Good topic Bill!
When I go see another band or a single, I can't help but make judgments about most everything they do. I am not so sure the average person in our audiences don't do the same, from their own perspective.

My crowds are not shy about telling me what they like or don't like. If all I ever got was negative, I'd probably quit the biz. But, even the negatives help me to decide to keep or scrap material, change a style, wear a different shirt...or whatever.

Like most of you, I do a wide variety of songs and genres. Programming is critical. A lot of the "BB Swing" people will patiently wait for one of their tunes...but it better be coming up on the horizon soon. The "Country", "Rock 'n Roll", "Waltzers", "Polka" and "Ballroom" dancers are no different. Folks who request a song don't want to have to wait 30 minutes for you to do it.

I pay close attention to people who comment on the volume. "Too loud" or "not loud enough" usually gets immediate attention. Few people ever comment about what a great singer I am...cause I am not. I guess they subscribe to what Mama always said..."If you can't say something nice, etc. etc. etc."

The compliment I LOVE hearing is, "That was very enjoyable", or "We had a really great time". Nobody says that unless they mean it. And nothing brings more satisfaction than packing a dance floor and getting repeat bookings.

As for the technical stuff, NO ONE has ever complained about a piano, sax or other instumental voice I use, EQ, Delay, Harmonizer (which I use very sparingly) or any of the other hundreds of things that go into playing an arranger effectively. No one has ever said.."oh was that a midi file?" or "you should have phrased the lyrics differently".

Having said all that, I would not recommend anyone who is too thin skinned to go on stage regardless of how good they think they are.

Eddie