Clapping during songs

[phishyfee]

Sorry, I've had enough and I need to get this off my chest.

I know people get caught up in a moment or they want to feel like they are part of the show....but it really gets my goat when people clap to the beat of a song during a concert.

What brought this on? I was listening to a bootleg and the band started play The Fox. It seems like instinct for these people! Once the first notes were played they started clapping.

here are the reasons I don't like clapping:

1. Takes away from the song. If the band wanted some form of percussion in the song, they would have had it in there.

2. Takes away from Mark. Mark is up there tappin' his heart out, and you can't hear a think because of all the clapping. Heck, even when I've been to shows where he has done that, i've had trouble hearing his tappin' because of all the infernal clapping!

3. People can't clap. There are several times that the people clapping change from a 1-3 to a 2-4. As someone who plays percussion instruments, it really gets to me.

4. Prevents the band from exploring. When the audience is clapping, the band can't explore different beats and go nuts with the song.


I'm sorry, this just bugs me when people do this. Like I said before, I understand that it can be exciting and fun...but it really gets me. [bang]

[transformed]

i think the band is pretty well able to still play whatever they want (i'm amazed how they can still keep their own beat perfectly) but the clapping really does annoy me too. moreso while listening to recordings than while actually at the show i think.

[NCLuver333]

Yeah, I agree. I can't really listen to the song when people around me are clapping louder than the song itself. Plus, with recordings, the clapping picks up better than the song because most of the time, the recording takes place within the audience, rather than on the stage. There are some earlier recordings that sound like they are taken directly from the soundboard though. And it really annoys me when people are clapping and they can't agree on 1-3 or 2-4. I personally tap my foot with the bass, which I believe is 1-3, but does anyone have a clue about which one is correct?

But on another note, NC might find it a whole lot more energizing if the audience claps because they could feed off of their energy...

I dunno...I guess it can be annoying for listeners, but maybe for NC too. For instance, if they audience gets really excited that NC is playing a certain song, and they get going too fast with clapping the tempo, NC has no choice but to follow them. It's like a conductor, you have to follow them, and you can't slow a beat down. It's really hard.

[SeanWfan33]

i dont think they mind if you clap cuz at every concert i have been to they pretty much encourage it. so i clap. but i get side tracked and just stop lol

[UpInYourHeart]

The only time the clapping irks me is on recordings since they're usually RIGHT into the mic which overpowers the actual concert performance of the band.

But I do know at the Paramount I was like oh no! You people are clapping to the wrong time measure! Make it stop! and my friends thought I was nuts LOL

[flutegrl71]

It doesn't bother me because instinctively, sometimes I do it, too. I do notice when the crowd somehow gets offbeat so I just stop clapping and laugh. NC has encouraged it at some concerts I've been to, so I guess it doesn't bother them that much. I'm amazed that they keep a steady beat despite the crowd's clapping off-beat. I understand the frustration, though. I'm not a percussion player but a drum major, and oh man that would have driven me crazy.

[DixieMedley]

I've heard of some artists who will CHANGE the beat of the song when people start clapping in order to make them stop. :) I thought that was pretty funny.

I don't clap (don't know why, just don't like to) but I generally tap my foot in time with the music.

[Guesswho_Chick]

I clap...and always stop if I get off or if the band changes rhythms...but generally bands want you to do it (and nc is pretty good at telling folks to shut up when they want to ;) ) ...the clapping off beat is annoying, but usually enough folks stop when they realize they're off that it dies down, so it's not huge....and I betcha if the band really wanted to experiment and change tempos, the crowd would go along or quit...unless you get a generally unperceptive crowd, who are annoying in their own right...

but, I'm fine with clapping...it's part of the experience, like hearing someone next to you sing off key...it has a certain charm to it :)

then again, I sing along with instrumentals live hehe....

[Bubbles]

I don't usually mind the clapping. What I don't like is when you get the one overzealous teenage boy who starts doing the crazy dance in the middle of the crowd.

Anywho, sometimes I clap, sometimes I don't. Just depends on my mood.

[obsessedwithNC]

Originally posted by DixieMedley
I don't clap (don't know why, just don't like to) but I generally tap my foot in time with the music.

Yeah, me too. Tapping is quieter and no one will notice if you are off beat. :p

[transformed]

oh man, when they play really fast instrumentals (congress reel espcially) i stomp in time with the music. makes me really wish i could dance to it. (or clog like mark--how cool would that be!?)

[ShortBuddy]

I went to one of there shows where everyone was interacting and Chris even started going on about how we clapped 4/9 to a song and that it was awesome...they seemed to love the audience...sometimes it can get annoying but it makes it fun.

[Tinuviel Girl]

Originally posted by phishyfee
3. People can't clap. There are several times that the people clapping change from a 1-3 to a 2-4. As someone who plays percussion instruments, it really gets to me.[bang]

:p [lloll] [lolol] [nod] [bad]

I know exactly what you mean!

I play percussiong too!

[Punk_Rocker_07]

I hate clapping because it's annoying and cheesy. It's like I came here to hear the band, not to be surrounded by clapping fools!