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Help: dealing with hecklers
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Subject: dealing with hecklers From: Roger in Sheffield Date: 01 May 01 - 03:34 PM Last night at a pub session someone was singing unaccompanied and everyone was listening intently, when a spiteful voice cut through the room. An old woman who had be sitting fairly quietly in the corner had obviously had more than enough to drink. "Its like being at a wake" she said loudly and then chuckled to herself. The singer bravely continued and everyone in the room ignored the heckler, this did not work though, she had found her voice and was going to have some fun. So the next performer was also heckled, much to the annoyance of his wife and everyone else. Many people politely asked the hecker to be quiet, or move to one of the other rooms in the pub, but she was having non of it. Luckily this was right at the end of the night anyway or I am not sure what would have happened. I wasn't sure what to do, this old lady was offending people who I think of as friends yet she was beyond any reasoning with, and I wasn't sure if I could be arrested for dragging her out of there! So just in case she turns up next week do you have any ideas? Roger |
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Subject: RE: Help: dealing with hecklers From: GUEST,Karen Date: 01 May 01 - 03:44 PM Ask her to sing! |
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Subject: RE: Help: dealing with hecklers From: Dita Date: 01 May 01 - 03:48 PM My pal Danny Kyle alwats liked - "Go and sit beside the wall, that plastered tae" "Last time I saw a mooth like that it had a hook in it" Failing the subtle approach, you should ask the licence holder (can't spell licencee), to remove her before your company removes it's self elswhere for good. I'm guessing you spend more in there, and bring in more punters than she does. love, john. |
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Subject: RE: Help: dealing with hecklers From: GUEST,UB Dan Date: 01 May 01 - 03:57 PM I think Karen's is the best suggestion...if they want attention, go ahead and give it to them. Ask the person to stand up for their moment of fame and have the bar applaud them...or have the bar stand up and point to her so that everyone knows who the comedian is ("ladies and gentleman we have someone with us tonight who has a few words of wisdom to share, to make sure that we can all gain the most, let us all stand up, focus all of our attention on our visiting sage and grant her a moment of silence wherein she can drop her pearls of wisdom...if you please madam - begin"). If all that fails ask the manager to cut her off or remove her. Insults will often make a heckler more belligerent, and the legal ramifications of laying hands on anyone is too great to risk simply to avoid an annoyance. |
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Subject: RE: Help: dealing with hecklers From: GUEST,Karen Date: 01 May 01 - 04:06 PM Actually after I wrote that first comment which I admit was meant to put her off I thought about who a heckler was. People who feel "part of a group" never heckle. It's those who feel they are "outside the group" that do. You might want to politely include her in the singing. I realize I don't know this woman's personality and this suggestion may be a horrid one to you but, if asked nicely, you might be able to turn the situation around. Don't make it worse by saying, "Well, if you don't like it, let's hear you do better." Instead you might say something like, "I'm sure you've heard some great songs in your time. Would you like to share one with us?" If she hestitates, go on and suggest a song asking her if she knows it. Maybe you could get the group to sing it with her. If this works, I'll bet her heckling days are over with this particular crowd. |
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Subject: RE: Help: dealing with hecklers From: M.Ted Date: 01 May 01 - 04:20 PM It depends on the hecker--even the best considered response is often wasted on someone who is drunk--remember that some people just get mean when drunk, and there is nothing to do but throw them out, and hope they don't have a bunch of drunk friends and family members waiting for you with bottles, pipes, and such things after the session is over-- |
