play to the crowd

play to the crowd

To act, behave, or perform in such a way as to receive as much approval from an audience or group of spectators as one can get, especially the lowest common denominator therein. The band still puts on a great performance, even after all these years. I do wish, though, that they played more of their new material and didn't just play to the crowd with their greatest hits the whole night. Rather than acting in a way that best suits the role and the play as a whole, he prefers to play to the crowd and soak up the spotlight when he can. She's a great basketball player, but she spends more time playing to the crowd than playing to win the game.
See also: crowd, play
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
See also:
  • play to the gallery
  • play to the gallery, to
  • do one's own thing, to
  • have the courage of (one's) convictions
  • have the courage of convictions
  • have the courage of your convictions
  • courage of one's convictions, have the
  • have/lack the courage of your convictions
  • lack the courage of (one's) convictions
  • the rules of the game
References in periodicals archive
He is down to earth in his assessment of the basic rules and doesn't play to the crowd and camera at every opportunity.
David's a Goliath in the art of refereeing
He was keen to play to the crowd in the first round, too, which was unfortunate.
View in context
He said I shouldn't be reticent and told me to use the energy in the room and play to the crowd.
JOE'S GOT BALLS ON HIS SIDE
"At a home Games, there will be a lot of pressure on us to perform to our best, but the home support should boost us and if we can play to the crowd then we can be successful."
Champ Norfolk in tennis squad; olympics ROUND-UP
Punchier tracks such as Idea Track, Rusty and The Bronze Medal not only showed no signs of ageing but more importantly gave guitarists Rod Jones and Allan Stewart the chance to cut loose, to mount monitors and play to the crowd.
Idlewild; live reviews
Your job is to entertain and play to the crowd not be a big show off like most DJs these days.
DJ Profile
He would play to the crowd and in particular young couples.
Letter: Your Say - Rag memories
Gimelstob - who had missed the end of last season and the opening few months of 2007 after recovering from major back surgery - was happy to play to the crowd as he pushed his fellow American in the final two sets, one of which included an epic game of 10 deuces.
Lawn Tennis: So glad chat's over; WIMBLEDON 2007..
So telling him to stop when people are around makes him dig his heels in and play to the crowd even more.
Ask The Expert: Sad dad
HOPE POWELL insists England's women have finally learned to play to the crowd after beating Denmark 2-0 in front of an impressive 8,101 spectators at a freezing Fratton Park.
Football: Hope happy with display; England Ladies...... 2 Denmark Ladies..... 0
Fair play to the crowd for making it here, but it was flat.
THE ROCKET NOSEDIVES IN THRASHING FROM HIGGINS
high office without professing belief in Judeo Christian mythology." Has he forgotten that Obama doesn't have to play to the crowds to get re-elected?
Praise the president
The band will play to the crowds from 1.30pm to 3pm in the ninth concert of this year's free calendar of shows.
Fancy dress fun at residents' fun day