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Besides the music what's the most crucial element of a show?

walkunafraidwalkunafraid Posts: 2,614
edited October 2009 in The Porch
Of course, most would agree that the music itself -- how the band sounds and the quality of the sound system -- is the most important thing in terms of our enjoyment of a show. Nobody is going to be talking about an epic show if the bad is off that day or if the sound system sucks so bad that you can't hear the music clearly.

But, aside from that, what element of a show is most important in determining whether or not you walk away feeling ecstatic vs. disappointed? Is it:

- the setlist?
- the energy/participation of the crowd?
- how close your seats are?
- the merchandise?
- the type of venue?
- special guests?
- how much weed is being passed around?
- something else?

FYI, this stems from a conversation I had with some people around me during LA3...a little late, but I'm still curious.
Everything has chains...Absolutely nothing's changed. - PJ

“The only way to deal with an unfree world is to become so absolutely free that your very existence is an act of rebellion.” - Albert Camus
Post edited by Unknown User on
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Comments

  • Drop The Leash 10Drop The Leash 10 Posts: 7,011
    the energy of the crowd... easily
    I will be what i could be
    Once I get out of this town


    9/29/04;6/27/08;6/30/08;8/23/09;08/24/09;5/17/10
  • Brisk.Brisk. Posts: 11,567
    View/Setlist are on equal par.

    Special guests are big bonus.
  • walkunafraidwalkunafraid Posts: 2,614
    I guess an easier way to frame this is, if you were going to a PJ show and were told beforehand that you could choose one -- but ONLY one -- of the above things for your show, which would it be?

    I think I would have a hard time deciding between a killer crowd, a great/diverse setlist, and awesome seats.
    Everything has chains...Absolutely nothing's changed. - PJ

    “The only way to deal with an unfree world is to become so absolutely free that your very existence is an act of rebellion.” - Albert Camus
  • soulsingingsoulsinging Posts: 13,202
    lots of eye candy in the audience. it's the one thing PJ sucks for... i hate dave matthews but at least his fans are often nice to look at. hell, nin had more hot women there rocking out than PJ does. and don't get me started on KoL on halloween... it was better than viagra!
  • Drop The Leash 10Drop The Leash 10 Posts: 7,011
    soulsinging wrote:
    lots of eye candy in the audience. it's the one thing PJ sucks for... i hate dave matthews but at least his fans are often nice to look at. hell, nin had more hot women there rocking out than PJ does. and don't get me started on KoL on halloween... it was better than viagra!
    :lol::lol::lol: the KOL thing is so true
    I will be what i could be
    Once I get out of this town


    9/29/04;6/27/08;6/30/08;8/23/09;08/24/09;5/17/10
  • EvergreenEvergreen Posts: 492
    soulsinging wrote:
    lots of eye candy in the audience. it's the one thing PJ sucks for... i hate dave matthews but at least his fans are often nice to look at. hell, nin had more hot women there rocking out than PJ does. and don't get me started on KoL on halloween... it was better than viagra!

    I take offense to this. :D

    Anyway...GREAT crowd is always a bonus!
  • EddieLedBetterEddieLedBetter Posts: 360
    stage presence is super important.... KOL are quite possibly the worst I've ever seen pertaining to this, they are lucky they have a hot audience at least there is something to look at during the show.
  • crazygeocrazygeo Posts: 2,380
    being there
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  • force-10force-10 Posts: 794
    crazygeo wrote:
    being there

    EXACTLY!

    If Pearl Jam is good as usual. Fuck everything else.
    IN THE DARK, ALL CATS ARE BLACK.
  • force-10force-10 Posts: 794
    Although, it´s clear that they do respond to a good audience.
    IN THE DARK, ALL CATS ARE BLACK.
  • release00release00 Posts: 347
    For me...I don't have to have the ENTIRE crowd going crazy but I do like to have at least the people surrounding me having a good time yelling, screaming, dancing, singing, jumping. That's when I consider it a good show. Cuz if the people around you are doing that then that means the band must be doing something right
    "So much it dont show"
  • force-10force-10 Posts: 794
    release00 wrote:
    For me...I don't have to have the ENTIRE crowd going crazy but I do like to have at least the people surrounding me having a good time yelling, screaming, dancing, singing, jumping. That's when I consider it a good show. Cuz if the people around you are doing that then that means the band must be doing something right

