Performance Magic: The Power of Almost Losing Control
Performance is, or should be, an experience for your audience so powerful they lose themselves in it. If you add a little magic to your performance, you can really take the audience for a ride. I call it the 'illusion of almost losing control'.
Notice I say 'ALMOST' losing control. Think about it, we don't go to the circus to actually see someone fall to their death or get trampled by an elephant. We want to see the beauty of the impossible physical feat completed without a scrape. We don't really want to see NASCAR carnage - we want the driver to walk out of the car miraculously unscathed. But the real or perceived danger of the performance is definitely a draw.
For a singer, this edge of control/lost control should be COMPLETELY under the singer's control. What does it take?
1. Energy ... Vocal, mental and emotional stamina warmed up and ready to the nth degree. Always be able to do more than you will have to vocally accomplish.
2. Rehearsal, rehearsal, rehearsal. Full voice, full band, practicing as close to performance situation as possible.
3. Confidence from experience, experience and more experience performing before an audience.
There is no shortcut around the above to this illusion of standing on the edge of space. When you pull it off, you can give your audience a gift good enough to spirit them away for the duration of your performance. And it is SOOOOO much fun!!!
What do you think? What performer do you performs this demanding, rehearsed, confident illusion best?
Labels: Judy Rodman, performance, performance power, rehearsal