Thread: Using exit music: yes or no?

Invoking the Spirit of Shira:

Do you cut in exit music at the end of your track? In a restaurant? For a stage performance? Do you put in a few beats of silence for bowing, then have the exit music begin, or do you let them flow together?

Do you prefer dancers you watch to have exit music or not? How long should it be? What makes a good piece of exit music? Inquiring minds want to know!

I personally like exit music, because it enables me to maintain the mood of my dance as I leave the stage. It provides background for retrieving a discarded veil if necessary, and allows me to "dance" off the stage rather than just walking.

I put in a minimum of 2 seconds of silence for posing/bowing/curtsy before the exit music starts. I think 15-20 seconds is long enough for the music.

For my exit music, I pick one of the songs that I used earlier in my set and choose a 15-20 second section of it that feels right to me for accompanying my exit.

I don't always use exit music. It depends on what my set was like and what kind of character/mood I'm aiming for. For example, I probably wouldn't use exit music with a baladi taqsim (ie, baladi progression) because the music builds to a wonderful climax and I think exit music would destroy that mood.

I don't have a bunch of experience performing dance, but in two of my past stage numbers, I *tried* to use exit music. It does help get you off the stage in style. Unfortunately, I didn't think to warn the sound people ahead of time, so they cut it as soon as my regular music was over, figuring it was some kind of error. ,f::

Originally Posted by Taj

I don't have a bunch of experience performing dance, but in two of my past stage numbers, I *tried* to use exit music. It does help get you off the stage in style. Unfortunately, I didn't think to warn the sound people ahead of time, so they cut it as soon as my regular music was over, figuring it was some kind of error. ,f::

I've had this happen to me too. I have a couple of routines where there is a 20 second pause after the finale (Our audiences get pretty wild) before the exit music (about 30 seconds) comes on. I've had it cut a couple of times even when I've specifically TOLD the sound guy NOT to stop it until the CD isn't playing anymore. Its even more of a problem when "no-one" is running the CD player, just "whoever" happens to be standing there at the time.

I was trying to think about why I don't generally use it. I think it's because a lot of the haflas/shows I'm in have a 4 minute time limit, and the pause for applause followed by exit music seems to make anything I want to dance to (other than a 3 minute pop song) go over the time limit.

what Shira said, except I usually do more like 35-40 seconds (enough to make one more lap around the stage or dance area, pick up any props, and get out of sight while the music is still playing) and fade it out slowly the whole time just in case.

I started thinking about exit music one day after seeing a VERY LARGE troupe perform at a stage show. They had literally 24 dancers on stage. You know how long it takes for them all to get off? Right. A long time. But luckily they had exit music, and they all 3/4-shimmied off the stage to it. It certainly made for an exit that looked more like a dance and less like a subway station.

So I was thinking that more of us should use exit music, especially since it does help you "dance off" rather than "slink off." But I never thought about the sound-guy problem... I can see how the sound guy may already have switched to the next CD by the time you are done with your bow!

I started thinking about exit music one day after seeing a VERY LARGE troupe perform at a stage show. They had literally 24 dancers on stage. You know how long it takes for them all to get off? Right. A long time. But luckily they had exit music, and they all 3/4-shimmied off the stage to it. It certainly made for an exit that looked more like a dance and less like a subway station.

So I was thinking that more of us should use exit music, especially since it does help you "dance off" rather than "slink off." But I never thought about the sound-guy problem... I can see how the sound guy may already have switched to the next CD by the time you are done with your bow!

I don't plan on using an actual exit song. I have two songs tagged on at the end for the tipping part and just plan on taking a quick bow and dancing off before those songs are over.

Exactly what Shira said. Except that I don't put an 'applause pause' in.

I'd rather dash off while people are still applauding than run the risk of standing there bowing to imaginary applause, waiting for some music to come on so I can dance away.

for restaurants, I never do anything resembling a 15 second finale. instead, I have up to 20 extra minutes of music on the end of my cd, so I can work the tables at whatever pace is working that night and not have to scamper back to the stage if things are going great, or kill time waiting for the finale if things are dead.

for a party, I might have a finale after the drum solo and before the work the crowd songs, but usually not.

for a theater performance, it totally depends on my piece, and whether or not I end in a pose with a blackout. I tend to not have exit music. with a longer set that ends with a drum solo, I will usually do 15 seconds or so of my first track as a reprise - just long enough to bow and skedaddle. this is just me, but I haaaaaate it when a dancer has a super hot set and ends with a killer drum solo... and then stays on stage forever with a 2-3 minute exit piece afterward. I'd rather see you leave on a high note and wish for more.

for a competition, I always do some sort of exit music, always short and sweet. the only time I didn't, it was because I was down to the absolute wire with the length of my set, and had not even 3 seconds left for exit music. and some of the judges commented on it and docked me a point or two. :P

for a hafla or informal bd community set where I don't have a strict time limit, I'll do some music to bow and run off the stage to.

Originally Posted by Lauren_

Exactly what Shira said. Except that I don't put an 'applause pause' in.

I'd rather dash off while people are still applauding than run the risk of standing there bowing to imaginary applause, waiting for some music to come on so I can dance away.

ditto that! I would never, ever put a pause before an exit piece. people can clap right through the music, and if you have a choreo to your exit piece, the applause turns into clapping along with the music, which is really nice.

I love exit music, it makes me feel famous. And yes, no applause pause, because it's bad enough holding that pose for a few seconds wondering whether it's actually going to play, never mind 15.