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Subject: RE: Help: dealing with hecklers From: InOBU Date: 01 May 01 - 04:34 PM There was a Hells Angel type at a sessuin here in New York. He was being loud and stupid, so I asked him not to be as loud during ballads, but go ahead and be loud durring the Celi tunes, which where loud enogh to dround him out. Well, there was a very nice we girl singing a Sean nos song, and the mouth started again, so after polite clapping there was a moment of silence, and his mouth again, so I said, "Well, it is true, a good singer is a rare old thing, but a loud mouth yabo is as common as flies on shite..." His friends pulled him out of the bar, as he wanted a piece of me, which I was fine to have a round or two with him... so in the end, he was ejected to avoid the fight. I got a talking to by the management, so I wrote a satire, on the spot, sang it and left... If there is any interest, I will try and find my song, the Dempsey's Parting Glass, about how Irish pubs in New York have no respect for music anymore... Cheers, Larry |
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Subject: RE: Help: dealing with hecklers From: Clinton Hammond Date: 01 May 01 - 04:54 PM Next time she shows up, walk past her and fart right in her face! if that don't shut her up, nothing will! ;-) |
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Subject: RE: Help: dealing with hecklers From: Hollowfox Date: 01 May 01 - 05:49 PM If you and yours are regulars at the pub, and it sounds like you are, have the manager deal with her. You're good, steady customers, and it's bad business to let some jerk drive them (you) off. I was at a workshop last summer that touched on this topic. The teacher said not to give them the attention they wanted, because they'll only demand more. (Actually, he said, "Squash 'em like a bug." but he was talking about street theatre/clowning and related suchlike.) I don't know a diplomatic way to deal with this myself, which is why I recommend letting the landlord deal with it. Good luck. |
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Subject: RE: Help: dealing with hecklers From: Peter K (Fionn) Date: 01 May 01 - 08:38 PM I am reminded of a terrific folk bash at the Bishop Grosseteste college, Lincoln (UK), 30-odd years ago. Donovan was to have headed the bill but pulled out and fobbed us off with a Scottish duo called the Humblebums, who no-one had heard of, but who Donovan assured us were sensational. He was right. At one point they took a break and handed over to a softly voiced lass, and the volume of audience chatter increased. One of the Humblebums - only 20-ish, but bursting with charisma - jumped back on stage, said "excuse me, lassie," took the mike off her, and bellowed: "If you want to talk, leave. NOW. If you want to stay, don't be SO FUCKING RUDE!" Instant silence, and the mike was handed back. The humble bum in question became better known as Billy Connolly; the other was his pal Tom Harvey. I also remember some punter heckling the Dubliners at the Albert Hall for refusing to sing rebel songs. Eventually Ronnie Drew said: "Let's have a spotlight on that fella, so we can see if the rest of him's as big as his mouth." Evidently satisfied by what he saw, he said to the bloke: "If you want to carry on this argument, we'll both go outside now, and leave everyone else to enjoy themselves." The challenge was not taken up, and there were no further interruptions. One last thought. In 1956 Kuruschev denounced Stalin at a private sesion of the Moscow Soviet. According to Rene Cutforth, a Daily Express journo who wangled his way in, someone shouted: "If you knew he was doing all this, why didn't you stop him?" Kruschev shouted: "Who said that?" And when no-one spoke up, he said "There's your answer, my friend." |
