I would be most comfortable at a jazz club environment. That is because in that type of performance, people are surrounded around the stage. Knowing it is a club, it sounds like something that many people back in the days would go to. It seems like a place where people can dance or drink and just enjoy themselves and be out of stress. People seem to be having fun, going along with the music and it just sounds soothing or the people that would be playing on streets, train stations and just other forms of unpaid music. I would be able to wear casual clothes and feel like in an everyday space that I surround myself in.

Next, I would be comfortable with Hindustani classical music. That is because I have attended something like this many times as it is a part of religion. It isn’t necessary to attend, but these types of musical instruments such as sitar, sarod, surbahar, esraj, veena, tanpura, bansuri, etc were very commonly used. This performance reminded me of a satsang that I have attended and it always brought peace to the mind and happiness, so I wouldn’t mind attending something like this. I would expect the performer to talk in her language and at the same time, I would also be able to understand it, so that is a plus.

I would be least comfortable in attending the symphony orchestra concert. It just seems to be a form of disjunct music and very harsh. Everyone has to move according to a path together and it just brings out a very serious tone which doesn’t interest me in any type of way. I just wouldn’t know how to act in that certain space and something that I would not like. I would hear the voice, but it would still show as a very negative tone to me that wouldn’t amaze me in any type of way.

As an audience member, I would be most comfortable as an audience member in a jazz club. Personally, I enjoy upbeat music with lots of people around. During the 1950s jazz music had a variety of instruments and usually consisted of a few band members. It is a type of improvise and putting different instruments together to create an upbeat harmony that people can dance and enjoy listening to. I enjoy the swing/lazy rhythm because it gives off a good vibe and an easy-going tune. The energy that the performances show makes you wanna watch and get up and groove with them. The different cultures and ethnicities are well joined together to bring an engaging melody.

I would be least comfortable listening to a chamber music recital because I enjoy watching a performance with more people when it comes to them playing instruments. I find it pretty boring to watch a small group of performers rather than a larger group such as an orchestra. 

In terms of the performers, I would expect them to be engaging as to what they as playing on their instruments. We as the audience have to sit and be respectful of those who are performing especially when watching a chamber music recital because usually, it’s a small group watching. 

Out of these four different performances I think I would feel the most comfortable at the jazz club. This is because I prefer jazz music over the other three performances. Places like the orchestra concert requires your full attention, however concerts like the jazz club you can easily be distracted and still be able to enjoy the music without feeling like you are disrupting the performers. I would feel the least comfortable at the chamber music recital because I would honestly accidentally fall asleep watching it. There also doesn’t seem to be many people actually watching it which would be uncomfortable if you needed to go to the bathroom or if you were just “accidentally” falling asleep. I feel like small concerts like that make me feel awkward and out of place because the actual performers would be able to see you and I don’t like that. In the jazz club I feel like I would expect the performers to hype up the crowd and make it fun for the people watching it. They seemed to groove through the music and really looked like they were having fun. I think as the listener I would have to look like I am vibing with them too because if you are the only one that doesn’t look like you are having fun I feel like you would get called out by the people performing. However, concerts like the symphony music recital the performers wouldn’t really talk to the audience because they are too busy looking at their music sheets and the guy in the front. The audience however probably act very civil and mannered. Phones are definitely off and only use the bathroom during intermission.

I think I would be most comfortable in the Jazz performances because you can do whatever you want with the music. If you’re having a bad time, you can just hang around at the bar or whatever, if you feel like dancing, you can jump around and listen to the music. I would just see everyone enjoying themselves and moving around without a regulation. I would probably just listen and just chill with the music just being laid back.

I would be most uncomfortable in the Chamber Music because everyone is close together and it won’t be as comfortable as moving around as I please. It would be in a more professional setting and everyone will be quiet and wear proper clothing as well. It would seem more precise and civilized in my opinion. I would probably sit there and listen without moving awkwardly.

