How Can I Move The Crowd?:
Mental Preparation for a Performance
Written by: Slangston Hughes
“How can I move the crowd, first of all ain’t no mistakes allowed
Here’s the instructions, put it together, it’s simple, ain’t it, but quite clever…”
- Rakim, “Move The Crowd”
This infamous line from Rakim’s 1st verse of him and Eric B’s hit song “Move The Crowd” truly reads like the opening paragraph of a “How To Rock The Stage” instruction manual. And very fittingly, as these are often the words that enter my mind while mentally preparing to take the stage prior to a live performance. It is very easy for someone to over-complicate the process of performance preparation to the point of evoking a B-Rabbit in the bathroom-type situation prior to facing the bright lights and on looking audience.
People do not just want to watch the performance, but rather feel involved in it. So, as a performer try to build a bridge between yourself and the audience to effectively invite them into the moment where they can not only
watch, but actually be a part of the live eXperience, and it all starts in the mental…
First, you must ask yourself the how: How do I engage the people and build a comprehensive bridge between myself, the performer, and the listening audience and effectively usher them into my realm of thought? (“How can I move the crowd?”) Then, it is important to do a mental inventory of everything you are about to do, the order it is going to be presented in, as well as how you plan to execute the finer details of your performance. Doing this ahead of time will help to prevent miscues and timing eras during the performance. (“first of all ain’t no mistakes allowed) Now, nearly most important, is the need for a pre-thought out plan for your performance particulars or blueprint of sorts for how the content of your performance is to be displayed in its live, on-stage manifestation. It is good to put together the fundamental aspects of that blueprint in your mind via creative visualization, effectively playing out the performance in your head giving yourself a mental checklist to follow ahead of time. (“Here’s the instructions put it together”) Last, but never least, find a way to simplify the step-by-step mental approach as to not over-complicate things for yourself, therefore causing the entire process, preparation, and performance to be just that much more difficult. Being complex without being complicated is key, because the last thing a performer wants to do is confuse themselves, in turn confusing their audience. (“It’s simple ain’t it, but quite clever…”)
Remember that whatever manner of emotion and energy that you give off, the same will be reflected from your audience, therefore, when it comes to mood and energy during a performance, good self-control equals good crowd control…
Now, if engaging in a musical performance, it is important to add notes to the set list, including instrument switches, who is singing what vocals, and any information you want to share with the audience. You may have practiced a thousand times to get the show perfect, but nerves can upset even the best rehearsed performer. And, if working in the context of a group, make sure that every person in the group has knowledge of the set list. Also, you may want to develop a signal or nod that your group recognizes as the starting or transition cue when going from one song to the next. It is important to make sure that everyone is ready to start at the same time. Since instruments may need to be tuned or strings changed, it is a good idea to be able to communicate without speaking or yelling. Also, it is important to get appropriately emotionally geared up for the show. If your act is high energy, help each other get eXcited and warmed up before you go on stage. If your performance is more mellow or there have been a number of upsetting things happen, relax and concentrate on how you need to be for the show. Just remember that whatever manner of emotion and energy that you give off, the same will be reflected from your audience, therefore, when it comes to mood and energy during a performance, good self-control equals good crowd control.
For myself, personally, it is my philosophy as a performer that, just like music, art, and life alike, live performance must also evolve. Therefore, innovation, as opposed to imitation, is key, and at this point everything under the sun has been done in some form or another before, so a performer must stay innovative and creative in approach. Most audiences can get very easily bored very fast while watching someone else perform, especially someone they have never seen before. People do not just want to watch the performance, but rather feel involved in it. So, as a performer try to build a bridge between yourself and the audience to effectively invite them into the moment where they can not only watch, but actually be a part of the live eXperience, and it all starts in the mental.
“simply ain’t it, but quite clever”