    Ah, come on! You don´t need the people around you to tell you if you are witnessing a great show! But, I agree that sometimes in some concerts, you could have fun with the crowd, rather than just appreciating the band in stage. Like having a private party with tons of people.
    IN THE DARK, ALL CATS ARE BLACK.
  • pjtradekingpjtradeking Posts: 4,045
    For me personally, it is the band...the band...and then the band....If they are into it...Having a good time...Jumping up and down...playing to one anothers...extended jams...The that is all I need...The harder they play...the harder I rock out and can easily get caught up in it all!! :-)
    Never, ever, flipping forget
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    My friend was going to see Eddie last night. Since he was in Vegas, I gave him 5 Grand to gamble with. I told him I wanted it all to go on Black. Bastard! PhillyCrownOfThorns-11-2-12
  • Black DiamondBlack Diamond Posts: 25,107
    Having Tickets
    GoiMTvP.gif
  • release00release00 Posts: 347
    force-10 wrote:
    release00 wrote:
    For me...I don't have to have the ENTIRE crowd going crazy but I do like to have at least the people surrounding me having a good time yelling, screaming, dancing, singing, jumping. That's when I consider it a good show. Cuz if the people around you are doing that then that means the band must be doing something right

    Ah, come on! You don´t need the people around you to tell you if you are witnessing a great show! But, I agree that sometimes in some concerts, you could have fun with the crowd, rather than just appreciating the band in stage. Like having a private party with tons of people.

    true. Everyone around me could not be into it and I could still be having an amazing time. It's definately happened before. But how great is it when you know everyone is having as much fun as you are. I dig that kinda thing
    "So much it dont show"
  • G ForceG Force Posts: 1,393
    soulsinging wrote:
    lots of eye candy in the audience. it's the one thing PJ sucks for... i hate dave matthews but at least his fans are often nice to look at. hell, nin had more hot women there rocking out than PJ does. and don't get me started on KoL on halloween... it was better than viagra!

    This is so true. Why don't hot chicks in general dig on some PJ. (Exception made for Evergreen...schwing) I think it has to do with the fact that most hot chickens are less intelligent and more concerned with trends and material goods/success so that's why they click their pretty little shoes into DMB and KOL shows. PJ has deeper meanings and the songs are a lot more intricate and meaningful and that type of stuff makes Barbie's head hurt. I suggest if you want more eye candy at the show you do what I do... bring a beautiful chicken like I did. I did my part in SD. Its up to you jammers. Make it happen. Go up to that coffee shop girl and ask her to be your date to the most epic show in rock. The rest of us wandering eye guys are counting on you sacking up... for once in your life.

    ***This has been a public service announcement by the United Alliance of Mens 10C Fans.****
  • DeLukinDeLukin Posts: 2,757
    soulsinging wrote:
    lots of eye candy in the audience. it's the one thing PJ sucks for... i hate dave matthews but at least his fans are often nice to look at. hell, nin had more hot women there rocking out than PJ does. and don't get me started on KoL on halloween... it was better than viagra!
    Exactly. My #1 was "boob flashing" with "panty throwing" a close second.
    I smile, but who am I kidding...
  • davidtriosdavidtrios Posts: 9,732
    Ed's health.
  • GmoneyGmoney Posts: 1,618
    Drop The Leash 10 wrote:
    the energy of the crowd... easily
    boom!
    Further back and forth a wave will break on me, today...
  • dimitrispearljamdimitrispearljam Posts: 139,721
    the energy of the crowd
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  • BeerBaronBeerBaron Toronto-ish Posts: 4,097
    If I had to rank the elements I would say:

    1. Set list
    2. Energy of the band
    3. Energy/volume of the crowd
    4. Location of seats/view
    5. Length of the set list

