‘We want people to dance at our shows.’
That’s the most common (although certainly not the only) thing I hear artists want their audience to do.
What an interesting problem to dive into and (hopefully) solve.
So what causes people to not only WANT to dance but to ACTUALLY dance?
Most often: music. Good. You’ll be playing music on stage so you’re already part of the way there.
Beyond that there’s a lot of variables specific to you. But here’s a couple things worth pointing out…
1. If you’re sitting in a coffee shop and a reeeeally good song comes on, notice how you’re probably not the only one who physically reacts to it. If you can’t help but smile or tap your foot, nod your head, mouth the words, etc…there are others.
2. When this happens, try to remember what song was playing just before this one. The previous 3 minutes have an amazing power of setting up the current 3 minutes.
3. What is it about the song that everyone is loving and what is it about the song that played just before it that set it up so perfectly.
This observational process isn’t confined to a coffee shop…it happens all the time in restaurants, Home Depot, club shows, theater shows, stadium shows.
The ‘answers’ you can observe here aren’t the only ingredient in getting your people moving, but one realization leads to another, which leads to another, which leads to an idea, which leads to another…and “all of a sudden” it just clicks for you.
Get moving. Get seeing.
p.s. Something to consider and usually overlooked if you’re goal is to get the crowd dancing:
-dancing crowds are almost never facing the stage…think of a wedding, people don’t face the speakers or the stage or the DJ, the attention is on the dancing and the music, not the source of the music (are you willing to give up that attention?)
Don’t miss a post. Sign up for free.
I’m always interested in your perspective, whether affirming or dissenting. Continue the conversation anytime: gabethebassplayer@gmail.com