How many folk here play live sets with (mainly) live drum/synth synthysis

[tocsin]

Who gives a flying **** how interesting it looks?

From my experience, the audience.

How interesting is it to see a guitarist wank the fretboard?

Guitar players find it interesting in the same way turntablists find watching a turntablist perform interesting, in addition to a crowd. But, especially for bands that aren't doing anything all that interesting to watch with their instruments, stage shows are no stranger to such performances either.

I don`t suddenly expect musicians to start playing more than 1 instrument at once just to keep me interested.

That's missing the point though if you're respnding to me.

The sound coming out of the speakers is paramount, and as long as I can see there is someone playing the sublime music I`m listening to, that`s enough for me.

Consider yourself a minority. For many, sound is a factor, but not paramount. It's why people with a good sound, and also a good visual aspect, always seem to entertain the crowd more than those who just have a good sound.

I thought clubs were about dancing and drinking and munting and celebrating life. I want people to dance, not trainspot me all night to see my every exact move. When did we become dancing monkeys???

One of the main reasons I incorporate visuals into just about everything when I can. I'm not a dancing monkey and already know it will pretty much be boring to watch what I'm doing. Yet, for odd reasons, when stuck in noticable view, people do tend to stare unless you direct their attention elsewhere. So, why not make it fun and add another layer to things?

As long as the crowd get some indication that your performance is honest then shouldn`t that be enough?

"Should" is not a realistic element here.

If people aren`t entertained enough by the music and need to come and stare at the performer rather than dance, then the music itself needs a re-think.

Perhaps. Perhaps not. In my experience, it's never been the case, even though most people would say the music needed a rethink because it was "hardcore." But, that's chinstroker nonsense. Adding another layer to a performance, particularly visual, isn't about pleasing and distracting chinstrokers. It's about directing the attention of the crowd in general away from something that would otherwise be boring and making something that much more enjoyable.