How to Captivate Your Audience
Even if it’s just you on stage
Just you, the mic and a glaring spotlight…
It can be lonely up there on stage if its just you, by yourself without any backing dancers, band or razzle dazzle to keep you company. More importantly, the job of entertaining the audience and keeping them engaged for the full set lands solely on your shoulders.
So, apart from setting pianos alight or prancing around in your underwear (I’m talking to you Lady Gaga – love her btw), how do you go about captivating your audience all by your lonesome?
Watch today’s video and find out!
Nicola xx
Practice Tip
If you’re singing a cover song, pick one you’re thinking of performing live. Write down:
- How you discovered that tune
- What the tune means to you
These two questions will help you to generate stories you can use on stage.
If you’re singing an original song, write down:
- What the song means to you
- Why you wrote it
Did you like this video? Let me know in the comments below!
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Thanks Nicola, I’ve always classed myself as an entertainer first, and a singer second. My feeling is that if people make an effort to go and see an act, they want to be entertained. If they want to here a note perfect singer they can stay at home and listen to a CD.
I do find it hard to balance the music /story thing when it’s just a dance, as I feel they’re standing there looking at me as if to say get on with!
x
Hey, Nicola. You are so right. That is one of my strengths. I have a degree in Speech/Theatre so being alone at the mic or busking is easy for me. I constantly talk to the listeners and even the passers by. LOL I tell them it’s a song by John Denver or Hank Williams. If it is one of my songs, I usually have a small intro that goes with it.
I did a show on Boxing Day and opened with Elvis’ Blue Christmas. I talked about how we don’t have white ones here in Hong Kong. Asking them a related question works well too.
Thanks for all of the help.
Great advice Nicola. I played at an open mic night in Hackney London last year. To break the ice I told them I was from New Zealand and that this was on my bucket list. To buy a travel guitar from Denmark Street London and to play an open mic night. Well I bought the guitar from Hank’s that morning and was about to play so that ticked off one thing on my list. I then went on to tell the audience a little back story to the song I had written. At the end of my performance I got nothing but applause and great feedback, people approached me and I had a great night meeting people and talking. Sharing a little of yourself is a great way to connect.
Thank you so much, Nicola. I’ve watch and learned from many of your exercises and videos. This is a great reminder for performers. Wishing you a wonderful, productive, fun New Year!
Thanks Nicola, this is great advice. I try to watch as many concerts of my favorite performers to see how they handle this situation. I try my best to learn from them, and also form some of the comments here on your site. Thank you again for all the advice you have given us. I know I look forward to seeing/hearing more from you. Cheers!
Very helpful! I have not yet been on stage alone yet, but it may be a possibility sometime soon (fingers crossed). Thank you so much, so glad I found you!
really good video I am going to try it. got some great short stories which fit with the songs I sing, but need lots of practice probably the mirror to practice it. thanks again Dave