Future star of the sport, Charlie Manby has expressed a willingness to entertain the idea of introducing subtle background music at Players Championship events.
For those unfamiliar with the inner workings of what are commonly referred to as ‘floor tournaments’, the environment is a world removed from what the average fan observes – or even experiences in person – at a televised darts spectacle.
In essence, Players Championship events are conducted behind closed doors, typically within a capacious sports hall, with only the 128 Tour Card holders in attendance, each permitted to invite a single guest as well as company officials and media personnel.
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Match boards – sixteen in total – are strategically distributed throughout the venue, alongside several extra located in designated practice areas. Each official playing space is partitioned by panels, creating a sense of separation and focus.
Within the hall itself, a collection of large circular tables and chairs accommodates players and guests, fostering a low-level murmur of conversation. However, once you move into the delineated playing zones, the atmosphere becomes markedly more austere. The predominant sounds are the referee’s call and the occasional, fleeting exchange between competitors. There are no exuberant celebrations, no fervent crowd reactions – and any attempt to introduce such behaviour would swiftly result in a polite but firm request to leave.
When TalkSPORT’s Andy Goldstein floated the notion of background music to Charlie Manby, the Yorkshire prospect appeared receptive, stating:
“You are allowed one guest per person and it is silent as well. Coming straight off a crowd of 3,000 people at Alexandra Palace, it was different.”
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The concept of ambient music accompanying these events would certainly be unconventional. We are not referring to booming walk-on anthems synonymous with Premier League nights, but rather a gentle, almost imperceptible soundtrack – akin to the subdued audio one might encounter while browsing a supermarket, the kind you instinctively hum along to without realising.
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Goldstein cited nine-ball pool and Wimbledon – excluding Centre Court – as examples where music is utilised to subtly elevate the atmosphere.
In response, Manby seemed intrigued by the proposition, adding:
“Maybe, yeah, possibly. It is definitely something people might like. If I am practising at home, I will always have something on in the background. I can’t practise in silence.”
Reflecting further on the Players Championship environment, the recently signed Target Darts player elaborated:
“The room is not entirely silent, but there is not much noise going on. It is just like a constant little whisper from everyone.
“It is different in many ways. But I think if it is just you and the dartboard and you are playing your darts, you can perform the same.
“But I like the big stage events. I think it brings the best out of me.”
The prospect of hearing something like Bon Jovi’s Living On A Prayer drifting through the background during a Players Championship event feels, at present, somewhat improbable. Tradition has long dictated the tone of these tournaments – stripped of razzmatazz, devoid of pyrotechnics, and grounded in a purist, almost monastic simplicity, as professionals compete in venues like Robin Park on a Tuesday afternoon.
That said, it would be fascinating to gauge opinion through a broader poll. One suspects the more traditional, old-school players may be less than enthused. You can almost envisage Gary Anderson’s reaction should the suggestion be formally presented to him. Perhaps such an innovation would find greater acceptance on the Development Tour.
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All things considered, while music forms an integral part of the spectacle at televised majors, once the referee calls “game on”, the only accompaniment is the noise of the crowd.
And, after hearing thousands collectively butchering songs such as Angels by Robbie Williams, you might just find yourself yearning for the original track instead.
——ENDS——
Images: MODUS
