Intimacy With Your Audience
by
There are scads of performers gyrating on stages around the globe each night and an equal number of people having sex. Some will be adventurous and make the moment a peak experience while others will go through the motions, waiting for magic that never comes. A great performance, like an orgasm, only occurs when people are willing to let go. Arena performers have a tremendous advantage with respect to foreplay. The audience is already in love. They are primed by radio play and videos to expect an amazing show. As the star steps onstage, the crowd roars with approval. If this seems unfair, just remember: Fan loyalty is built from years of great performances—starting in the clubs.
The purpose of playing clubs is to expose yourself to strangers. (I'll try and keep the puns to a minimum.) Even as a headliner, there will be fans of the opening act to convert. By virtue of standing behind a microphone, you represent your band to potential fans. The courtship begins with the first song; think of it as a first date. Be aggressive, coy, sexy or witty—just be something. It's worth risking ridicule to break the ice. Those in the room who identify with you will come together in support. Should you win a majority vote, the momentum will sway the undecided. It's called collective consciousness, and it's definitely a peak experience. This will never happen, though, if you expect an audience to bond on its own.
People file into a club as individuals. The smaller the crowd, the more isolated its members feel. Except for the lone drunk who's dancing before the music starts, most people in a club need a little stroking before they bond together as a group. Stand confident as those in the audience form opinions. Don't rush to judgment if viewers stare blank-faced. Some people, even if they're into you, won't let it show. This is usually where the inexperienced get into trouble and feel compelled to do something drastic. I've seen performers insult an unresponsive crowd. Besides being lousy foreplay, I've never seen it work. Lots of singers resort to pushing their voices. The most common reaction to the increased effort, unfortunately, is a blown voice. Singing with more force does not equal more emotion. If your music requires you to sing hard, then do so. If you don't think you can be heard, then kick your guitar player. But if you're pushing because the band is not going over, volume is not the answer. There are also selfish singers who use a gig to purge their energy with no regard to connection. This amounts to nothing more than asking people to watch you masturbate; good for getting attention but leaves viewers unfulfilled. Leaving the audience drained of energy is a better gauge of performance.
Relationships are built by addressing people as humans first. Show respect and acknowledge the mood in a club—whatever that mood may be. Be present and feel the vibe. It may mean changing a set list slightly or talking a little more, or less, between songs. Open yourself up to people and they will open to you. Stand before an audience with your shield up and they will do the same. Only after you connect with a crowd will they bond and be ready to go wherever you want. Once you have their trust and attention, you're free to tease and taunt and challenge them to keep up. Take them somewhere they've never been, and they will never forget you. Your draw will soon require an arena, and your performances will always finish with the big "O" (an ovation, of course).