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Subject: RE: Help: dealing with hecklers From: kendall Date: 01 May 01 - 10:33 PM Generally, it is best to have the management deal with a heckler. However, humor has done it for me on the rare occasions that I've had a heckler. One of my favorite encounters was at a bluegrass festival. Many of the local bluegrass fans like what I do, so, I felt right at home. The sponser asked me to sing a song about a dog, (they love tear jerkers) Well as I was introducing the song, this drunk in the front row yells out "DOG" D.O.G dog. I can spell cat too CAT." I just sat there looking at him. He finally realized that I was staring at him, and I said "Please continue, I cant wait 'til you get to Chrysanthemum." Everyone started to laugh, he left the grounds and was not seen again. As long as the performer has the microphone, he/she has a big advantage. You can make a fool out of anyone. 'Course most of the hecklers dont need much help. |
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Subject: RE: Help: dealing with hecklers From: Amergin Date: 01 May 01 - 10:41 PM a good knee capping should do the trick.... |
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Subject: RE: Help: dealing with hecklers From: Peter Kasin Date: 01 May 01 - 11:29 PM I once heard a performer say to a heckler, "Ah, yes, I remember MY first beer!" The heckler actually appreciated the humor and applauded along with the audience and nodded his head, as in "Good one. You got me." Well, that's a best-case heckler scenario, so once in awhile you get a heckler who just wants 15 seconds of fame and will shut up at a witty response, especially if the rest of the audience is with you, as in Kendall's experience (that was great, Kendall!). If that fails, I would go with the other's suggestions about the manager. -chanteyranger |
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Subject: RE: Help: dealing with hecklers From: Deckman Date: 02 May 01 - 12:13 AM Great Subject! I watched the late Bob Gibson, back in the late 1950's, practise his routines in the beer halls on 45th street, in Seattle. Here's how he learned to handle hecklers ... it was do or die. His brother would walk into a tavern and unplug the jukebox. All eyes would focus, and then Bob would walk in with his banjo, he knew five chords then, and start singing straight folk songs. Usually the crowd would get unruley, but he was determined to learn how to perform. Years later, I watched his finesse (sp?) in handling hecklers. Believe me, it's a well earned art. The late and great Walt Robertson was an absolute pro at this. As others have mentioned, sometimes you can turn to spotlight on the jerk. CHEERS, Bob (deckman) Nelson |
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Subject: RE: Help: dealing with hecklers From: GUEST,_gargoyle Date: 02 May 01 - 12:30 AM The rebuttle must ALWAYS hinge upon what the person said.
The intent, is to make THEM the butt of the joke, and have the audience laughing AT them, without their knowing why.
After two or three shut downs...they are always ready to quit. YOU must NEVER be offensive...the the hinge of the "joke" swings upon the other's remark. It requires a quick wit....but with practice you can practice it. (The mudcat "family" are a good place to practice.) So...back to YOUR specifics..."It sounds like a wake" Stop.....you reply "Yes, indeed, you are very perceptive, the wake of a boat, lapping against the shore." ..... Her, reply, "No a funeral wake"..... Your reply, "Yes, indeed again, that is it precisely, a funeral wake, from a boat overload with a dead-drunk-fat-woman.....Now, back to that sound you like so well....listen for it again."
Her, "No your music is dead"
You, "Yes, for a corpse you are most lively, and it for you we played this dirge, a pity you have not missed your own funeral." etc. etc. etc.
By now, either the bouncer has done his duty, or you switch pace into another number, much more lively than before.
Most importantly, Have FUN, and the audience will too. |
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Subject: RE: Help: dealing with hecklers From: GUEST,BigDaddy Date: 02 May 01 - 12:32 AM A favorite performer, Sean Ryan, used to use, "Ya know, in Biblical days it was considered a miracle when an ass spoke." This usually got lots of laughs from the audience and a confused look from the heckler. |
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Subject: RE: Help: dealing with hecklers From: GUEST,_gargoyle Date: 02 May 01 - 12:35 AM Dear Armergin
For those of non-Irish roots, please explain a "knee-capping."
