No Encore Please!

I am sure encores at the end of successful music sets were novel and genuine celebrations of a successful show at some point. That time has long since passed. Encores are now a tired tradition, an obligatory, choreographed end to a set. Under most circumstances, at best an encore pleasantly extends a good show and at worst drains the energy from the whole room. It is time to retire these staged returns to stage, if only in hopes of a future encore renaissance.

There are exceptions to the unnecessary encore rule. I have seen some that occasionally rise above to make the set more memorable and personal. So here is a list of rules to help build a new age of relevant, sincere reprisals.


Yes I stole this photo from melophobe.com so check that page out!

1) Encores should only be considered at sold out shows. If the artist did not inspire enough interest to sell out the venue, he should not perform an extension to his set. The energy from a packed house is vital to a successful encore.

2) An encore should not be performed unless the crowd is actively requesting it. This one seems obvious, but the saddest encores are those that happen as the majority of the venue is emptying out. Sometimes the regular set was enough.

3) The encore should not be performed until the artist completely exits the stage. It is so silly to watch an artist feign exit, only to turn around and immediately keep going. Just extend the set by that extra song or two in this case. The drama encores add to a set is highly exaggerated.

4) The encore should not start until the house lights go on. Audiences have grown accustomed to this universal signal that the show is indeed over. If they are still cheering after this signal, they are sincerely enthusiastic and deserve a bit more. And it is not that difficult to quickly dim the lights again.

5) Encores should never be part of a set list. Encores should be at least partially improvised. Building them into the set defeats the whole purpose of encores. Artists can use the time during the set and feel the audience out. They can figure out what would best serve this specific audience and use that knowledge to end the set memorably.

6) Encores should be something unexpected. If the artist wants to send an audience out with his latest hit, he can end the set with it and perform no more. An encore is opportunity to present the B-Side to the main sets single. Covers, unreleased tracks, or rarely performed favorites are all solid options. A personal preference is when multiple artists perform something together to end the night. Instrument smashing and other theatrics are also encouraged if the mood is right.

I do not want to sound like a grumpy old music snob. I have never liked the idea of planned encores. And while a few have genuinely impressed, most feel like a chore for both the artist and audience. It is time to do something to change this.