The 10 Things Not To Do To A Musician At A Concert

Welcome to the inaugural blog from me, Matt Collins. As you can see from the title, I'm not a "typical" musician. I like to be at home with my wife and little boy. I watch baseball. I mow my yard, and I enjoy the company of small gatherings. I am passionate about my music, but I've never really fit in to the "RockStar" mentality. I'm just a normal guy. That may not be very interesting to some of you, but it's the truth. I don't pretend to be larger than life, because I'm not. I'm just living it, and I'm extremely lucky to be a musician for a living, and I wouldn't trade it for anything. I really enjoy performing and meeting people at my shows, but when I'm done, I really like to just be at home with my family and close friends. Don't get me wrong, I like to go out and "socialize" like everyone else, it's just the exception, not the rule. I'm sure I'll write more about this phenomenon in a future blog.

For now, I've been needing to get some things off my chest, and perhaps inform the average listener of a few "not to do's." So here goes....please feel free to comment or make your own list.



"The 10 Things Not To Do To A Musician At A Concert"




10. Don't ask "Are You Coming or Going?"

• Now this in and of itself is not that bad, hence number 10, but it's usually accompanied by a self-amusing chuckle.
  

9. Don't ask "Are You Any Good?"

• self-explanatory
  

8. Don't yell "Skynyrd!!!"

• more on this later

7. Don't get our hopes up with "My cousin's step-brother's boss's best friend is in the music business, he'll sign you."

• This may be true, but more times than not, the friend is the guy who picks the play list at the annual corporate Christmas party.

6. Assess the situation before you ask, "Can you turn it down?"

• Sometimes this is warranted with some bands, but a solo, acoustic act in a noisy bar or restaurant? Try telling the other 60 people in the place that they don't have to yell across the room to their buddy every 5 minutes.

5. Don't say "We can't hear ourselves think!"

• Who hears themselves think? And "we?" Apparently, these people communicate telepathically to each other. And it's usually the "youth-challenged" in the audience. I thought you can't hear anything when you get to a certain age.

4. Don't carry on a conversation with a singer who is currently singing a song

• I know you're asking yourself, "who does that?" You would be surprised. Some musicians are really really good, but I have never met any that can sing, remember the words, play guitar, and carry on a conversation at the same time. Maybe if we could be telepathic too, that would work.
  

3. Don't sit within 6 feet of the band if you're the one of the only ones in the venue

• Although it's appreciated that you really want to get in to the music...this can be a little creepy to the band.

2. Under no circumstances should you take the liberty of grabbing the microphone and adding your extreme rockstar skillz

• However, being invited on stage is an honor. Our career is on the line here...don't screw it up.

1. For the love of God, don't scream "FREEBIRD!!!!!"

• This could be the most annoying joke of all time. Those who say this OBVIOUSLY just made it up, and it's the FUNNIEST thing anyone has ever said on the face of the earth. No one has ever said it before, and probably never will again.
  

So, there it is...I'm sure I'll think of more once I post this, but it is now your job to comment and tell me any that I missed.

Until next time,

Matt Collins
www.mattcollinsonline.com