Does anyone else find the practice of doing encores at concerts silly? I mean, when you're done, get off the stage! There's been a few concerts I've been to where there were no encores, though the crowd was conditioned to expect one or two of them, the light came on, the crowd milled about for a few minutes, and then wised up that the band was not coming back.

I see nothing wrong with the idea of encores. They're simply part of the whole experience, and provide a sense of closure, especially with bands who have signature songs.

Yeah, I think the whole thing has become rediculous.

Consider it was not always this way. An encore is supposed to be a spontaneous thing where in reaction to the audience, they come out and do another song.

Now, it is expected that they will do some more songs, including that signature song you know they have yet to play. And sometimes it is expected that they come out multiple times. It's a farce really. Would I be any less happy if they just kept playing until the set list was done? No.

I guess it does enable the band to take a small breather, wipe the sweat, drink some water.

Funny, I was at a concert where I think the audience was really done by the end of the main set. A few die hards clapped and expected the encore, but the majority of people just got up and started heading for the exits.

A bit confusing, they eventually just turned on the house lights.

Encores WERE originally a spontaneous thing, driven by the crowd cheering for more.

Now they ARE expected, but they do serve a purpose.

They break up the set.

You've got the main set, and your encore - OR, if the band is creative, a main set and multiple encores.

Main set - 15 songs

1st encore 3 song mini-set

2nd encore - fan favorite, signature song to end the show.


Doing it that way CAN add to the pacing of a concert - plus it does give the opportunity to cut the show short if things aren't going well (like the crowd is burnt, or just not into it) - just cut out the 1st encore in a case like that.

If the crowd is REALLY into it, the band could even extend the 1st or 2nd encore. It gives a lot of flexibility - IF the band is creative enough to use it that way.

Encores are ok.

I like encore's. Although I don't think a planned encore is really an encore, anymore. It's just part of the regular set.

Now 2 years ago, I was at a Hank Williams Jr. concert {he is not known for doing encores, period} and the house lights came up and everyone started to leave. Well, after about 10 minutes the lights went back out and he played another 3 songs. Course most of the people were already gone from the building so they either didn't hear the music or coudln't get back in, but Hank played to about 3,000 of us who stuck around.

I hate encores.

It's awful that some artists have to explain to the fans why they don't do encores. But I respect the hell out of all artists who refuse to do them.

I despise encores. Incorporate those songs into the set list or don't play'm at all. I don't wanna be there picking my bum for the majority of 1.5 hours while the band decides to do one of it's multiple "encores". There's nothing lamer than to have the encores be longer than the "main" set. Sheesh.

Mayniac

Yeah, the whole concept needs to be altered. Who's being fooled by the "encore"? The singer knows damn well that he's going to be back on stage in five minutes, so why does he go through the charade of saying, "Goodnight Cleveland!" They should just say, "Thanks, we'll be back in a few minutes". I'm all for giving the band a couple of minutes to hose down and get a drink, but if I'm left standing there in the dark for very long, being forced to periodically applaud or hoot in order to keep the "demand for an encore" vibe going, I get a little miffed. Let's just call a spade a spade and drop all of the pretense.

Now what I'd really like to see is an audience who aren't conditioned like lab rats to exit when the house lights come up and actually stay and demand another encore. That would be something.

I agree that they're silly. I love it when the band comes back on and acts flattered that the audience cheered for an encore. As if anybody is fooled. And then they go on to perform their biggest hit!

I also think it's silly when they say things like "[YOUR CITY NAME HERE] is our favorite place to play. You guys rock!" I'm always hoping they'll slip up and name the wrong city.

Maybe you guys think that the concept of encores is ridiculous, but if you're talking about bands outside of the mainstream and smaller local bands, encores are a really cool thing. I'm actually the front man for a local band and we haven't had to do an encore yet. It's not that we suck... We're just a relatively young band, and we're not polished enough to put on a great show yet. Hence, we haven't earned an encore. Then again, I'm fairly confident that if we didn't play our "closer" at the end of a show, people would probably keep cheering in an attempt to get us back out to play it. That would be manipulation for the sake of getting an encore, but it would at least tell us that people really want to hear a certain song. On the other hand, if we played our closer and the audience was still going nuts after we left the stage, we'd have earned the encore with an awesome show, and that's something that feels good for a young relatively obscure band who really doesn't get too much fan appreciation.