Myself, I think a full "IRA-six-pack" is more appropriate in the worst of cases. |
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Subject: RE: Help: dealing with hecklers From: JedMarum Date: 02 May 01 - 12:37 AM A good hearted joke at the heckler's expense sometime allows the heckler a way out and warns him the next joke may not be so kind ... then pointed insutling humor at the heckler's expense may work ... but as Kendall says, I think it's the club owner's responsibility to keep the peace. I've offered to handle a misbehaving audience member on occasion and always found the management would much prefer to do it themselves! In this case it sounds like you may have to get more of the session folks involved. Get many to voice their opinion to the lady. She'll back down or incurr the wrath of the room. |
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Subject: RE: Help: dealing with hecklers From: Liz the Squeak Date: 02 May 01 - 12:53 AM I was once that heckler (still have my moments....) but I was never silenced by insults.... Mind you, I don't think I was ever that rude - I tended to send back one liners that everyone enjoyed, and I didn't interrupt the music once it had got past the second line..... In fact, one chap and I had such a thing going, that a visitor thought we were a double act and wanted to book us!! Hurling insults back doesn't work, although the Boring Old Fart (whose name escapes me but might be Derek Brimstone...) silenced one particular loudmouth (NOT me), with the well worn phrase 'When God gave you teeth, he ruined a bloody fine arsehole'..... Turn the joke back on them. if they are sober, they will get the point and shut up, if they are not, they will start in on you again, and that is when you need to get the club organiser or the licencee to eject them.... LTS |
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Subject: RE: Help: dealing with hecklers From: Banjer Date: 02 May 01 - 04:36 AM I would probably ask if I could play at his/her parents wedding, should they ever decide to tie the knot. It may take them a few moments to figure what they were just called. |
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Subject: RE: Help: dealing with hecklers From: KingBrilliant Date: 02 May 01 - 05:55 AM This one rings a bell (looking back to the original post). We had a similar incident at a singaround a while back, where an elderly couple talked loudly (intermittently) during songs. It was very unfortunate that the lady tended to be commenting on the songs & the people there. For example 'Oooh - I'm not sure if that one's male or female', and 'Well, its all quite pleasant - but none of them's really good are they?'. They were sat right behind me, so I had the benefit of most of these insights - and I'm pretty sure the voice carried throughout the room. Although it was very funny, we were starting to be a little fed up with the couple - we'd tried some subtle shushing &tc to no avail. We didn't feel it was right to go any further as it is a pub & they were there before the music started anyway. They were invited several times to sing & seemed tempted but declined (she joined in with some bits & pieces that were familiar though) Eventually they got up to leave (during a song of course) - and they said goodbye to everyone, thanked us for the songs & said how much they had enjoyed it and enquired was it on every week. They obviously had no idea that they had breached the folky ettiquette - and to be honest there's no reason they should know our sensitivities. There are after all lots of occasions when its perfectly OK to talk over music & singing & maybe they were used to those kind of events. Also - some people have no idea how loud their voices are. We all bid them a fond farewell, and reminded them that we'd love them to sing something next time please. I was so pleased that we hadn't got into an argument, because they turned out to be such a nice pair and had clearly intended no malice. I think we all had a warm feeling (ahhhh) and saw the funny side. Perhaps Roger's drunken lady will turn up next time & be totally different (perhaps it had been a bad day...). We haven't seen the couple since, but I hope that they feel welcome to come again any time & I expect that if they came again they would be likely to pick up the expected behaviour & would feel part of the group enough that a word in the ear would be sufficient. I think that Karen's idea about being part of the group hits the nail on the head. Another trick I've seen done in a generally noisy pub environment is for someone very able & confident (ie an experienced performer) to take a turn & sing something very quiet. The chatterers will often either listen or start to talk very quietly as a reflex action. Has to be someone charismatic & authoritative though. The volume takes a while to creep back up. Unfortunately I don't have the balls or skill to do that, so I just sing really really loud - which of course has the opposite effect as people have to talk louder to be heard. Tragically that's my reflex response - and it just makes things worse.......... Oh well - I'll try to be a better person in future.. Kris |
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Subject: RE: Help: dealing with hecklers From: GUEST,Mr Red @ Library Date: 02 May 01 - 06:29 AM Vin Garbutt reckoned shortly after it was his hardest night ever, Worcester - the Bush c1984 The audience thought it was the best night he did the worst offender was one of the organisers, but it has to be said Vin just has a way of saying things that the intelligent can really appreciate and the drunks can't quite catch. in a session/SAR there is very little that can be done with a person who craves attention. Give it to them and they feel rewarded, ignore and they keep craving. If you all go and sit around her and invite her to sing, she will either be so bad you can all comment loudly or probably refuse, so you keep staring at her till she feels uncomfortable. The problem with any such confrontation is that it needs concerted effort from what is a loose cohesion of persons and will you feel good about it at the end of it? Is there a cracking, loud chorus song about loudmouths that you all know? Would she be listening? Should there be one in the DT? Is there anyway? |
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Subject: RE: Help: dealing with hecklers From: English Jon Date: 02 May 01 - 06:51 AM I was once in a comedy club, in the audience. (True story). The act in question was obviously one of theose agressive types, take the piss out of the audience. You know the ones. Well, He had a real go at me. All evening, which was a shame, as I was there with some friends and otherwise having a very nice time, except for the barrage of serious verbal abuse off this guy. Anyway, eventually he gets to: "so what do you do for a living" I countered with: "I work for a theatrical agency" (true, at the time) The silence was...
