Audience participation has its limit

We've played a lot of gigs over the years, and we've had a lot of experiences that leave us asking, "What were you thinking?" Whether its venues that double-book or audience members that get so drunk they face-plant right in front of us while attempting to dance, a little forethought can go a long way into making everyone's experience better.

That's all - just think it through before you do it...whatever "it" is.

At the show we played Saturday, there was an audience member who did not think something through. She was attentive and into the show. She encouraged her kid to dance, which was cool. She and her family stayed for most of the show, which was great. BUT...

Just a few songs into the show, she went to her car and retrieved *her own tambourine* -- which she proceeded to *play* during every song for the remainder of her time at the show.

I know, right? We thought Joe's head was going to explode.

Let me give you a simple rule for attending live music shows: Do not bring your own instrument and play it during the show. Ever.

Don't bring your own mic, your own guitar, your own drum, your own keyboard, your own harmonica, your own cowbell, or YOUR OWN TAMBOURINE.

For chrissake, would you stand up in the middle of a play and just start acting out new lines to supplement the actors on stage? Would you start dancing steps in the aisle at a ballet to add to what the dancers on stage are doing? Would you start shouting your own vows during a wedding?

I'm sure your musical skill is amazing. And let me be clear: we want you to dance. We want you to sing along. We want you to interact us when we banter with you.

We do! We really, really like you. You're all super stars.

But we do NOT want you to bring your own instruments to play while we're playing. It's distracting for the band, and it messes up the show for the other people who are there to hear US - not you.

Believe it or not, we're not doing what we do on the fly. We rehearse everything. The harmonies, the stops, the hits, the punches, the walks - it's all rehearsed and planned to work together the way we want it to sound. As much as we admire your Juilliard training in tambourine, we do not want it randomly imposed on the music we have worked so hard to create.

So, please come to our shows - sing, dance, enjoy, and on a break, tell us about the instrument you play. We like to connect with other musicians! But do not play that instrument during our show. Book your own show, and we'll come watch you (and leave our instruments at home).