Make Music, Make Money – Audience Participation Secrets
Audience participation is one of the most important aspects to a successful performance. I’ve discoverd a number of ’secrets’ to getting people engaged with my performances and I’d like to share some of them with you.
Dancing
Whether your playing at a private party or bar gig, chances are, some folks will want to dance.
Nothing gets the ‘energy’ up like having people hit the dance floor. Many times, it will ‘make or break’ the night. If people dance, they smile and have a good time. If you leave ‘em with a smile on their faces, they’ll think you were great.
Many times I’ve played gigs and knocked out a ’sure thing’ dance tune, like ‘Brown Eyed Girl’ or ‘Mustang Sally,’ only to have nobody dance. When this happens, I pull out a ‘little secret’ tactic.
I start by approaching a couple. If your playing a private party, it can be the host couple, but, if not, any couple will do. I ask them to dance to the next song, as a way to ‘get things going.’ Then, After one-verse/one-chorus I stop the music and tell them to both to, ‘pick a new partner.’
I repeat the process until everyone in the room is dancing.
This tactic works time and time-again and always makes the event just a little better.
Percussion
Here’s another way to get your audience, ‘in the game.’
1. Shaky Eggs – Purchase 10-20 percussive ‘eggs’ from Sam Ash or another retailer. LP makes a great ‘egg’ at a reasonable price. Distribute one-egg per table. Give a short demonstration to the crowd on their proper use. Encourage the audience to play along with your songs.
Collect the ‘eggs’ at the end of the show. You’ll lose a couple on occasion, but the increased tips will more than cover the expense.
You can also order ‘eggs’ from LP with custom printing on them (LPMusic.com). So, the ‘eggs’ that get ‘legs’ still have a lasting value to you.
Extra Microphone
There’s almost always someone the crowd that either sings, or thinks they can sing.
Setup an extra microphone and put out a blanket invitation to the audience to ‘join in whenever the mood strikes them’.
As scary as this may seem, it’s rarely turns out poorly.
Even if somebody can’t ‘carry a tune,’ just their attempt will cause the audience to become engaged.
Request Sheets
Make a list of all of the songs that you play. List the song and the artist. Put 20-copies in plastic protective sleeves. Distribute the sheets on the tables and at the bar.
Make a game out of it…
Tell everyone that they must pick a song off of the list. You’ll be choosing people at random, so they better be ready with their pick!
This gets the crowd buzzing and it will make for a more enjoyable/profitable gig for you.
Music Trivia
Pick a great ‘one-hit-wonder’ tune, (I like, ‘Hold Me Now’ by the Thompson Twins.) Tell the audience, ‘the first person to tell me the original band/artist for this next song wins one of my CDs!’ This does two things.
- It makes the audience pay attention to you and the song
- It draws attention to your CD without having to ‘get in their face’
I hope these ’secrets’ help you to engage your audience and have a better time playing-out.
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About the Author
Craver is a singer/songwriter from Atlanta. He is the founder of Open Mic Entertainment which operates the following entities:
- OpenMic.US – The best social network for musicians.
- PartyBand.US – Bringing event planners and musicians/bands together.
- OpenMic.US Network – Reliable local open mic information.
Mustang Down Line dance