Player, performer or entertainer?

[dougstrum]

I'm a player who likes to entertain by performing

 

[Fret Wilkes]

James Taylor!
He’s a great writer, singer, player and entertainer.
He’s wickedly funny, light, and utterly charming.
Sir Paul McCartney is a treasure, too.
Tommy Emmanuel.
Redd Volkaert.
Marty Stuart.
Todd Snider.
Kacey Musgraves.
Willie Nelson.

Agreed on all these Bill, but I've gotta add Bill Kirchen to the list. Bill, excels in all three categories and is always an absolute joy to see live, as I'm SURE you are aware. ;0)

 

[Red Ryder]

Interesting thread!

Back in the day I saw Arlo Guthrie play a few times at a local college and he cracked everyone up. I still am in awe of his ability to just keep playing Alice's Restaurant while chatting, asking questions, etc.

Live was INTENSE - around the release of Mental Jewelry and playing their home turf Chameleon in York. I don't even think they interacted much, it was just like they were exploding with intensity and the whole place got swept into it. Indigo Girls and Disappear Fear were really great acoustic shows and they told great stories in between some amazing live performances.

Then came the kids and I didn't get to shows as much. Though credit where credit is due.... the Wiggles have a pretty fun live show

We just saw Blue Man Group. It was pretty entertaining when they were being silly. I liked but didn't really love the music- need vocals, need swing, need something other than 4/4 time on computers- and that kind of put a damper on things. But they were absolutely "entertainers."

Alice's Restaurant is what should be played while the condemned is being prepared for lethal injection. Might as well torture them for awhile, they deserve it.

 

[Buell]

Love him or hate him, David Lee Roth was one of the ultimate entertainers. I remember seeing Crosby, Stills and Nash back in the day and man, that was story time...amazing entertainers

 

[Vibroluxer]

Tom Petty and Bruce Springsteen come to mind.

On a slightly different note I saw a Beatles tribute act called Rain. Those fellas could do all 3 super well but entertaining edges out the first 2. I left thinking I had just seen the Beatles. Heartily recommend seeing the group.

 

[arlum]

I've been a player, teacher, performer, wrote reviews for print and now a collector. I've never been an entertainer. It's hard enough for me to play in front of a large crowd without having to dance, roll hats up and down my arm or publicly grab my sack. Oh. I also don't jump up and down because I might break something.

 

[Gnometowner]

Entertainer
Head Gnome at Disgruntled Gnome Production Group.
Player
Lead guitar in Gnometown Heros Band
Performer
I am a grandpa to 6 kids, I perform amazing feats of skill wrangling little kids

 

[String Tree]

We have a wide variety of posters here with serious in-depth knowledge and significant experience so I thought I'd run this by the group to see if it still applies.

I suspect most here are at least guitar players and there are some who are real-live performers, either in solo gigs or in a band and some of them may even make a decent living doing it.

But I also think there's a leap from being a performer and being an entertainer.

Example - I see Vince Gill as an entertainer - if you've ever seen him live with the Time Jumpers and he starts telling stories you'll see why. Although over-the-top in terms of arena productions, Garth is a real entertainer. Raul Malo of The Mavericks falls into that category as do Tommy Emanuel, Brad Paisley and Joe Bonamassa. Dick Clark once said Paul Revere and The Raiders were the last of the "show bands." For me way back when, Tina Turner was electrifying.

More than just applause, you see smiles on the faces in the audience. When you go home after one of their shows you feel like the trouble and expense was worth it.

What examples, alive or dead, fit your definition of an entertainer?

You can deduct a wider variety of Expenses if you call youself an Entertainer.