How do you guys deal in an event with a dead crowd?

I wanted to try out event photography to see how much I liked it but I had a horrible first hand experience, there was a live band playing but the crowd was completely dead. Nobody dancing or really conversing, if they were it was in small private groups. I have a bunch of pictures of people sitting down and talking and a few of the band. I tried to encourage people to move around and dance but nothing was working. Kind gave up toward the end and left defeated. I’m still getting paid for the gig but I don’t like the results that came out.