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FDP Forum / Performer's Corner / Click Offs & Count Offs - Uncool or Unpro?

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SpinDoctor Contributing Member ***** Ohio USA	Mar 30th, 2012 03:54 PM   Edit   Profile   Print Topic   Search Topic We have a music director at church who, during the service, will be moved to ditch the count-off and standard intro to songs and do a solo (just him and his piano) free form thing with the first verse of the song. Then he sort of builds to tempo, but none of the other musicians or singers really know when to come in and the tempo he sets is often way off from what it should be. The drummer and I (on bass) then try to work the tempo back in line. It's not a train wreck, but we never sound very good when he pulls this stuff.
Peegoo Contributing Member ********** ********** That chicken is WRONG, baby.	Mar 30th, 2012 06:36 PM   Edit   Profile   Print Topic   Search Topic Prima donna alert! WOOT!
Thommie Contributing Member ********** ****** Dallas, Texas Not Legal in California	Mar 31st, 2012 08:04 PM   Edit   Profile   Print Topic   Search Topic The few bands I have played in have always used some sort of count-off. Our band uses a click track for most songs, which we can hear in our Aviom monitoring system, and on a few songs with "ethereal" openings (ie., one instrument playing very free-form), he even puts a voice recording on there counting out the measures so the band knows when to start.
picnic Contributing Member ********** ***** Jersey Shore hiding in the palms and oaks	Mar 31st, 2012 08:33 PM   Edit   Profile   Print Topic   Search Topic Ooh Aah Ooh Aah Ooh Aah All the Best, Marshall Crenshaw
mrblues Contributing Member ********** She loves my big 10" record of her favorite blues.	Apr 2nd, 2012 11:20 AM   Edit   Profile   Print Topic   Search Topic "I go to a lot of concerts. The Pros count off many tunes." +1 Even if it's not a vocal count, there is ALWAYS some kind of signal. The pros are good at disguising it, but watch the singer raise his hand, or the guitarist do a short intro with a quick half nod to the band when he's done. Or simply, the band has rehearsed and knows that when the keyboardist lands on that C chord, we all come in. There's always some tip-off, the pros don't go onstage and just hope for the best.
Steve Dallman Contributing Member ***** Merrill, Wisconsin Ain't turned 60, but I got my blinker on	Apr 3rd, 2012 05:29 PM   Edit   Profile   Print Topic   Search Topic Do you really think ANYONE in the audience cares, including any guitar players that may be there? Whatever it takes to start a song right is the thing to do. People are there to hear the songs. No one cares how the songs are counted off.
Doug McQuaid Contributing Member ******* Austin, Texas	Apr 3rd, 2012 08:45 PM   Edit   Profile   Print Topic   Search Topic I'd say that Steve Ferrone is a professional. TP&THBs - Love is a Long Road
stinger22 USA	Apr 5th, 2012 04:22 PM   Edit   Profile   Print Topic   Search Topic I keep telling my band that starts and stops mark professionals. Either the guitar who is doing the intro or drummer should do a count off for the band. It gets everyone on the first beat and on tempo. I was in a band where the other guitar player was lacking in timing anyway and insisted on starting his songs with an intro and we come in when he drops his guitar headstock which was never on beat. I just started at practice saying loudly to the drummer hey you start it off and he knowing it was coming would jump right in. I think the audience appreciates a good start enough to hear a countdown.
Kestrel Contributing Member ***** The large print giveth & the small print taketh away	Apr 5th, 2012 06:03 PM   Edit   Profile   Print Topic   Search Topic Click offs seem to work for Billy Zoom, John Doe and Exene.
mrblues Contributing Member ********** She loves my big 10" record of her favorite blues.	Apr 6th, 2012 12:36 PM   Edit   Profile   Print Topic   Search Topic ^Who?
5Strats Contributing Member ********** *** Edmond/OKC i Haz Roc U	Apr 6th, 2012 01:02 PM   Edit   Profile   Print Topic   Search Topic X
Bikedude USA Hardtailstrat	Apr 10th, 2012 12:06 PM   Edit   Profile   Print Topic   Search Topic One, two, three, DRINK!
fendrguitplayr Contributing Member ******* Greater Boston Where suspense is never in short supply.	Apr 11th, 2012 10:09 AM   Edit   Profile   Print Topic   Search Topic Drum sticks at low volume away from mic.
gdw3 Contributing Member ** LA-la-land, CA Insert clever comment here	Apr 11th, 2012 10:24 AM   Edit   Profile   Print Topic   Search Topic Uno, Dos. One, Two, Tres, Quatro!
professor Contributing Member ********** **** North Gnarlyington	Apr 11th, 2012 10:32 AM   Edit   Profile   Print Topic   Search Topic "One two three FOUR..!" The Beatles,"I Saw Her Standing There."
burtonfan USA	Apr 28th, 2012 06:51 AM   Edit   Profile   Print Topic   Search Topic I'm late into this topic but...in the last really good band I was in would let the drummer (who is also a neighbor of mine that I've known for over a decade) count it off. Currently, I don't play with these guys because they wound up treating ME very poorly...but that's another story for another time. I'm currently looking at being put on the P&W team at my church.
BraindeadJer Contributing Member ********** * Pura Vida All riff, no raff.	Apr 29th, 2012 01:26 PM   Edit   Profile   Print Topic   Search Topic There is no right way or wrong way. Do what works for your band.
5Strats Contributing Member ********** *** Edmond/OKC Axe Victim	Apr 29th, 2012 02:30 PM   Edit   Profile   Print Topic   Search Topic Since my band almost never practices, going with the easy, sure thing makes the most sense. However, our lead singer/rhythm guitaris and drummer have other ideas.
JMan21 LI	May 1st, 2012 01:02 PM   Edit   Profile   Print Topic   Search Topic Count off's are important depending the song/arrangement. I don't think it's a cool or uncool thing. I'll tell you shat's NOT cool is... screwing up the start of a song because you don't want to count off. Or long pauses between songs
Peegoo Contributing Member ********** ********** That chicken is WRONG, baby.	May 2nd, 2012 05:06 PM   Edit   Profile   Print Topic   Search Topic Here's how it's done the right way.

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FDP Forum / Performer's Corner / Click Offs & Count Offs - Uncool or Unpro?

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