If you can get people to come see you perform live, that’s only half the battle. Now that you’ve gotten them there, you need to give them a performance that they’ll not only remember and tell others about, but, want to come back and see you again as a result.
When you listen to “Now Hear This Entertainment” and you read my “Bruce’s Bonus Book” eBook series, you realize that the tips that I’m giving out have little to no cost attached in order to execute. That same element exists in what I’m sharing below.
So, in no particular order, here are some actions you can employ to better enhance your live performances and thus set yourself up for better audience reaction and size.
If you are in a position to do so, take a wireless mic and go out into the crowd and walk around and sing amidst the audience members. It did my heart good to see Gabriela LeDuc from Diamond Dixie (pictured) do this at the Hard Rock in Tampa. Granted, there was a full band on-stage, allowing her the opportunity to roam and sing and leave her guitar behind, but it really gets heads turning in the audience.
I also like this because it forces you to memorize lyrics instead of relying on a tablet. And yes, I realize that you might not own a wireless mic (yet), or, more so, that you might be a solo act who has to also play a guitar that has a cord attached too, but, this is something to shoot for. Jennifer Real is a (phenomenal) singer in the greater Tampa Bay area who has been doing this for years and getting up close with the audience makes her even more memorable.
If you do have a band, you’ll want to talk this one over with them first so that everyone is in sync on-stage but also on the same page, meaning, “I’m not doing this to be a diva,” but, it will look more like a show if the band is on-stage playing and then you come out to join them and start singing. It looks like a big build-up that the audience will recognize as such.
Keep in mind that you have to get the buy-in from the audience so that it doesn’t deteriorate into them talking amongst themselves and/or looking away to watch sports on TV. Nashville-based Marc-Alan Barnette has been on “Now Hear This Entertainment” twice (Episode 12 and Episode 102) and gave some great strategies on how you build a rapport and get folks onboard for a solid foundation for audience support. I highly suggest you listen to his two interviews on NHTE if you haven’t already, or if it has been a while and you forgot his advice and/or stopped doing what he suggested.
This one might get me some challenging comments or emails, but, refer to your live performances as a ‘show’ and not as a ‘gig’. Mind you, I do know the difference. I realize that if you’re background music at a sports bar on a Sunday afternoon, it’s a gig. And if you are doing a ticketed performance at the House of Blues (in the showroom, not the restaurant), that’s a show. But, if you do some of the other suggestions in this blog, it’s going to look like a show.
Acknowledge someone in the crowd who’s wearing your merch or who is back to see you again (see the promotion you’re doing there and how it will make other audience members think?).
This one will have a little cost attached to it, but, consider getting dry ice or some unit that can billow smoke along the floor of the stage – during your entrance or during a song where it makes sense as a mood setter. (Just be sure to check with the venue first to get their approval so there are no surprises or problems.)
Change outfits during a break. The audience will notice and when you come back out you can say, “Welcome to the second half of my show.” (By the way, this will also help you have some variety to pictures that are taken during that performance.)
Peer into the audience and look for someone who looks like they’re enjoying your performance, is singing along, is smiling, and is sober. He or she could be someone you go up to in between songs and (don’t let go) point your mic to so you can ask their name and where they’re from. They will feel special and others will wonder if they’re next.
Combine a couple of the above as follows. If the layout of the venue permits – and this will especially work best if you’re not a solo act – walk off the stage after a song or at the end of a set, and then reappear somewhere out in the crowd to start singing that next song (maybe after having just changed your outfit too).
See which of these work best for you and then watch which fans start becoming repeat customers and/or show up at your merch table.
What other tricks do you like to employ that can be added to this list? Talk about them with others in our Facebook group!