And as far as encores being a "given" in mianstream shows... they aren't. If a band doesn't think the audience is grateful for the first half of the show, they won't come back out. There was a Counting Crows show about a year ago where the band didn't play an encore because the audience really didn't sound like it wanted one. Then the audience got pissed about not getting an encore. But how do you think the band felt? They're supposed to be one of the better rock groups in the country these days, and they couldn't get an encore. From an artist's standpoint, getting on stage and performing on a nightly basis is a very difficult thing to do, physically and emotionally... and unless you're a major act charging ridiculous ticket prices, the monetary benefits of concerts and touring really aren't that great. In reality, most artists tour because they love performing and giving something to the crowd... I don't think it's ridiculous for them to want to walk off stage and hear the crowd asking for more. Just knowing that you've given people something that they've enjoyed and that they want to hear more of is really what makes live performances worthwhile for the musicians.

On a totally unrelated note, if you want to hear mp3s of my band's first gig, cheeck out the media section at www.ferriswheeljunkies.com. Pardon the mess. The site's still under construction. And keep in mind it was our first gig... so don't be expecting greatness.

'E

BUT....

Encores are now so totally planned (in any mid-sized and up club) that its all really part of the show. If the house lights don't come up after a set, everyone knows that there will be an encore and will stick around appluading until they do. This will repeat as many times as the band has decided. Ever notice how a crowd will begin cheering for another encore after the final set, but then the lights come up, and the applause immediately ceases because everyone knows that they are not going to get anything more. It's just like rats in a lab.

OK. That I can agree with. I really wish the audience would have the common sense to stick around and keep cheering after the house lights come up. You can say that it's all planned and that house lights signal the real end of a show... but I'm pretty sure that if an audience stayed after the house lights came up and made enough noise, a band would come back out and maybe do another song, not to mention that they'd probably be completely flattered. I know I'm always screaming and clapping after the house lights come up, but I also know that a band's not gonna come back out just because one idiot in the third row is screaming and clapping. Who knows? Maybe one day I'll be part of a crowd that isn't conditioned to shut up and go home when the lights come up.

'E

You mean to tell me that an encore isn't earned by the fact that you're part of the best damn_crowd they've ever played in front of? Next you'll tell me there is no tooth fairy. The horror!

Encores are okay, but I think that more than one is a bit excessive. The band knows that we like them, or neither them nor we would be there.

i love encores for this reason:
i was at the SUMMER SANITARIUM tour 2 summers ago, and METALLICA did a nice 2 hour set, ,then they got off the, then 5 minutes later u heard the gun shots and all that of the beginning of ONE. it was pitch black, then when the guitar work started there they were, back! and i was expectin a lil 3 or 4 song set, they did seriously another 2 hour set. then they left again, lights still down, and BAM another set (this one an hour long) and to finish out the evening fire works (it was july 4th, independence day) the band wishin every1 happy 4th of july!! METALLICA is a rare band that treats their fans great, and know how to put on a DAMN good show! (as well as all the other bands there that day, ,SYSTEM OF A DOWN, POWERMAN 5000, KID ROCK (w/ one of JOE C's last appearences) and KORN!!) i have been to a fair share of concerts and NO OTHER band has ever put on the type of show METALLICA puts on!

I saw Weird Al at Navy Pier here in CHI summer before last, he does a heck of a show, he puts all of his heart into his performance.

After it seemed like the concert was over, most of us started to get up and leave, but we just sort of milled around for a bit, then after a few minutes, Al and the band came back out dressed as Jedi's and Sith Lords and did an awesome encore twofer of Yoda and The Saga Begins.

The energy level of the crowd was something else.

Urban legend has it that most of the bands who do encores use the timeout for a potty break.

Maybe they should do like Pixar and show bloopers from rehearsals on the big screen.

I think its more like a "pot break" instead of a "potty break" for lots of bands...

Check the "Live" DVD, he always does this. Sorry, you're not special after all :P

Well, at least it's better than trudging out on stage, mumbling a few songs, then leaving.

I agree that the planned encores are just pointless. For example who in the audience is fooled when a band such as Lynyrd Skynyrd goes off the stage without singing Freebird. Gee I wonder if they might do it for an encore.
If your going to do an encore you should at least not do your only hit during the encore.

hmm LYNARD SKYNARD's only hit was FREEBIRD??????????
i beg to differ, SWEET HOME ALABAMA and countless others!!

ooohhh that smell....