Today I performed poetry with Harrow Writers. Performing on a stage is different to reading on the radio. It's the opposite. When I did a course in radio journalism they taught us that radio is all about sound. But TV and stage are all about vision.
Static And Moving Audiences
If you are on stage there are two kinds of audiences, static, sitting quietly paying attention, and moving. My first experience of a moving audience was in a pub. What a shock after speaking on radio, where you rarely have any noise feedback, especially not in a studio.
Ambulating Audiences
Seated audiences who are stuck are more likely to be attentive. But they can still walk in and out.
Audience Control
Toastmasters international helps speakers conquer stage fright. But little is done to help you deal with audience fright, or indeed audiences of any sort. Evaluators do comment on eye contact. Advanced speakers are advised to move about the stage to remind the audience and yourself of a time line, past, present and future.
Audience Warmup
Today I was very away of the vital service of the MC linking acts. His/her job is many layered. First to get attention. To generate an enthusiastic welcome from the audience.
That encourages the performer to look at the audience and speak up. How important it is to check the microphone height and sound so your first words are not lost.
At the start the mc has to tell us what's coming so we stay to listen and smile in anticipation. If the audience is ambulating, the mc can make passers-by sit down, walk forward to hear. Stop them muttering to each other, going to buy drinks, or going home early.
Links
Between acts the mc has to keep the audience paying attention so they don't fidget and talk to each other.
Timing
The mc has to ensure that no act over-runs so that the last performer's spot is cancelled. The last act may be polite enough to claim they didn't mind, but it's fairer to keep to time, more efficient and stops other performers worrying whether it was their fault for running over time.
The mc or last act closes the set, harking back to what was enjoyed, reminding the audience to come back again, or attend regular meetings or buy products associated with the performance.
My next article will be on performing for the ambulating audience.
Static And Moving Audiences
If you are on stage there are two kinds of audiences, static, sitting quietly paying attention, and moving. My first experience of a moving audience was in a pub. What a shock after speaking on radio, where you rarely have any noise feedback, especially not in a studio.
Ambulating Audiences
Seated audiences who are stuck are more likely to be attentive. But they can still walk in and out.
Audience Control
Toastmasters international helps speakers conquer stage fright. But little is done to help you deal with audience fright, or indeed audiences of any sort. Evaluators do comment on eye contact. Advanced speakers are advised to move about the stage to remind the audience and yourself of a time line, past, present and future.
Audience Warmup
Today I was very away of the vital service of the MC linking acts. His/her job is many layered. First to get attention. To generate an enthusiastic welcome from the audience.
That encourages the performer to look at the audience and speak up. How important it is to check the microphone height and sound so your first words are not lost.
At the start the mc has to tell us what's coming so we stay to listen and smile in anticipation. If the audience is ambulating, the mc can make passers-by sit down, walk forward to hear. Stop them muttering to each other, going to buy drinks, or going home early.
Links
Between acts the mc has to keep the audience paying attention so they don't fidget and talk to each other.
Timing
The mc has to ensure that no act over-runs so that the last performer's spot is cancelled. The last act may be polite enough to claim they didn't mind, but it's fairer to keep to time, more efficient and stops other performers worrying whether it was their fault for running over time.
The mc or last act closes the set, harking back to what was enjoyed, reminding the audience to come back again, or attend regular meetings or buy products associated with the performance.
My next article will be on performing for the ambulating audience.
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