....very funny. Anyway, he ruined my evening, so I knackered his act. The tosser's on channel 4 now. |
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Subject: RE: Help: dealing with hecklers From: Skipjack K8 Date: 02 May 01 - 07:39 AM For me, it depends on whether it's a session, or a paid gig. Our weekly session is a pretty bare knuckle affair, with no etiquette beyond common decency, and no ground rules, and it works, mostly. Anyone does anything they feel up to, and them as wants joins in. This is a bit libellous, so I hope the individuals ain't listening, but recently I have told a very good friend of mine to shut the feck up during a song he was drowning out. Our friendship cooled temporarily, but the reconciliation was swift, and he bought the bagels, so that's tacit acceptance. Result: Talk at bar, playing/singing in session. The paid gig is a different animal, as in the small pubs I have played, the asshole is usually the biggest contributor to the landlord's cash register, and I have been told of repeat gigs lost due to the best customer being made to look a total tosser, and leaving. So I've chosen to ignore, rather than get baited into some of the brilliant quips above. Skipjack |
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Subject: RE: Help: dealing with hecklers From: kendall Date: 02 May 01 - 07:51 AM A friend of mine was performing in a pub, and one guy was a real loud mouth. He beat his gums all through the first set, and, at the break, my friend asked the bar tender if he "Put that guy out" bar man says "I believe I could." He gave the guy a drinking glass full of whiskey, and by the start of the next set, the guy was out cold. It's more fun to out wit them than to fight them. |
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Subject: RE: Help: dealing with hecklers From: UB Ed Date: 02 May 01 - 09:38 AM I once heard a performer inquire of a lady talking during the songs if she could hear him alright. Upon her affirmative reply he said "Good! Because we can all sure as Hell hear you!" Worked. |
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Subject: RE: Help: dealing with hecklers From: GUEST,Midchuck upstairs Date: 02 May 01 - 10:32 AM Unfortunately, "Skipjack K8" has a darn good point. The most obnoxious people in a bar are those that drink the most, and those are the ones the management wants kept happy the most. Another reason we don't do many bar gigs. The solution comes down to: 1) Don't do bar gigs if you have a choice. 2) If you don't have a choice, get a sound system capable of doing actual structural damage - one of those with the main volume knob that goes up to 11. Peter. |
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Subject: RE: Help: dealing with hecklers From: GUEST,UB Dan Date: 02 May 01 - 10:44 AM Well...I guess it is true that there would be less of a heckling problem if you played in your own closet, but that hardly seems to be the answer. |
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Subject: RE: Help: dealing with hecklers From: GUEST,djh Date: 02 May 01 - 10:48 AM I had a heckler once. Worse then having one is attending a session/show/whatever with a friend, who can't hold his liquor, who BECOMES the heckler. Now That's humiliating. |
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Subject: RE: Help: dealing with hecklers From: KingBrilliant Date: 02 May 01 - 11:25 AM Or...... waking up on the morning after the night before and realising that you had been the heckler.... Kris (hypothetical honestly) |
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Subject: RE: Help: dealing with hecklers From: English Jon Date: 02 May 01 - 11:33 AM "If you want to be in the show, you've got to come to rehearsals" usually gets a laugh from the rest of the audience. English Jon |
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Subject: RE: Help: dealing with hecklers From: Kim C Date: 02 May 01 - 11:53 AM I like the one about the first beer and the rehearsals. How about "was that a giant sucking sound I just heard?" KFC |
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Subject: RE: Help: dealing with hecklers From: Dave the Gnome Date: 02 May 01 - 11:56 AM friend of ours who shall remain nameless to protect the Guilty... Anyway, he was a big guy, good voice, good guitar style, very quiet and well mannered. All the time he is doing nice laid back ballads at the folk club a drunken bloke at the back keeps shouting 'Give us The Wild Rover' 'Give us Dirty Old Town' and so forth. The artist, who as I said had been ever so quiet and well mannered invited the drunk right up to the stage, put his arm around him and whispered gently in his ear 'If you don't F!"£ off I'm going to break your legs...' We never saw the drunk again. Don't realy approve of violence but we knew our guest didn't mean it - and it was so funny at the time! DtG |
