Speeches in Concerts

Anantraman · Post by **Anantraman** » 12 Aug 2009, 07:22

I often read in reviews some disturbing comments. Just because it is a blog site and open to any one to express views, we should not throw elementary courtesy overboard. I am particularly alluding to remarks about so-called 'speeches' by organisers of events.

This is a general comment on such reviews with no offence meant. So pl do not have any hard feelings about what is expressed.

A typical south Indian feast - a large plantain leaf is spread with the narrow side to my left and the broad side to my right. All the items are served. A survey then revealed that the left corner has a piece of hot pickle, the right hand top has curd pachadi and the right hand bottom has sweet payasam. The rest of the leaf is filled with various items. That is how a feast is. All these items are needed to complete the fare. We must not forget the spilling of water or some dish messing our dress.

Similarly when I go to a typical carnatic classical music concert, a live concert at that, I must be able to enjoy the fare - everything that is provided in the concert. Just like sweet payasam alone does not complete the feast, a neat RTP or main raga alap does not complete the concert. There will be many items, there will be some slip in the sruthi or taal and also there will be some disturbance from the audience or others during the concert.

It is my option to choose a live concert or recorded CD. If I wish to enjoy an undisturbed session of music, I should rather choose the right CD, an MP3 player, head phone or ear phone, go to a quiet place, relax in an easy chair and listen to the music. There will be no disturbance. I am left to myself. But if I were to prefer a live concert, I must be prepared to accept some diversions, distractions or disturbances.

It is easy to pass comments. Are we ready to receive cheerfully similar comments about us? Yes, constructive comments would always be welcome but negative approach"¦ never!

Some one gave suggestions:
1. instead of speeches, the organisers could distribute leaflets
2. instead of a speech in the middle of a programme, let that be done either before or after the programme.
These suggestions will never come from organiser of an event, because he knows his responsibility, commitment and priorities. So, obviously, the comments are made by people who do not fall in this category.
I am sure if we consider these aspects without prejudice, we will be able to enjoy both - the programmes and also the speeches.
Thanks

rshankar · Post by **rshankar** » 12 Aug 2009, 07:51

Anantaraman - there are speeches and there are speeches - I am certain that most of the complaints are about long and rambling speeches. Since you think an organizer would never consider delivering his/her speech in the beginning or end of the program, can you please let us know what responsibility, priority and commitment are discharged by interrupting the flow of a concert with a speech plumb in the middle of the concert? If the purpose is to champion some cause, or point out certain housekeeping issues, then, they can be responsibly mentioned at the start of the concert. If the need is to thank people, then, typically the 'vote of thanks' is usually proposed after the concert/program is over. There are enough diversions, distractions and disturbances in a live concert - there is no need in my opinion, to add a boring and rambling speech to that list. If one carried your argument a bit further, it could be argued that any attempt at sound balancing is something only achievable in the studio, and should NOT be expected in a live concert...I could go on and on....

vasanthakokilam · Post by **vasanthakokilam** » 12 Aug 2009, 08:00

I will add an exception. If the concert is free and it is in the context of an occasion, in memory of.. or anniversary of some kind, then it is fair to expect some speeches. Or if the free concert is to promote something and it is announced ahead of time, then one has to bear with some speeches related to the event.

But outside of that, the problem speeches are of the kind that go on for 10, 15 minutes reminiscing needlessly about unrelated things and are more about the speakers than the music or the musicians on stage.

srinivasrgvn · Post by **srinivasrgvn** » 12 Aug 2009, 08:10

DhwaniB · Post by **DhwaniB** » 12 Aug 2009, 08:10

Well, maybe, for all the efforts they put in, in terms of logistics, artist scheduling and managing remunerations, the Organizers want their share of exposure and use some pretext to face the audience and put across points, which they think will enlighten the attendees. Sadly however, while the intentions are noble, the execution leaves a lot to be desired.

Most of us come after a hard days work, to unwind with some great music, or are fans of the musician/dancer, timed ourselves to get the maximum enoyment and then leave the venue with some great memories...obvious and practical.

But here are the 'extollers' who wish to make a point at our time and have no sensitivity to the time constraints of those having to travel back, of those who dont know the language, of those for whom the speeches add no value.

