When I set out on my professional music career in 1980, the
first thing I learned from my mentors was to connect with the audience. I was
taught that the stage is not like a fish bowl, where the audience
peers statically at the action happening on stage. The potent energy
that flows back and forth from performer to the audience is a very
important aspect of the presentation. That is why live performances
haven't been completely obliterated by movies and television; people
still desire that back-and-forth, “being there” camaraderie of a
live program.
The concept of "entertainment," in the context of church, is forbidden in certain circles. But as I've said before,
using musical and dramatic techniques to enhance the art of storytelling can help create a flowing and enjoyable experience--one that allows the audience to lose self-awareness, to the point where they are fully engaged in the action on the the stage. To make sure that I'm not misunderstood, I want to emphasize that delivering the message of
Christ and His redemptive power is, by far, the most nobel and
virtuous use of the stage, cutting-edge technology, and excellence in
all genres of performance.
Performance Myths
The perspective of the audience differs from that of the performer. Tom Jackson, a professional
live performance producer, helps bands develop their live shows to
effectively deliver a powerful performance. In a teaching from one of
his DVDs entitled Stage Performance: Making Our Services Rock,
Tom spoke of several myths from a performer's point of view:
- If we feel the music then the audience must feel it, too.
- It's all about the song [that the song is strong enough to carry the performance].
- If we play well, sing well, and the audience hears the words, we win.
- There are no performance rules—we just “wing it” because we are spontaneous.
- “I've been doing it for 'X' amount of years; I know what I'm doing.”
- I feel comfortable onstage, so it must be great.
- If I'm uncomfortable, it must not be “me.”
- If it worked for a bigger church then it will work for me.
The difference between a great
performance and an average or poor performance is essentially the
connection with the audience. Jackson made a
humorous but accurate observation of a great performer, using Bono,
lead singer of U2, as an example. He said Bono is “married” to
the audience, when most of us are just “dating” the audience. It
takes a great amount of work and skill to create a great performance,
and in doing so, we earn the audience's respect.
I've personally seen U2 perform live and Bono had that huge indoor
sports arena in the palm of his hand!
Three Performance Basics:
1. Connect WithYour Audience (Love Them and They'll Love You Back)
2. Lead Your Audience (They're Gonna Follow You!)
3. Your Audience Is Less Aware Than You Think (Keep Your Flubs to Yourself)
The #1
thing to remember in a performance is: Connect with your audience. Therefore, be prepared and confident. Practice to the point where
everything you do flows from the subconscious—as if the effort was
second-hand. That way, your body language will emit an air of
confidence and fluidity rather than being stiff and awkward. A performer's ability to be authentic, warm and engaging,
yet humble toward the audience, helps them build confidence in you. When you exude a lack of confidence, your audience
feels unsure, expecting you to make a mistake, or misspeak.
Preparedness begets confidence!
The #2 thing to remember is:
The audience wants to be led. We help the audience
along on our journey through:
- Directing their attention toward important aspects of the performance through visual and verbal cues (please stand; please sit; “let's welcome to the stage X, Y or Z;” “Please direct your attention to the video screens;” musical cut-offs; receiving applause, etc.
- Giving them permission to respond appropriately
- Helping them move through transitions in the performance without losing focus
Don't take for granted that the
audience knows what to do...they don't! Your job as a leader is to lead
them!
The #3 thing to remember is:
The audience is unaware. I could say ignorant, but that
seems a little harsh. What I mean to say is that the audience is not
as aware of the intricacies of our performance as we are. Things
aren't always as obvious to our audience until we direct their
attention toward something. Many times our mistakes will go unnoticed
if we simply don't bring attention to it. Therefore, we must remain confident
and in control.
I once heard it said, “My play was a
complete success but the audience was a failure!” Sometimes as
performers we may think that way, but in reality we cannot blame our
poor performance on the audience. Our lack of preparation and
planning will hurt our performances. Very few great artists “wing
it.” A wise performer's every move and spoken word is scrutinized for effectiveness, whether in worship or on a secular stage. The key for
every performer, worship leader and preacher, is to make what they do
seem effortless!
James Taylor, the great singer/songwriter, has
said that a live performance is a common
emotional experience for the performer and the audience. As
performers, we must plan, prepare and practice for a performance. But
there comes a time when we must surrender to the moment--to be fully
“present” in our live performances and let things unfold. That's
why each performance, even though they contain the same elements, can
be received and enjoyed in various ways by different audiences.
Connect > Lead > Make It Look Effortless > Worship!
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