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Subject: RE: Help: dealing with hecklers From: GUEST,JohnB Date: 02 May 01 - 12:56 PM Some friends of mine met every third Friday night of the month at this particular pub, we had for a year or more. We went for a chat about this and that, all present appreciate music. The owner then on week brought in this Guy with a guitar, who HE liked. I guess we were pretty much ignoring the guy as that was not what we went for. The owner eventualy comes out and tells us to be quiet. We found another pub after that, his loss. Moral, try to make sure that you are in the right room in the right pub on the right night. I think that a seperate room is best if that is available. Keeps most of the riff raff out. JohnB |
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Subject: RE: Help: dealing with hecklers From: Don Firth Date: 02 May 01 - 02:49 PM Some good stuff here. I especially like UB Dan's method, above. Fortunately, I don't recall running into that many hecklers. Maybe I was just lucky. But in most of the places where I sang regularly in Seattle during the Sixties, the proprietors (Bob Clark at "The Place Next Door," Stan James at "The Corroboree" [Stan was an Australophile], and John Timmons at the "Pamir House") were pretty aware of what was going on and put a quick stop to it. They usually went to the to the heckler's table, picked up the check, and told them to leave now and don't come back. On one occasion I had to take direct action, but I knew the audience was with me. I had an acquaintance (I wouldn't call him a friend) named Alex. Alex was an out-of-work actor, and he loved the spotlight. He was also a self-appointed critic of everybody else's performances: actors, singers, dancers, whatever, he fancied himself an expert. He once told me that "It's a performer's job to capture my interest. If they don't, then they're not doing what they're paid for and they deserve what they get. Tough luck!" He was also full of advice on what was wrong with my performances and what I should do about it. He made one or two good points, but most of it I ignored, because it was goat-feathers -- just his ego exercising itself. One night at "The Corroboree" he kept talking to his companion, loudly, and in his stage voice -- as I sang. He was letting me know that I hadn't captured his interest. People kept shushing him, but he ignored them. Stan was busy in the kitchen, so I was on my own. I finished the song I was singing. When the applause, punctuated by Alex's stentorian voice, died away, I put my mouth about an inch from the mike. It was normally about a foot and a half away, with volume adjusted accordingly. Softly, I said "Alex. . . ." It boomed through the place like the Voice of God. Alex, startled, looked up at me. "Alex . . . Shut the hell up!!" The place broke into prolonged applause, cheers, and whistles. Alex got up and left, and I never saw him again after that. Don Firth |
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Subject: RE: Help: dealing with hecklers From: M.Ted Date: 02 May 01 - 03:10 PM Good stories all, and some are probably even true! Fun aside though, every situation, no matter how well handled, has a good chance of going bad, and after quite a few years on the firing line, I just can't deal with it any more, and I will not play out--not clubs, not pubs, not dances, nothing... |
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Subject: RE: Help: dealing with hecklers From: GUEST,leeneia Date: 02 May 01 - 10:55 PM This is a story I heard from Richard Gilewitz, one of the world's greatest guitarists and composers for the guitar. He was playing in the Florabama Club, a dingy bar on the Florida-Alabama line, and he happened to be doing his classical music set. As he played "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring," a drunk planted himself right in front of him and began to shout "Buffet!" - meaning that Richard should play something by Jimmy Buffet. Finally Richard looked him in the eye and said, "This IS by Jimmy Buffet." And the drunk said, "Cool!" and sat down. This story made me realize how rarely we think of a good, straightforward lie as the best way of dealing with a difficult situation. |