If there is a point to be made or some information to be given about the organisation or the artists or the causes, well, then apart from leaflets, at the commencement of the speech, it should be specified by the speaker that we "will take a short 10 minute interlude for ...." and STICK to those ten minutes by being CRISP. That is time management and garnering of audience and their respect.

Technology provides many ways to provide information that need not necessarily be shoved down during powerful and absorbing performances, thereby being great irritants. If they spend as much time in getting infrastructure - sound systems, seating arrangements and general ambience, that itself will be another impetus to leave a lasting impression of the Sabha/organizers and sufficient publicity rather than pages and pages of recitals!!

balu · Post by **balu** » 12 Aug 2009, 08:31

in the midst of a absorbing upanyasam or lecture if a muscian started singing long dikshithar song with a neraval and swaram how will it be.people do not come to listn to the boring speeches.

bilahari · Post by **bilahari** » 12 Aug 2009, 09:13

I agree that speeches should only be made at either end of the concert--that is how it is done in San Diego and Singapore, and it is reasonably effective. Concerts generally commence half an hour late, by which time the majority of the crowd for the concert has gathered, then the necessary announcements and introductions are made, and the concert commences without anyone feeling overly irritated. A brief vote of thanks, along with all the shawl presenting and garlanding, is done at the end of the concert. If the concert was really good, the audience generally does not mind waiting 10 minutes after the concert to repeatedly applaud the various artistes as they are commended and garlanded!

The organizers should remember that the primary purpose of the gathering is the music. Interrupting the music for speeches is something nobody except the organizers would find desirable. For the artistes, it destroys the momentum of the concert. For the audience, it is a distraction, and rather than listening to the speech giver drone on and on, the audience is probably cursing under its breath, checking cellphones for messages, etc. So, it really isn't in even the organizers' best interest to give a speech smack in the middle of a concert.

If the speech is long, meandering, and digressive, the audience is more likely to feel irritated, and the complaints on this forum are specifically about these speeches. Nobody complains about speeches that stick to the point and are concise. I urge you to specifically point out instances where our rasikas have unfairly complained about speeches for no apparent (sensible) reason.

Nick H · Post by **Nick H** » 12 Aug 2009, 11:03

I really do not care if anyone takes offence. concerts are for music, not for speeches.

An introduction of the musicians, free of sycophancy and other content, is nice, and recognises the accompanists too. Other exceptions, such as mentioned by VK, where the occasion is a celebration of some event, have been included in the prior threads where. really, we have done this subject to death.

If the occasional audience member wants speeches then it is their right, and they will have to put up with the rest of us groaning.

girish_a · Post by **girish_a** » 12 Aug 2009, 14:43

Mid-concert speeches came about because people would not stay back to hear a vote of thanks at the end.

Artists are an organizer's guests, and in India it would be uncourteous not to say a few words of thanks to the artists for their concert, but will the audience bother to stay back to listen to it?

Speakers going on an ego-trip is a mere side effect. If the general public was civil enough, this practice would not have come about.

This is a little like democracy, no? You get the kind of set-up you deserve.

ragam-talam · Post by **ragam-talam** » 12 Aug 2009, 14:59

Anantraman - using your analogy of food served on banana leaf, perhaps some rasikas consider the long speeches in kutcheris more like, for e.g., pizza being served with the lovely mango pachadi, koottu, aviyal, mor kozhambu, sambar, appalam, etc!

You can see how out-of-place it can be, at least for some people.

rshankar · Post by **rshankar** » 12 Aug 2009, 17:32

girish_a wrote:Mid-concert speeches came about because people would not stay back to hear a vote of thanks at the end.

Artists are an organizer's guests, and in India it would be uncourteous not to say a few words of thanks to the artists for their concert, but will the audience bother to stay back to listen to it?

Speakers going on an ego-trip is a mere side effect. If the general public was civil enough, this practice would not have come about.

This is a little like democracy, no? You get the kind of set-up you deserve.

