Concert format

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(Assuming at first that you're not going to see a mega-performer or an unrehearsed/unaccomplished bar band...)

What are the ideal conditions for seeing a live show? People have mentioned that a CD/LP should only be 47 minutes long - But is a concert better if it is 47 minutes long or 3 hours long?

And should there be seating or standing? Should there be a warm-up act? Should the warm-up act be similar to the main act or totally different? Should everything start precisely on time or should the times be casual?

Is it better for the performer to be esoteric and play what the "true" fans want to hear - or should they play the hits?

What about gimmicks? Lighting, smoke machines, video screens ....

― Dave225, Monday, 8 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I've enjoyed long gigs but I tend to get a bit bored after an hour or so.

― Tom, Monday, 8 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Bored after an hour!? -fuck no, a good concert should have you wishing it will never end, simple as that

― kiwi, Monday, 8 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Yeah but in that case why do ppl complain about 74 minute CDs? A good experience - any experience - is one which makes you want another one, i.e. it satisfies but not absolutely.

― Tom, Monday, 8 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

you should always want more not less, so slightly shorter sets better for this. i think 90 minutes is an absolute upper limit, although i have seen some great stereolab shows that have exceeded this

must be standing not seats. i dont go to seated shows, there is just something not right about it

― gareth, Monday, 8 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Q.Yeah but in that case why do ppl complain about 74 minute CDs? A. Cause theyre fucking boring

― kiwi, Monday, 8 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

The cds not the people!

― kiwi, Monday, 8 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Yes exactly, boring because too long, just like concerts.

― Tom, Monday, 8 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

i would like live music more if it was more like the charts: eg a succession of 3-min acts w.no particular reason why one comes after another

― mark s, Monday, 8 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Youre going to the wrong gigs my son, how can u compare 74 min cd to live concert? As Wilco might put it "Being There"

― kiwi, Monday, 8 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I'm not saying every long gig sucks. I'm saying 60 mins is the upper limit for an averagely good gig. I've been to great long gigs and great short gigs - and loads which would have been much better if they were a bit shorter. Just like if the best act in the world ever ever put out a 300 minute album I'd love it, but unless you're at those giddy heights 60-70 does the job.

Best gig I ever saw = six half-hour performances.

― Tom, Monday, 8 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

To answer Dave's other questions - both, yes, different, casual depending on the quality of intro tapes/DJs. More gimmicks the better unless they're lame. A third the hits, a third the songs which work best live, a third new stuff. (Esoteric B-Sides etc can fuck off).

― Tom, Monday, 8 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

there is no god, ABBA has just released a 5 hour albulm, sorry Im drunk goodnight

― kiwi, Monday, 8 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I like longer shows. 2+ hours is fine with me and sometimes I leave the show after 3+ hours wanting more. I feel unsatisfied with short sets. I want encores. Multiple ones.

Standing is fine with me, but I like the option of a bench or couch to sit on if I get tired.

The opening act should be someone a) I've never heard of or b) someone that I've been wanting to hear. There should be no more than 2 opening bands.

They never start on time, so there is really no need to complain.

The set list should include new songs, released and unreleased, old favorites, and no more than 2 cover songs.

― Jeff, Monday, 8 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

"a bench or couch": clearly labelled "jeff's couch: if you are not jeff sit elsewhere please"

― mark s, Monday, 8 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Ideal length depends on how much your legs ache if you have to stand and how much your butt aches if you have to sit.

― Ned Raggett, Monday, 8 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

band playing MUCH TOO LOUD. white light piercing right through your BRAIN (if you have one). if rock show BEER. if pop concert BEER. if bad show MORE BEER. if you can locate boxes stand next to'em. it is good not only because your ears will pop pop pop but also you will have space to moves yer phat arse. no video screens. no arenas. i don't want to feel one with a million other people who obviously berate the fact they paid too much to see dots moving on a stage.

― nathalie, Monday, 8 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Why is that, unlike the jazz world where two or three sets separated by breaks is standard, rock bands are expected to play one set straight through no matter what the length? More importantly, should it be this way?

― Jordan, Monday, 8 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

concerts should have halftime shows -- complete with a totally dorky marching band and some underpaid guy in a bear costume jumping through hoops of fire.

i actually did this as part of a concert i organized once -- in between bands i had a halftime show with an IMPROV marching band - they couldn't march in formation for the life of them, and they didn't know any songs (on the spot i ordered them to play 'the star spangled banner', and they did the most woeful rendition possible, with each member playing DIFFERENT NOTES!!)

― geeta, Tuesday, 9 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I wish somebody could tell me exactly the point of opening acts. Especially in stadium or pop shows where they have seven different nonentities on before the headliner. I don't recall loads of U2 fans walking out afterwards with BoDeans t-shirts.

― dave q, Tuesday, 9 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Best gig I ever saw = six half-hour performances.

you just gotta keep bringing that one up, dont you...

― jess, Tuesday, 9 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

What would that be, then?

― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 9 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

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