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Subject: RE: Help: dealing with hecklers From: Boab Date: 03 May 01 - 03:01 AM "Dito" quoted the master of eejit-putter-downers! Wee Danny could turn the tables even on drunks. Saw him "bested" once, though; Maw Burns, Irvine, at a "Murrmass" festival committe meeting had this riposte to Danny's apology for a somewhat curtailed effort that particular year [he said he had been given a job, connected to the Paisley year of Culture ] Maw burns says "YOU'VE got a joab??" 'Oh aye" says Dan, "Ah've got foarty folk under me!" Maw Burns--"Whaur's the joab---in the cemetery?" |
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Subject: RE: Help: dealing with hecklers From: Sarah the flute Date: 03 May 01 - 03:32 AM Am I alone? I actually quite LIKE HECKLERS. They can add a bit of fun to the evening if handled in the right way. If one's getting a bit over the top or disruptive someone usually removes them I find. Maybe its becos I'm a grrl! |
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Subject: RE: Help: dealing with hecklers From: Ella who is Sooze Date: 03 May 01 - 06:44 AM Sarah, I would tend to agree with you to a point with liking SOME hecklers... We do alot of pub gigs, and usually the heckling is very light hearted and a laugh, gives us all a bit to fire back at, and we get a good relationship going with the pub audience. Very rarely in a pub have we had any major problems, recently though I got a little freaked when one rather scary looking man, came over and decided to start rearranging my mics, talking over my voice mic and moving my bodhran mic whilst I was playing... Cooly, I asked him to go back and leave me alone. I told him, he was really annoying, rude, and if he didn't go away I was going to loose my temper. Basically he wanted both mics on my bodhran (arghhh!) as he liked the bodhran. He was though quite an agressive character, I noticed the lads in the band all their heckles rising and their faces getting redder, looking at me and asking if I was alright. In the end I had to stop playing, stand up, take the man to one side and tell him in no uncertain terms that he had better go sit down, before I called management. This happened anyway, the landlord had noticed and came over to help out... Apart from that, in sessions I have only ever encountered one seriously horrid heckler, and the rest of the pub listeners were enjoying the music, came over to us and said, never mind him... We're enjoying it. Ella |
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Subject: RE: Help: dealing with hecklers From: KingBrilliant Date: 03 May 01 - 06:48 AM Just another thought, on the general noise level thing. Perhaps we sometimes get a bit unreasonable in expecting non-participants to keep quiet & listen through a mixed bag of songs & tunes (at singarounds/sessions). I was at our local session last night & it got very noisy at times - but by the end of the evening I found I was chatting away as well. Its actually quite hard to concentrate on listening for 5 hours to a mix of styles and abilities. I know its very distracting for the performer, but realistically most people are gonig to find their attention wanders & they start to chat/laugh/shout from time to time. I know that's not actual heckling - but its a related issue. Sarah - was it you that put the grr in grrl??? :) Kris |
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Subject: RE: Help: dealing with hecklers From: Sarah the flute Date: 03 May 01 - 06:51 AM Oh yes!!! |
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Subject: RE: Help: dealing with hecklers From: GUEST,Roger the skiffler Date: 03 May 01 - 06:52 AM Ella, this man who liked both mikes on the bodhran... did they take him back to the NYCFTTS safely afterwards? (only joking!). RtS (If I ever got heckled, I'd only need to threaten to sing for longer to shut them up! "I've emptied bigger rooms than this") |
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Subject: RE: Help: dealing with hecklers From: MudGuard Date: 03 May 01 - 07:30 AM To deal with hecklers: There is a German company called Heckler & Koch which produces devices to deal with hecklers (I do not know whether the company name derived from that ;-) You can choose between different calibres, 7.62mm, 9mm ... You can also apply silencers to some of their equipment so the rest of the audience is not too much disturbed. Other companies producing similar equipment: Colt, Smith & Wesson ... Seriously, they are either silenced by ignoring them or by joking about them or not at all (unless the innkeeper throws them out). |