Girish - I have a different take on this - the audience's thanks to the artists is implicit in the fact that they stayed until the end of the concert. If the organizer wants to merely convey thanks to the artists, they can do so simply and elegantly at the very beginning. Furthermore, why should an organizer care if anyone listens to him/her thanking the artists? Most concerts are ticketed, and the audience's thanks to the organizer comes from the fact that people took time out of their busy lives to attend the concert after paying for tickets. More important than the audiences not waiting until the end is perhaps the fear that the reporters who attend these concerts don't wait until the end, and consequently, speeches at the end may not get any mileage in the press report of the concert!

mohan · Post by **mohan** » 12 Aug 2009, 18:17

For the concerts which I organise in Sydney (see www.pallavi.org), we have a short speech at the beginning where we introduce the artistes in brief. We distribute a concert brochure which has detailed biographies of all artistes. After that the concert commences and there are no more speeches. At the end of the concert we usually get a child or senior citizen to hand over a bouquet or souvenir to the artistes (without any speeches). We always strive to start the concert at exactly on the published time.

This format has proven very popular with rasikas.

uday_shankar · Post by **uday_shankar** » 12 Aug 2009, 18:20

I prefer to be left speechless after a concert

.

rajaglan · Post by **rajaglan** » 12 Aug 2009, 20:12

My viewpoint is
1. when you pay for it, there be no speeches.
2. But when the organisers effort is to run a charity or something and the concert is way of attracting possible donors ,
then I will leave it to organiser + artists plan.

I also hope those organisers who are looking for funds gets so much that they never come to
(and thereby no speeches) poor people like us for funds.

vasanthakokilam · Post by **vasanthakokilam** » 12 Aug 2009, 20:36

Right. And even in ticketed concerts if the organizer wants to say something at the end, it is more a role of a cheer leader for the audience to express their appreciation and then saying a few words of thanks. May be I am used to that muttaippu now, but if that does not happen, say the concert finishes and everyone claps and that is the end of it, it does sound incomplete.

Nick H · Post by **Nick H** » 12 Aug 2009, 21:11

Not to me, it doesn't. I think Uday_shankar has put it perfectly.

It is certainly a wrong-headed notion (err... not wishing to offend) that it is someway impolite to the artist not to have any speech, or "vote of thanks". Probably the artists that actually want to listen to the same sycophantic nonsense yet again are the ones that one wouldn't want to see anyway. Only in instances (and I can still do without it) where the speaker has offered genuine scholarly insight into the performance do the artists usually look at all interested.

The artists are, usually, the organisers' employees. Because of this, they pretty-much have to put up with what the organisers want.

And, as for this thing called "a vote of thanks" --- the audience applauded, didn't they? Some of them sought out artists at the end to give praise, didn't they? So, to the most undemocratic thing ever to carry the word "vote", I vote... No!

Tedious subject... almost as tedious as the wretched speeches!

vasanthakokilam · Post by **vasanthakokilam** » 12 Aug 2009, 21:24

Nick, I grant you it is probably due to conditioning. Here is an example.

I was watching last night the M.S. Sheela concert available here: http://www.kennedy-center.org/programs/ "¦ chive.html ( type in carnatic to get there ).

There is a very short intro at the beginning. At the end of the concert, I was expecting the same guy to come back and wrap it up. Sort of a book end...That did not happen and it looked a bit odd. Here I am not rooting for a speech, believe me, just a wrap up and cheer lead the crowd for another round of applause.

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 12 Aug 2009, 23:02

VK,
How many concerts have you recently been to, in India? You will change your mind if you are subjected to it day after day, if it happens to be a series. This looong inane speech virus can be found in some places outside of India too. I also know of a few places in India where the 'dose' is just right, as stated by Mohan.
One question still remains, after beating this topic to death: don't the speech givers pay any attention to the audience they address? The rolling of the eyes, promptly turning to each other to catch up with news from home and abroad, groaning, sighing, stomping, etc, short of leading the loong speech man out of the auditorium?
Long speeches might to turn more young people away from concert halls, I am afraid--given their long hours at work.

Sabhas! One way of attracting crowds is to say 'No Speeches!' on the program and newspaper announcements

In my dreams...

rveeraraghavan · Post by **rveeraraghavan** » 12 Aug 2009, 23:08

Most of the time ( at least here in NY/NJ/Conn area ) the speeches are direct print out from wikipedia which anyone can get to, the speakers at times make no attempt to learn and pronounce the names of the performers ( or their gurus ) properly and in fact seem to enjoy pronouncing them the 'western' way. At times they come out with outrageously incorrect information. I recall at a KJY concert, the announcer said. ... And Sri Yesudas has learnt music from Guru Sri Semmangudi Vaidyanatha Iyer!

