so bad at reading the crowd that I get upset, thrown off or angry when, in fact, the crowd is totally content. That's happened a couple times in the last few weeks, but it's not that often. Usually I know if I've lost them or if I'm pwning their asses. Of course, most people in the audience don't pick up on the nuances, and if they're thinking about me at all, they're just thinking either that I hate my job and intend to take it out on the audience, or that I'm in love with the sound of my own voice. Anyone that thinks either is true is not really tuned into the show, and will never really be a listener. The truth is, I burn a lot of calories worrying about how to make the show entertaining and funny without people think I'm trying to make it about me. I'm just doing my best to keep people interested when a bad singer is prompting people to tune out, and establish a connection with the listeners so that they understand that I'm hanging out, just like them. Also, I want to feel like the songs I perform are mostly marshmallows and not cereal. Basically, I just want to be good company, and help people get through the "karaoke" part which is, to me, otherwise insufferably dull. Regular listeners will notice that I don't fuck with singers that are doing a good job (I like good music too), or singers that are really genuinely unaware of how fucking awful they are (not on the air, anyway, since it's no fun and not funny unless they're in on the joke).
Anyway, tonight was okay, but probably only a two-point show. The audience was made up mostly of Irish tourists who, as tourists tend to do, only cared about how often they sang, when they'd be up next and how fast they could drain the pitcher. Since that mindset generally puts the kill on the fun for me, I didn't really get any response for most of the show so I just phoned most of it in. Not so funny tonight.
Two out of three ain't bad, I guess. The good thing is that the listeners know what the audience doesn't- that sometimes all the worry and effort and singing and funny in the world can't save a show that was just gonna suck no matter what I did. And that there's always the next show, with a fresh three points up for grabs.
Thanks for listening.
For me, a successful show is based on three points:
+ I manage to sing well overall
+ I manage to maintain a consistent level of entertainment through the drops (sound effects) and on-air segments of the show (which essentially means I was more or less funny overall and had the majority of the audience on my side over the course of the night).
+ I get through the show without technical problems (computer crashes, bad cables, other random bullshit).
If I can keep all these plates spinning for the entire night, I consider it a three-point show, and I go home happy. These shows happen regularly enough that I don't just give up, but obviously not as often as I'd like. This problem is compounded by the fact that I sometimes am so bad at reading the crowd that I get upset, thrown off or angry when, in fact, the crowd is totally content. That's happened a couple times in the last few weeks, but it's not that often. Usually I know if I've lost them or if I'm pwning their asses. Of course, most people in the audience don't pick up on the nuances, and if they're thinking about me at all, they're just thinking either that I hate my job and intend to take it out on the audience, or that I'm in love with the sound of my own voice. Anyone that thinks either is true is not really tuned into the show, and will never really be a listener. The truth is, I burn a lot of calories worrying about how to make the show entertaining and funny without people think I'm trying to make it about me. I'm just doing my best to keep people interested when a bad singer is prompting people to tune out, and establish a connection with the listeners so that they understand that I'm hanging out, just like them. Also, I want to feel like the songs I perform are mostly marshmallows and not cereal. Basically, I just want to be good company, and help people get through the "karaoke" part which is, to me, otherwise insufferably dull. Regular listeners will notice that I don't fuck with singers that are doing a good job (I like good music too), or singers that are really genuinely unaware of how fucking awful they are (not on the air, anyway, since it's no fun and not funny unless they're in on the joke).
Anyway, tonight was okay, but probably only a two-point show. The audience was made up mostly of Irish tourists who, as tourists tend to do, only cared about how often they sang, when they'd be up next and how fast they could drain the pitcher. Since that mindset generally puts the kill on the fun for me, I didn't really get any response for most of the show so I just phoned most of it in. Not so funny tonight.
Two out of three ain't bad, I guess. The good thing is that the listeners know what the audience doesn't- that sometimes all the worry and effort and singing and funny in the world can't save a show that was just gonna suck no matter what I did. And that there's always the next show, with a fresh three points up for grabs.
Thanks for listening.
VIEW 6 of 6 COMMENTS
crushjunkie:
I think you do a great job keeping yourself out of the show while running it and being entertaining at the same time. Somebody once said a perfect (soccer) referee is one you don't even notice. You are an impressive karaoke referee. May you have many stars in your future.
lucy:
...Weird and crosseyed?
