I never thought it would happen, but my patter is slowly becoming integral to the performance of at least some of the songs. It isn't that I try to be witty (though the patter does raise the odd laugh or smile), or that I need the time to re-tune (I perform in standard tunings). But rather that my songs, and the way the sets are structured, are meant to "play" with people's emotions, raising them high, taking them steeply down etc, making them think about certain aspects of life, and the patter helps prepare them for the next step.

Over the last 2-3 years, much of the patter has been honed, bits that don't work have been dropped, other bits have come in etc, and so it has become 70% standardised; but I try to weave in things that happen at the time, audience reactions, bits from the latest news etc, as much for my own sanity as for the audience's : I don't want to hear myself saying EXACTLY the same things every time, I need to enjoy the performance too after all, or I know I will come out "flat". And of course, as new songs enter the sets, new patter comes with them too, to keep the variety and the interest.

But no jokes at the expense of the audience or witticisms. Any mirth tends to be directed back at myself or at humanity's frailties instead.