The context and expectations an audience is likely to have at your show will dictate the effectiveness of your live-show ideas.
When people see or experience things in a place where they didn’t think it was possible, or likely, they receive it as though they’ve never experienced at all, EVER. It blows their minds.
For example, I’ve been to the circus and I’ve seen humans ride on elephants and other animals. I’ve also seen this sort of thing happen in movies, tv shows and parades. But, when Katy Perry rides into the Super Bowl on a mechanical lion (on tv), I’m blown away and it feels like something I’ve never seen before. Even though I have.
Another example is the way people freak out when Taylor Swift or Bruce Springsteen get off the stage and get nose to nose with fans. People lose their minds. Why? Because in an arena or stadium, that sort of intimacy is not expected. At a club, bar or theater, that sort of thing is somewhat expected, and not quite as big of a deal.
It’s the same idea that makes virtually any attempt by bands playing in small clubs to do something special, or create a moment, come off so well. Because no one goes for it in a tiny club. Expectations are pretty bleh, the context of the room is bleh, the taste of the beer is bleh…so a little tweak, a little special moment will go a long way.
Like everyone wearing white, climbing on top of the bar, singing a song acoustic and no mics, paying to have a lighting guy, just telling a great story. You don’t need an actual mechanical lion to blow people away in a club. (But I wouldn’t discourage it.)
It’s not necessarily about doing something that no one has ever done before (although that’s encouraged too). It’s about doing something that your audience has never experienced before, or isn’t used to seeing, within the setting and context you’re providing.
Confetti at an arena? Cool
Confetti at a club? Mind blowing
Catwalk at an arena? Every arena show ever
Catwalk at a club? Only seen it twice.
Laser lights at an arena? Expected
Laser lights at a club? They hurt people’s eyes, but people will still rejoice
Lead singer looking you in eye at an arena? If it happens, you remember it for the rest of your life
Lead singer looking you in the eye at a club? It should happen, or come close to happening, or feel like it happened every time.
You get it. Juxtaposition. Big and small. Expectations and delivery.
Believe it or not, the people who come to your show have expectations and a story they’re telling themselves of how they see the night going.
Use that to your advantage….and ultimately, their advantage.
