punkfolkrocker: "Ballads that drag on for more than 5 minutes should be avoided."

Also, (and this is important), AVOID by all means, playing two SLOW blues pieces, back to back!...you will lose your audience!!! ...and that is a well known FACT in the industry!...(unless they SPECIFICALLY went to hear that particular performer, who is already known for their material!).

...and hearing a healthy applause, after a piece, sends a reaffirmation to the 'artist' that their material was well received...which, of course, is useful to the performer on what works, better than other stuff.

For me, unless I see tears running, followed by a standing ovation, then I think I fucked up! That tells me I 'got inside'.
...and don't even try to 'reinterpret that' to mean 'something else'!

True story.

GfS