    Special guest appearances like Cornell in LA are a huge bonus but are too few and far between to list here...
    1996: Toronto 1998: Barrie 2000: Saratoga Springs 2003: Buffalo, Toronto 2005: Kitchener, London, Hamilton, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto 2006: Toronto x2, Cleveland, Detroit, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Gorge #1 2007: London, Dusseldorf, Vic, Lolla 2008: WPB, Tampa, DC, MSG x2, Hartford, Boston x2, Beacon 2009: Toronto, Chicago x2, Seattle x2, LA #3&4, San Diego, Philly x4 2010: Cleveland, Buffalo, Hartford 2011: Montreal, Toronto x2, Hamilton 2012: Missoula 2013: London, Wrigley, Pittsburgh, Buffalo, Hartford, Dallas, OKC
  • iheartpearljamiheartpearljam Posts: 54
    having a total douchebag near you can really mess up your experience. guys fighting, bad drunks, people texting, talking on the phone, trying to get into closer seats.

    i had a great concert neighbor at ACL and it made a great day, perfect!!
    Pearl Jam
    Houston, 9/5/92, Nacogdoches,11/20/93, Austin, 9/16/95, Dallas, 7/5/98, NYC MSG, 7/8/03, Letterman 10C fan show, 5/4/06, Irving plaza, 5/5/06, Camden 6/1/06, NYC MSG, 6/24/08, 6/25/08
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  • FahkaFahka Posts: 3,187
    Id say the energy of the crowd is the most important aspect aside from the music.. if everyone is pumped, the setlist and everything else will fall into the place...

    The only things that can make a show bad is the following:

    - obnoxious asshole security guards (who haggle or stand in front of you when your 5'4 and refuse to move an inch to not obscure my view)

    - no weed :D ( smoking is not a requirement but i must admit, im a huge fan of that smell right as the lights go down... )

    - Drunken idiots (seriously, drink after the show and be douchey on your own time/dime)

    - Older jammers constantly saying during the show "You were this old when this song came out, how do u know all the words??"

    - Nose bleeds seats (its hard to jump up and down up there without being afraid of taking a nose dive.. )

    - Cell phones above my head...( i know pics are cool to have but.. seriously, enjoy the show once in awhile..)

    - KIDS - (over 12 or 13 is cool but.. leave the lil youngsters at home.. its not the best environment and the kid will appreciate it alot more when they can actually remember the experience .. plus, no one will be afraid to rock out next to you since your holding a near infant)
  • snipes824snipes824 Posts: 870
    crowd energy
    .
    .
    set list
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    .
    .
    .
    .
    .
    copious amounts of weed
  • EnkiduEnkidu So Cal Posts: 2,996
    I agree with energy of the crowd. I would rather sit in the back section of the 10C seats with real PJ fans than sit closer up with people who sit and text during the show (LA3) or look like they'd rather be anywhere else and talk constantly through the show (LA4).

    That's one of the things I like best about this band, the fans. It's so much more fun when you're around people singing and dancing and getting super excited when the band plays something like Tremor Christ. I love that.
  • blondieblue227blondieblue227 Va, USA Posts: 4,509
    not having to pee. lol!
    not having jackasses around you.
    *~Pearl Jam will be blasted from speakers until morale improves~*

  • VeddernarianVeddernarian Posts: 1,924
    All ridiculous responses. The truthful answer is the ease of getting out of the parking lot when the show is over.
    Up here so high I start to shake, Up here so high the sky I scrape, I've no fear but for falling down, So look out below I am falling now, Falling down,...not staying down, Could’ve held me up, rather tear me down, Drown in the river
  • Gary CarterGary Carter Posts: 14,067
    edited October 2009
    taking a piss/beer break during daughter or evenflow or given to fly
    Post edited by Gary Carter on
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  • G ForceG Force Posts: 1,393
    metsfan wrote:
    taking a piss/beer break during daughter or evenflow or given 2 fly

    Disagree with this completely.
  • G ForceG Force Posts: 1,393
    Veddernarian wrote:
    All ridiculous responses. The truthful answer is the ease of getting out of the parking lot when the show is over.

    What's the rush. I'm always on a cloud after pj shows and looking to chatter and meet other fans and talk about the whole thing until late night.
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