FinishMySong Blog

I always think that the tradition in our society of calling for an encore is a very strange one. For a start, the whole thing is so very staged: when a band goes off stage (and especially when it's the main act) we expect them to come back on and do another one or two numbers before the end of the night. Equally, they expect the crowd to call for more - it is a declaration of adoration but, more than that, it is the validation that the group has been looking for from the very beginning of the performance.

Moreover, it is always obvious whether or not an encore is going to be performed - the venue will either raise the lighting or put other music through the PA system when they want to tell the crowd to get themselves off home. So, if the band says "Thanks and Goodnight" but the lights stay down and there's no other music playing for more than ten to twenty seconds then you can be sure that the band is coming back on for their swan song.

My question is this: why do we need to continue with this charade?? Yes, we like your music. In fact, we think you're so great that we shelled out £60 each for a ticket to see you play. So, do we REALLY have to watch you pretend to finish your set then yell out "More!" for a couple of minutes before you'll finish off the gig? Am I just being a party pooper here?? Maybe it's that time of the month or something?! :)