TAKING THE STAGE
[ WHEN 30 MINUTES IS TOO MUCH AND 2 HOURS ISN’T ENOUGH ]
Tom Jackson
I went to a show at the arena here in
want any more! The artist wasn’t boo-ed
town to see someone I’d worked with
off the stage. People clapped for them. The
– a #1 artist with lots of #1 hit songs. It
artist maybe even thought the audience
was totally sold out…lots of excitement
loved them. But there wasn’t one person I
in the room.
talked to after the show who didn’t feel the
same way – the 30 minute set was too long.
The first opening act had some great
songs, lots of energy, and did a decent
I’ve said it many times, and I’ll keep saying
job
it: people don’t go to hear your songs,
onstage.
Unfortunately,
they
weren’t all on the same page.
they go to experience moments! Though
this artist had hit songs, they had no
You see, as a group, you need
moments in their live show.
to understand the importance of
directing the audience’s attention to
I’m always tempted after a show like that
the right thing; otherwise, the audience
to talk to the artists and tell them how Tom
won’t know where to look. I call it
Jackson Productions could help them. But
misdirection, and it takes away from
in most cases it’s a losing battle, because
the effectiveness of what the group is
the artists don’t comprehend what is
trying to do.
happening in the audience. They are so
connected to their own music onstage, they
It’s sort of like a football team where
think everyone else is, too!
everyone knows their assignments
except for one person. And that
Finally, the headliner came on. Two hours
breakdown can mean a major loss of
and 20 minutes later I wanted to see
yardage! So even though this artist
more! There were moments everywhere.
group had good songs and sang
Touching moments, fun moments, musical
well, the audience was watching one person
But they didn’t know how to get that emotional
moments…there were visual moments and
distract them – and group effectiveness was
connection with the audience.
more throughout the night.
diluted.
People ask me all the time: “how many songs
The second act had a great band! This artist is
very well known, and has had a couple of hit
songs. Their set was about 30 minutes long –
and unfortunately, it felt like an hour!
The artist was onstage singing their heart out,
telling stories about the songs and what they
[ People ask me all
the time: “how many
songs should I have in
my show?” That’s the
wrong question. ]
meant to them. In fact a couple of times the
should I have in my show?” That’s the wrong
question. The question I have for you is “how
many moments have you created for your
show?”
Because if you’re just singing songs, 30
minutes is too long. If you’ve been creating
moments, 2 hours might not be long enough!
camera pulled in close and we could see teary
eyes. Obviously, they were very emotional
They wandered around stage, doing stuff
about their songs, and they loved what they
they’d seen other people do. By the response
were doing.
from the crowd, after 2 or 3 songs, they didn’t
32
Nov Dec 2016
For help creating moments onstage, see Turn
It Up to 11, DVD #2 in the All Roads series.
ChristianMusician.com