The type of performance I would be most comfortable in is the Jazz club. I would be comfortable in this audience because the musicians look like they were having fun. There were lots of solos in the jazz performance. We could see each of the musicians’ skills individually. They were smiling while they were playing and you could see their chemistry. On the other performances, everyone looked so focused. They were trying to set a different mood based on their way of playing. In the Jazz video, it looked like they wanted the audience to be a part of the music they were creating. 

I would feel the least comfortable at the Hindustani classical performance because I don’t understand the language. I don’t understand the message they are trying to portray. The song seemed like she was trying to convey a serious story because of the crescendo she had at different parts of the video. From the Jazz performance, I expected to see a trumpet, a piano and the drums. I was right for the most part but they also used hand clapping as an instrument. For some of the performance, they let the  instrument do the expression. I heard lots of solos and jazzy chords like major 7s. 

As an audience member I would be most comfortable at a symphony orchestra concert because I am more familiar with the sounds of the instruments and how the performers are expected to play. I would be least comfortable at the Hindustani classical performance since there are more traditional sounds and I wouldn’t know what to expect from the performance. At a symphony orchestra concert, I would expect to see a quiet and formal environment with both the audience members and performers. Since the audience has to remain still so that they don’t distract the performers, and for the performers to be serious in their performance.

I have seen videos online of recordings on different symphony orchestra concerts that show large amounts of performers sitting on a stage with a conductor at the front, and the audience is further back and very still and quiet. Even though I have never seen a live performance, I would still expect the atmosphere of a symphony orchestra to hold these same expectations anywhere in the world.

I think that I would be most comfortable with listening to the Jazz club as an audience member. It is more of a chill environment where people are dancing, singing, and talking. Something that you typically wear at a Jazz concert is more causal clothes. Since the audience is actually having fun, drinking, and just vibing out to the jazz music, I really think that I would mostly enjoy being in that type of environment.

I feel as if the least comfortable performance for me would be at a chamber music recital. This is because due to the distance that there is from the actual performers and the audience is a little less. Knowing how less space there is this would make me feel awkward, and not make any sounds or movements at all.

I would be most comfortable in the Jazz concert as an audience member because the atmosphere seemed very relaxed and I like how jazz music sounds. I would expect to see the performers feed off of each other’s energy and work together as a group to create music that is pleasing to listen to. As a listener I would take the time to appreciate the sound of the orchestra but also feel free to dance to the music too.

I would feel the least comfortable at the Hindustani concert because I do not connect with the music. I don’t know what the woman is saying and I don’t like how the background instruments drag out the notes. I would expect to see the performers also feeding off of each other’s energy. As a listener I would show more respect to the performance by being silent and keeping my attention.

I’ve been to a live concert at the Lincoln Center where I saw many ballet performances. The expectations are similar to the Hindustani, quartet, and Beethoven concert. Audience members are expected to sit quietly until the piece is over at which they can clap. There is a certain amount of respect that is given to the orchestras.

I would be most comfortable at the Jazz club concert. I would expect to see the performers to be lively and loud and improvise by adding in their own singing, clapping and having solos. Jazz music is also something I enjoy listening to as it’s fun and upbeat. Since it was at a club, people could have also been getting food, talking, etc. which helps give it a more chill vibe, as well as a more intimate atmosphere. With Jazz, the instruments take turns playing improvised solos and are more spontaneous, which is something I would enjoy. Concerts I usually attend are lively pop or EDM concerts where the audience is able to sing along with the artist and dance. The performers also interact with the audience members, talk to them and overall it’s a fun interactive experience. 

I would be the least comfortable at a chamber music concert. This is because chamber music performers don’t usually have that much interaction with the audience members. They play their instruments following their notes, and they don’t follow a conductor. It is also much smaller than the other concerts we discussed, which is something I am not used to as the concerts I usually attend are with a much larger crowd which I personally enjoy. Additionally, as a listener, I would be expected to sit and watch without being able to have any interaction with the  performers. When I attend concerts, I like being able to feel as though I am connecting with the performer, either through singing along with them or dancing to their music.