erode14 · Post by **erode14** » 13 Aug 2009, 00:18

Uday_Shankar wrote:I prefer to be left speechless after a concert .

i like it...

erode14 · Post by **erode14** » 13 Aug 2009, 00:21

vasanthakokilam wrote: just a wrap up and cheer lead the crowd for another round of applause.

give applause - give up loss

VK RAMAN · Post by **VK RAMAN** » 13 Aug 2009, 00:28

Why not follow AIR

vasanthakokilam · Post by **vasanthakokilam** » 13 Aug 2009, 07:24

VK, How many concerts have you recently been to, in India? You will change your mind if you are subjected to it day after day, if it happens to be a series.

Let me clarify one thing. I am in the same camp as all of you who do not want speeches, except for the narrowly scoped exceptions I have mentioned above.

Nick H · Post by **Nick H** » 13 Aug 2009, 08:39

I hate this cheerleading thing. Applause, in whatever quantity it came, is a direct response to the performance. Any request for "another big hand for..." leaves my hands firmly by side. It is like canned applause in a cheap American sitcom; artificial and nasty.

balu · Post by **balu** » 13 Aug 2009, 09:08

you are absolutely spot on. very well said

Sam Swaminathan · Post by **Sam Swaminathan** » 13 Aug 2009, 09:17

rveeraraghavan wrote:I recall at a KJY concert, the announcer said. ... And Sri Yesudas has learnt music from Guru Sri Semmangudi Vaidyanatha Iyer!

Thank God, he did not say " from Guru Kunnakudi Vaidyanatha Iyer"!!

srinivasrgvn · Post by **srinivasrgvn** » 13 Aug 2009, 11:02

Svaapana · Post by **Svaapana** » 13 Aug 2009, 18:18

Just to refresh your memory, I have uploaded the speech by Sri SYK and the link is http://www.sendspace.com/file/h2tj1a

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 13 Aug 2009, 22:21

VK,
Sorry that I sounded a tad insensitive! You are more tolerant than I am about speeches in a concert, among other things. Having been subjected to them many times (Nick fires me up too!), I get carried away, I think.

Uday's words are worthy of being carried into a concert hall by rasikAs as a banner!

vasanthakokilam · Post by **vasanthakokilam** » 13 Aug 2009, 22:38

Arasi, no, not all, no insensitivity of any kind on your part. Also, not sure if the tolerance levels for speeches are any different either. Which is what I was protesting

Don't put me with those who like speeches

I was trying to capture precisely and narrowly what I felt after viewing the video of the M.S. Sheela concert at the Kennedy Center. The end was a bit abrupt without that wrap up. But the environment and circumstances are different from a typical CM concert in Chennai. So that probably makes a difference.

VK RAMAN · Post by **VK RAMAN** » 13 Aug 2009, 22:48

Is there any difference in duration of concert speech from paid concert to free concert? Is the tolerance level same for both re: concert speech?

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 13 Aug 2009, 22:53

Depends on the listener. While I do not like throwing away money, I am very happy to be buying a ticket to go to a concert. Whether I pay the top price for a ticket or get in there free, my tolerance level for a speech is the same

By the way, it strikes me that we are spared speeches in most of the Season concerts. Is that why I like the season even more?

srkris · Post by **srkris** » 13 Aug 2009, 22:58

nick H wrote:I hate this cheerleading thing. Applause, in whatever quantity it came, is a direct response to the performance. Any request for "another big hand for..." leaves my hands firmly by side. It is like canned applause in a cheap American sitcom; artificial and nasty.

You are not alone. Obviously it makes us less than humans if we are "asked" to clap.

vasanthakokilam · Post by **vasanthakokilam** » 13 Aug 2009, 23:25

Oh my, Nick and srkris, you are taking my 'cheer lead the clap' to another level and that too much more seriously. The softer level that I am talking about is this. An MC wraps up the event and while doing so he/she says, 'That was a fantastic evening with some great music. We thank you'. If I happen to agree with that, I clap to express that agreement. If I do not agree, I keep quiet.

This does not make us any less than human.. Come on! It is a social gathering after all. Have we become so jaded to consider even such normal social behavior abnormal?

