Written by Chris Simoni Wednesday, 09 September 2009 06:13

When it comes to bands, the best bands are not only great players, but are also great performers and entertainers.  While I have seen many great musicians in bands, some are not the best performers, and certainly not entertainers.  While it may seem that playing, performing and entertaining are all variations of the same; they are actually quite different things in a band context.  Here we will talk about the differences in these.

Playing

Playing is the culmination of many years of practice needed to develop the chops to pull off great solos that fit into the context of the song that is being played.  Playing develops on the individual level and also the level of the band as a whole.  Bands that work to hone their craft have tight and distinct breaks in their songs, finely tuned harmonies, and a show that flows from one song to the next.  It is often that a band may spend many hours practicing and repeating a song, before an actual show, to work out the kinks and so the players can mesh their parts within the song.  The result is a smooth performance at a later show.

Performing

Performing is having a command of your instrument or voice.  When you have a connection to your instrument, your playing is natural and graceful.  This comes only after years of training and practicing.  The practicing not only makes the part you are playing accurate, but also allows the player to relax while playing and make it seem easy.  The final result is playing that is natural and effortless, so that the performer can move about the stage, make eye contact and interact with the audience.

Some examples:  Slash, EVH, Foo Fighters, SRV.

Entertaining

This is usually the extra step a member in the band makes to interact with the audience and with other members of the band.  Usually only one member takes up the entertainer role, and is usually the lead singer.  This may include talking to the audience, dancing, and doing other things that draw attention.  Entertainers are fun to watch, engaging and connect with the audience.  Having a great lead person in a band, is many times what differentiates good bands from great bands.

Some examples: Mick Jagger, Bono, Steven Tyler, Freddie Mercury.

So next time you are out checking local area bands, consider which ones follow these basic concepts.  Are they connecting with the audience, or do they seem distant and indifferent?  Are they moving around or are they wearing concrete shoes?  Are they enjoying themselves?  Just remember playing, performing and entertaining at the next show you attended.