I did a corporate show tonight for about 300 people. There was an entire dance floor between the stage and the audience. The show went well, but it could have gone better. I’m not quite sure why the distance between the audience and the stage is so crucial but it definitely is. It seems that the closer I am to the audience, the better the show is.
Here is my theory:
I think after a certain amount of space there is a disconnect between the entertainer and the audience. The audience no longer feels like part of the show. Unlike a more intimate situation, the audience now feels free to break out into conversation at their tables. In hindsight, I also think that when the audience is seated at tables as opposed to theater style seating, you have to make sure that they are all situated to face you before you begin. Having backs to you with a large distance between yourself and the audience is a show killer and should be avoided as much as possible.
Here is my solution:
First and foremost, try and get everybody situated so that they are turned in your direction. However, the key secret that I discovered tonight is…TURN YOUR MIKE UP. One minute I was struggling to get everybody’s attention, the next I was blessed with a sound manager from the heavens who turned up my mike and allowed me to take full control. I know this may seem like common sense but the further away you get from the audience, the harder it is for them to hear you…so turn it up and make it hard for them to ignore you. Worked great for me and the show went off without a hitch.
Tags: Audience Management, Corporate Magic Show Tips, Tips for performing magic