I used exit music once in a hookah bar and it was awkward. I think the DJ didn't realize what to do (he usually cues people to applaud). I don't think the other dancers in my area use exit music, so I followed suit.

I've never used exit music. My troupe has a routine bow and prayer pose after each dance and I enjoy the shift in energy from performance to reverential acknowledgment of our audience. We also leave in formation which I find more beautiful in the silence.

In a dance show, there is music, music, music -- wonderful! But I also love the silence and the pauses, the movement and gesture in the silence; to paraphrase T.S. Eliot in this context, "in the silence, the dance continues".


Khalida

Yes! I do intro and exit music for practically everything, unless the song it'self has a long intro or leads into another dance that goes with the first one. I think it really smooths the show out and gives the group or soloist time to bow, and walk away or dance away gracefully. The next dancer or group gets a cue also as to how much time before they should be ready and in place. The inexperienced audience gets a continuous show feeling so they don't just leave. It also gives you the op to make a "just press play" cd, so you don't rely on the dj or anyone to stop and start the tracks correctly.

Those are my thoughts about it anyway.

One of the things I'm considering doing is using my exit music as a "teaser". If my plans go alright, I can work out what the next song I'll be performing to is...and use a snip of it as the exit music for the performance prior to it. Now, of course, this will run into some issues when the rubber meets the road, yet I think it's a intriguing way to showcase myself and my work...

no! dont use it! the audience needs those silent moments to be mentally prepared for the next dance...constant music would get on their nerves!

I always use exit music, and I do mainly theater/stage performances. There's generally a 2-3 second space of silence to go from the final pose, to a bow/gesture, and it's especially handy for those few moments needed to pick up props elegantly and leave with grace. It's never very long, maybe 10-15 seconds, just enough to get me off stage, and incorporates a part of the song I just danced to. I think it looks and feels more professional and finished.

Of course, I'm also lucky to be married to a sound guy who can go in there and flawlessly mix of all of this ;)

And yeap, in non-dance settings especially (like a club where they don't usually have dancing), you have to remind the "DJ" to play the whole track and not to turn it off prematurely. Hubby also puts a track of silence after my set so that if the guy is sleeping, it won't reply right away.

In my cab troupe, we usually use the intro bit to the song we just danced to as an extro, and we have a choreographed exit. We have a very slight pause--not more than 5 seconds at the most.

In my tribal group, we usually exit without music but doing arm undulations or some such.

My own personal preference is intro and exit music. It's awkward to come on stage and *wait* for your music, I think it brings your energy down.

Exit music gets you off the stage and also covers a crappy audience (no clapping, or lackluster clapping). 1-2 second pause to finish your dance in a pose, then exit music for you to bow and leave. I tack both entrance and exit to the song/s so they're seamless (not separate tracks) and I fade out the exit music after 5-10 seconds (it can go longer but the fade starts 5-10 seconds in).

My exception would be on a stage beginning and ending in darkness, but that's a little dramatic and it would have to be a moody piece (or I'd have to be famous, heh).

I feel that both entrance and exit music are a must. I won't stand on a stage and pose while the music starts. I always place about a 30 second entrance in my shows...it gets everyone's attention and it gives them just enough time to concentrate on where I will be popping out from. I feel the exit music is the same. Once you end your performance...you need to exit with grace and fluidity. Bowing and walking around to pick up your veils, zills, etc...to no music seems unfinished to me. Allowing the audience to appreciate your performance with a very brief stop in the music followed by a terrific exit piece (I like to pull something directly from the show I just performed) and have it slowly fade out as I walk off stage...it's a smooth way to bring the excited audience down a bit.

When it's allowed, I've seen many dancers use exit music, and as Shira said, it allowed them to gather their props and blow their kisses, and make a really nice exit.

It depends.

What Shira said.

Live bands often give exit music which leads me to what Zumarrad said.

And asim1's idea is very interesting; I'm curious to see how it works out.

I always use exit music! I don't like seeing a dancer walk off stage to silence, plus it keeps the dancer in "character" until she is out of view of the audience.

How would you use the exit piece if you had to pick up a veil & a cane?

Originally Posted by Athenaserpent

no! dont use it! the audience needs those silent moments to be mentally prepared for the next dance...constant music would get on their nerves!

Confused..c:: Don't use exit music? Surely your joking.

I always use exit music and it is usually my main performance song. To recieve your tips and run off stage is not cute. I like to dance a minute or two more at the end. my saying thank you you've been a wonderful audience as I make my last round of the stage and gather my veil as I exit.

I appreciate good short exit music just to allow a dancer to get off the stage gracefully. I don't like it when a dancer has a full minute or two tacked on to the end of an already-long set, dances just enough to make me think it's another full dance number, and then...leaves. I am left wondering if she's coming out to work the tables...oh nope, she's done.

Entrance music can be done well, but I don't like it when it's 30-45 seconds and the audience is waiting and waiting. They lose interest, or wonder what's wrong. Reminds me of when I was at a wedding when my son was three, and the groom and all the attendants made their way down the aisle, and the flower girl did her thing and then there was a LOOOONGGG pause and just when the whole congregation was starting to whisper "oh-oh, the lady has flown the coop and left him at the alter" my son stood up and yelled "Where's the BWIDE??" That was exactly what we were all thinking, of course. :)

Simple answer: yes, I prefer to use exit music whenever I can.

Mostly so that there is still some sound while I exit the stage after the audience stops clapping!

Deborah