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Subject: RE: Help: dealing with hecklers From: GUEST,Frogmore Date: 03 May 01 - 07:53 AM Frankly, I've usually viewed hecklers as something to have fun with. They're easy, especially if I have the microphone advantage. It's easy to (with humor) turn the rest of the crowd against them. One way I used to deal with what I call the "Buffetteers" was to ask, "So you really dig Jimmy, huh? I used to hang out with him in Mobile before he had a record and he taught me this song - never could figure out why he never recorded it." Then I'd sing one of mine that had tropical imagery. Everybody won. They thought they had one up on the other Parrot Heads, the club owner had more drink sales lined up, and I got appreciation for one of mine. Ha Ha. |
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Subject: RE: Help: dealing with hecklers From: KingBrilliant Date: 03 May 01 - 08:40 AM Shameless Frogmore. Shameless but brilliant. Kris |
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Subject: RE: Help: dealing with hecklers From: GUEST,Matthew the Chantyman Date: 03 May 01 - 06:19 PM I'm guilty. I've done my share of heckling. Heck, my friend in the Portland OR band "Darby O'Gill" built their entire act on heckling and audience involvement. The schtick is great and makes for a lively time. My favorite response to what ever the heckler says is "Yes, we take requests, but we're going to keep playing anyway." |
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Subject: RE: Help: dealing with hecklers From: oggie Date: 03 May 01 - 07:18 PM In a paid gig it's easier - the landlord/organiser can put the person out. In a session in a pub they've as much right as you to be there and they may well think that you're ruining their evening by singing or playing as much as they're being a pain to you. Maybe if it's a major problem the answer is to find another pub or another evening. On a lighter note Albe Donnelly of a 70's band Supercharge was getting cries of 'rubbish' from a heckler and deadpanned 'we don't do requests!'. On another occassion Stan Arnold just looked at a heckler and said 'I'm sure I know your face...' and 10 minutes later when talking about Bury on a wet Friday evening 'Only place open was the sex shop...that's where I know you from!' by the time he got to asking if it blew all right the heckler was long gone! All the best Steve |
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Subject: RE: Help: dealing with hecklers From: Boab Date: 04 May 01 - 02:02 AM Pub gigs are a unique type. There is no comparison with either club sessions or concert hall gigs. many a pub gig attracts folks who like both a drink/blather and the type of musical entertainment on offer. A whole set without some wiseacre putting his/her tuppenceworth in would be in the miracle category. Paid pub gigs are usually kept reasonably in order by the landlord and staff---it's in their interests after all. Many a time, however, I |
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Subject: RE: Help: dealing with hecklers From: Boab Date: 04 May 01 - 02:12 AM ----many a time however I hit some damn' button which sends my posting crazy!!!! Sorry about the rat-tat-tat stuff, guys and Gals---I dunno what the hell happened. I was about to say---many a time I sit down in ther corner in a bar and just play and sing along, expecting no kind of silence or order, and never once have I failed to end up with a bunch of folks around who like the material, and who usually end up singing along, playing spoons etc., and generally enjoying themselves. If even one of them suggests calling for silence, I give fair warning that I will stop playing; folks came to the pub to drink and talk. The music was incidental. Boab |
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Subject: RE: Help: dealing with hecklers From: emilyrain Date: 04 May 01 - 02:28 AM when i was 14, i saw lyle lovett in concert. he had a drunken heckler, and dealt with her like a true pro. ignored the first two comments, joked that she should come up on stage and dance for us ("I'LL DANCE TO WHATEVER YA GOT" came the reply), and then went back to ignoring her. i heard a guy behind me somewhere mutter "i think it's past your bedtime..." har har. nothing worked. finally i yelled "shut up!", and the whole house applauded. that worked. |
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