When tuning, I've been known to say "I've got it surrounded!"

I usually get babble-mouth when introducing songs, or so my wife says -- I personally think I'm just full of information and want to impart it to the audience. The wife agrees with the "full of it" part. I've used the "introduce the band" bit, but talk into the mic while saying, "Pete, this is George. George, this is Pete. And I'm Bob!" It accomplished the introduction to the audience while providing a minor change from the usual introduction. Since Sidekicks gigs so little, none of our stage patter is likely to get old as far as the audience is concerned.

I try not to have too many introductions that I memorize by rote, though, since those who do remember our last gig (or were warned about us by their parents) will also remember the intros and say "They haven't changed a bit!" And I avoid a couple of real cliches: "We've had many requests, but we're going to play anyway," and "Here's one of your favorites; I hope it's one of ours."

That do? If not, try Utah Phillips:

"Getting here was a foot, which is to say a 'singular feat.'"

Bob Clayton