If you consider the next level where some MCs say 'Please join me in a round of applause for the artists'. I personally do not see that to be a big problem either, but I can relate to why you would consider that as being treated like a herd of cows

( side bar: Remember, when somebody offers a toast ( the indian variations of it included ), they are cheer leading and we all follow. That is the social custom, you herd of cows

)

VK RAMAN · Post by **VK RAMAN** » 14 Aug 2009, 00:02

How about organizers pass on flyers introducing themselves and the organization and giving hint to the audience that one of them will be picked to offer his/her comments in 3 minutes; good or bad?

Nick H · Post by **Nick H** » 14 Aug 2009, 01:08

'That was a fantastic evening with some great music. We thank you'. If I happen to agree with that, I clap to express that agreement. If I do not agree, I keep quiet.

The version I would prefer is

Our soloist, x, was accompanied by y on the mridangam, and z on the violin

And I too, find it easy to applaud at the mention of their names; it is the prompting that I do not like.

The best solution is when the soloist themselves chooses to thank their accompanists --- but there are garrulous musicians too, and I don't care for them any more than the garrulous organisers.

And yes, this is one of my two "hobby horses", and I am prone to taking it too seriously.

At least these people don't try to make speeches during the music.

...unlike the disturbance caused by the avid tala putters!

Nick H · Post by **Nick H** » 14 Aug 2009, 01:11

VK RAMAN wrote:How about organizers pass on flyers introducing themselves and the organization and giving hint to the audience that one of them will be picked to offer his/her comments in 3 minutes; good or bad?

Bad.

The whole point is that no comments are needed!

It would also be unkind to many, who would find such limelight to be very uncomfortable, whilst others would be even harder to stop than the worst of committee members.

vasanthakokilam · Post by **vasanthakokilam** » 14 Aug 2009, 01:13

>...unlike the disturbance caused by the avid tala putters!

I will hop on that hobby horse with you quite readily. Just the high decibel avid tala putters get my stare.

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 14 Aug 2009, 04:35

That's the best you can do? I have tried stares when chatters around me in a concert disturb me. Unless you renew those stares, the conversation carries on merrily.
When this goes on during the performance and not during the pauses between items, I 'have' to pleadwith/warn them verbally after trying a bit of signaling. I finally make a gesture to say 'I can't take it' and move several seats away if it is possible. If not, I simply say: please, will you stop talking so that we can all listen to the music!. Mind you, I do not say it when pepole just greet each other. It is when they carry on a conversation when the music is going on.

Nick,
How many times have we complained about this on the forum--and that brutal tALam! With the performers too, a decisive but gentle tAlam is preferred to whoppers!
If it is annoying for others to read listen to our carping, it is catharsis for us!

munirao2001 · Post by **munirao2001** » 14 Aug 2009, 13:51

I would like to share two comments by the Great Maestros on the speeches:

1) Semmengudi Mama-'One can praise a bit high, but not the way head and tail can not be recognized'

2) Maharajapuram Viswanatha Iyer - 'The speaker has performed...now should I quit or continue to tax you ?'

Truly, the performing artiste gets immense satisfaction from the genuine feed back appreciation of the rasika-only through body language, attention and appaluse at the appropriate time and manner. Best course of action would be put up posters of the performing artists, with brief and right information and welcome and thank the artists for accepting the invitation, in brief, in the begining. The event organizers should prove their happiness/satisfaction, by giving many more performing opportunities to the artists, who have offered the quality fare and total satisfaction.

munirao2001

Nick H · Post by **Nick H** » 14 Aug 2009, 14:39

Arasi, yes, as I often do, I agree with you entirely. My overview. although I attend far fewer concerts than many here, is that the speech nuisance is on the decrease, whereas the talam/chat/behaviour nuisance is on the increase. It makes me wonder how many will complain about the speeches whilst practising the other nuisances themselves. We, the audience, need to look to our own faults.

Munirao2001... great quotes and apt comments. Indeed it is in the entire response of the audience that the performers can get their feedback.

annamalai · Post by **annamalai** » 14 Aug 2009, 17:28

If the concert is a free concert, instead of a ticketed concert, the organizer feels the audience is morally obligated to listen to the speeches. So, there is no guilt in speechifying. To an extent, I do not mind - like PBS, they need to do their pledge drive and raise monay.

However, the speeches I object to are for a ticket concert, which tend to be concert reviews. "I have known artist xyz since 1943". The only way to lodge a protest is to start walking out (coffee-break) during the speeches.

