By Randy Parks
Burns Times-Herald
Last Saturday night, the air around the Harney County Fairgrounds was once again filled with the sound of music. (Hey, is there a song in there somewhere?)
I have to say it was a lot of fun having a concert in town again and I applaud those who were instrumental in making it happen.
I know it takes a lot of time and energy to pull it off, so now that it’s over and done, I hope those folks can sit back, relax for a day or two and reflect on a job well done.
One thing that I am puzzled about though, is why didn’t the crowd go for an encore? Has it been so long since we had a concert here that folks have forgotten about an encore? Or are encores a thing of the past?
I know I’m from a different generation (as my family so often reminds me), but in “my day,” if we enjoyed the show, we’d clap and hoot and holler until the performers had to come back on stage. We were NOT leaving without hearing more.
I can remember having some entertainers coming back out for as many as four encore performances. To me, an encore means you enjoyed the show and you could enjoy even more of it. I have to think the performers would feel good if the crowd screamed and shouted for more.
When I lived in Idaho, I had the opportunity to perform with a small theatrical group for several years. Following one particular performance, the crowd gave us a standing ovation and then kept applauding until we came back out for a second, and a third curtain call. Unlike a singer, we had no more acts to perform, but I wish we had.
Just because a performer says that’s the end of the show doesn’t make it so. The power lies in the hands, and the lungs, of the crowd.
When Joni Harms performed in Burns as part of Harney Hospital Foundation’s Festival of Western Life, I almost felt sorry for her at the end of the show. People applauded and then got up to leave. I thought, “Whoa! Let’s keep clapping until she gets back out here.” Didn’t happen.
Then this last Saturday night, the same thing happened. Steve Holy sang his “last” song, left the stage, and I was expecting thunderous applause until he returned. Nope. Just like with Harms, people got up and moved toward the exits.
The two people I was sitting next to also wanted an encore, but just the three of us clapping wasn’t going to get it done. Not even if we lit the lighters. (Remember those days?)
If the times have passed me by and encores are no longer part of a concert, can somebody please take me aside and let me know? Until then, please join me in thanking the performers with excessive noise until they just can’t play or sing another tune.
Comments? E-mail Randy Parks at rparks@burnstimesherald.info


















