Tom Dumont Quotes

Musicians are there in front of you, and the spectators sense their tension, which is not the case when you're listening to a record. Your attention is more relaxed. The emotional aspect is more important in live music.

The most amazing thing is being onstage and watching the audience sing every song lyric for lyric.

I like to see other bands, and I like to hear their songs, but I really like it when they engage the audience.

Sometimes you really rely on the audience to have a good time playing live, and sometimes you could have zero people or a thousand, and you'd feel exactly the same.

That's one of the good things about music. You get to do it live, where you can touch the people and interact with them.

When playing any song in front of an audience, you're watching them experience it, and it changes. In a lot of ways, it's almost like the music is just the background buzz to what's happening between you and the audience in the room.

The premise that we're working with is that when most people go to a show, they're not really watching what's going on onstage. They may be watching what's on the screen. But when the songs are playing in their mind's eye, they're actually watching a movie.

I just don't like looking at the crowd and seeing them just staring and listening to the music. When I get them involved, whatever type of music I'm playing, they leave there feeling better.

I tend to like the heavier things, especially live on stage. I need that energy and interaction and feeling the audience.

There's nothing like being in front of a live audience and getting that vibe from them, and I love people to join in the singing, and I love people to clap their hands.

When I go to a live show, I want to be moved. That's why you do it. And it's not very often that a band will move you live.

It's always fun to see fans getting into the rhythm, enjoying our performance, and seeing them sing along with us!

With Dream Theater live, I may have been a bit of a focal point because I absolutely live for the energy on stage, and having interaction with the audience is absolutely crucial to me - regardless of how some others have described it!

I play some places where the people are right at my feet, and you can see their expressions. It's kind of more like playing in your living room. It's almost easier to play in front of thousands of people in an arena scene, in some ways, but you don't get the personal contact.

It's an honour when your audience sings along, more than they listen to you at a live gig.

It's so incredible performing in front of 10,000-15,000 people singing along and giving off great energy.

Music - you need the give and take from the audience, the feeling of attention. It's not about me: it's about the music itself.

When I'm on stage, my interaction with the audience is something that really makes me come alive. It's a feeling like no other. The energy of the crowd fuels something new inside.

I can't imagine playing a boring gig. Like, a boring audience without reaction, I will play against them.

The buzz you get when you're playing a song and everyone is screaming and dancing and what have you and singing along is incredible.

When I tour with the new album, I still do the classics, and I love the atmosphere it creates with the whole audience singing along.

Live music is better.

I trained for the drums for about two weeks, and then rocking out in front of an entire crowd was sort of like a dream come true. And now, Guitar Hero, I can't do that anymore. It's nothing like doing it on stage. I kinda wish I had a fake band, and we could go on tour.

Music is a performance and needs the audience.

I have similar feelings, actually. The intimacy of a club: you can see the people, you can almost feel them; you can't beat that. People will say things, and shout out, it's almost like they're up on the bandstand with you.