Nick H · Post by **Nick H** » 14 Aug 2009, 18:17

There is no such thing as a free concert. If it is not paid for by tickets, it will be supported by sponsors.

If the speakers really do feel that they can get away with it in a sponsored concert, then what they are doing is bad. I have, up to now, at least given them the benefit of the doubt that ignorance and ego are involved, not consciously taking advantage!

Here's an idea.

Lets all take newspapers to programs. The minute the speaker starts (well no, give the poor guy one or two minutes), out come the newspapers! It would take a tough man to speachify to a sea of newspapers!

bilahari · Post by **bilahari** » 14 Aug 2009, 18:24

I always make it a point to bring along a novel to read during the inevitable delays and occasionally neverending speech. I have the unfortunate habit of showing up to concerts ahead of time, knowing full well they'll always begin late

Ganesan · Post by **Ganesan** » 15 Aug 2009, 11:09

As a lover of music, I have attended many programmes in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore and Hyderabad. Many of them have been in Sabhas like Ramakrishna Sabha, Chembur Fine Arts, Shanmukhananda, Rasika Ranjani Sabha, Narada Gana Sabha, Krishna Gana Sabha, Gayana Samaj, etc. etc. In these places I have always sat through the whole programme which at times included speech, felicitation, etc. by the Secretaries or organizers. I personally did not feel disturbed by these which would have taken 10-15 minutes during the programme. I do not know if I would have reacted differently if I were a ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã‹Å“criticÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã¢â€žÂ¢. Even if I were, I would have just reviewed the music part of it.

Sri M Balamuralikrishna used to give an ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã‹Å“intermissionÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã¢â€žÂ¢ for ten minutes during his concerts, which would normally extend to 20 minutes. I distinctly remember many such concerts in Shanmukhananda Hall, Mumbai in the sixties.

Mr Anandaraman has initiated a discussion with regard to speeches during concerts. (The name seemed familiar. When I checked the RasikasÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã¢â€žÂ¢ blog on Kutcheris and reviews, I came across a message from Mr Anandaraman in reply to the review of a particular concert at Unnati Centre in Bangalore under the auspices of SGBS Trust.) To my surprise, no one has said anything in defense of speeches.

Whether there should be speeches during concerts - in the beginning, middle or end - or not, is a matter to be sorted out by the organizer in consultation with the artiste. If between them they agree on an arrangement, why should we bother? It is my view.

If we are allergic to speeches it is our problem. We can avoid concerts organized by charitable organisations, temple committees etc. because, invariably there will be speeches during such programmes. However, if we do attend concerts in such places, it will be a good idea to go for a walk during the speech, like some people do during ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã‹Å“thani avarthanamÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã¢â€žÂ¢. Why should we criticize speeches?

For GodÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã¢â€žÂ¢s sake, let us not compare our concerts with those in America and other places. We are in India and we have our own style of functioning. Some one suggested distribution of hand bills instead of resorting to speeches. You know that if you give a hand bill here, containing the credentials of a singer etc. the paper will be promptly used to make a rocket or to pack a sweet, or something of that sort. Who reads it?

Some one has written, how would one like a pizza in a well-served leaf of south Indian dishes. Well, if I do not like that item, or any other item for that matter, I just keep them aside and relish what I like most. No complaints.

Some organizations arrange FREE programmes. Naturally they will have some objectives. They have to get funds to pay the artistes and to conduct their other activities. How will they get funds if they do not talk to the audience? Maximum strength in the audience is never in the beginning or at the end. It is always at some point in the middle. That is perhaps why the interruption is resorted to. Mostly these interruptions that I have seen are immediately after the main item of the concert. The artiste then continues with his recital without any problem.

Now about this particular organization which conducts the programme at Unnati Centre in Bangalore. I visited the place in August last year but knew very little about them then. Later I came to know of their commendable work to reform, teach and find employment to youth from the economically backward section of our society. Very noble indeed! This time I did have an opportunity to see things for myself. Such projects deserve our total support. I have decided to whole-heartedly support this organisation. What about you? We would do well to spread the word about such humanitarian activities among friends and seek support for such organizations. How many such organizations are there who give wholesome music from highly talented and top-class artistes in the country and that too in the comfort of an air-conditioned ambience, all for FREE?

