^^ All so true. I've taped plenty of bands that play their four minute long songs with no variation from one night to the next except their order and that's fine, but the recordings I live for and those that I listen back to are those of skilled musicians that are able to 'speak' through their instruments. Some nights are better than others, but the 'on' nights are the reason I tape.
Obviously, the energy they receive back from the audience doesn't have to be the 'first one to clap' thing...it can come from the smiles, dancing, someone jumping up and down, head bobbing, whatever. I totally appreciate a well timed and heartfelt vocal response, even if it intrudes on my recording if it's for the purpose of giving the artist encouragement and feedback. I'd say that most of the time most people do that...even when they get a little over the top with it. To me, that's part of the live tape and without hearing that on the recording, well to me you're losing part of the performance. But yeah...there's always someone in the crowd that doesn't 'get it'. Or worse there's the guy that's had too much to drink and just wants to be part of the show. THAT'S the guy I want to roofie...if I knew where to get them.
I think oftentimes people get absorbed in the music and just kinda lose track of themselves. A couple of weeks ago, a lady was standing next to me...she had a fan cause it was pretty hot out and she was whapping the fan against her other hand making a loud clapping sound to the beat of the music...into my ear. I was seated and she was standing, so the whapping was like two feet from my left ear. I shifted in my chair a couple of times hoping she'd realize what she was doing, but it didn't help. After maybe ten minutes or so, it was getting to be too much so I just had to kinda turn towards her. I didn't say anything and didn't really give her the evil eye or anything but definitely let her know that the clapping in my ear was too much. Thankfully, she got the hint, became conscience of what she was doing and stopped.