Friends, let us stop this volley of notes and do something constructive.

Nick H · Post by **Nick H** » 15 Aug 2009, 14:40

What, like, as you suggest, just put up with the nuisance because it is a matter for the organisers and the artists? I don't see that as being constructive at all.

There are actually many organisations that give us top-class concerts "for free" (although the truth is that, excepting maybe where musicians and all staff give of their time in aid of some charity, that no concert is for free; as I said, if not paid for by ticket, it is paid for by sposorship. Or both). We all support those organisations, both by attending their sponsored concerts, and by attending their ticketed concerts.

I don't see much merit in the argument that talking to the audience helps raise funds. Irritating one's customers is never the best way to run a business (granted, even the business world has lost track of this simple fact!). After the main item is, possibly, one of the worst places to interrupt a concert, unless it is really going from there to mangalam.

You have not seen many words in defence of speeches for a good reason: most of us consider them indefensible!

I have a word in their defence. I've said it before, but then all of this has been said before and will be again. We are indebted to the sabha organisers for the very considerable work that they do in presenting concerts for us and in raising funds. If they feel that their few minutes of fame, standing in front of the audience, is payback for this work, then let it be.

We have already specifically excepted functions where the concert is actually ancillary to a charity/commemorative/social/religious event. Whilst some of the speakers at those events need to actually learn the meaning of the words, "I do not want to take much of your time...," the function, with its speeches, is the purpose of the event. We can complain if, for instance, the concert is scheduled for 7.30, and the row of on-stage VIPS has still not finished its speaking by 9.00 --- but most events are better organised than that.

As to why we should go on and on and on about these issues? As Arasi says, it is partly letting off steam. We may as well do so harmlessly here! It is also the chance that we may, eventually, be heard by those who can make a difference. Perhaps some have heard the Rasikas on the subject of toilets; the speech message may get through in the end!

ragam-talam · Post by **ragam-talam** » 15 Aug 2009, 14:52

This being a rasikas forum, what you will hear mostly is the voice of the rasikas. Some of us may be organizers too, so perhaps you may also get the occasional organizer viewpoint.

Personally, I do feel that there's a place for a speech in a CM concert format. Somehow I too don't feel a concert 'complete' if there's no intro speech etc. But the key is to keep it short and sweet. To use the 'saappadu' analogy, the speech should be more like a pinch of pickle that's kept to a corner of the leaf.

Rambling speeches are what gets on people's nerves, esp when the allocated time for the concert itself is quite small. If the concert is scheduled for, say, 5 hours, and if someone gives a longish speech it may not be so much frowned upon, but these days with most kutcheris at max 2 hours - if that - it's just not fair for someone to go on and on...

Having said that, let me also keep my 'speech' short!

VK RAMAN · Post by **VK RAMAN** » 15 Aug 2009, 18:35

Canteen and Cafeteria improvements should be part of this discussion so those who want to escape long winded speech can take refuge in such places and spend their money and not invite undesired health problems!

hnbhagavan · Post by **hnbhagavan** » 15 Aug 2009, 20:09

HNBhagavan of Bangalore

It is necessary to offer grateful thanks to artistes and sponsors by short and lively speeches. People also may be informed of any significant achievements by the artists. I do not see any necessity to debate on this. The audience also need some introduction about the artists. This is my humble opinion.
HNBhagavan

Nick H · Post by **Nick H** » 15 Aug 2009, 20:58

It is necessary to offer grateful thanks to artistes and sponsors by short and lively speeches.

Indeed, it isn't, and, whereas 'lively' may be 'not boring', it may be quite out of place in the heavier concert

People also may be informed of any significant achievements by the artists.

Exactly what we are trying to avoid. It is particularly pointless, in the case of established artists, to harp on yet again about who "they had their initial training under..." and what awards they received whenever, and, really especially, who their great grandfather was. Today's concert is today's concert. All that stuff can be saved for the artist's "Fifty years in Carnatic Music" concert, and, of course, awards ceremonies, where we will be happy to hear their careers reviewed.

The audience also need some introduction about the artists

No, we don't. If we did, we probably wouldn't be attending the concert. But I have some sympathy with this view where the accompanists are concerned.

I do not see any necessity to debate on this

48 posts, and several other threads, says that others do!