A Show Without The Show

Before building a massive show, you need to work on your personal showmanship.

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In my last post, I gave you all a little homework to do on Taylor Swift’s 2012 performance of “Love Story.” All the comments I received were close, but the correct answer was 23, as for the number of visual changes Taylor made throughout the song.

Whether you love Taylor or don’t like her music, professionally speaking, she put on a clinic in that performance that everyone can learn from! 

Disclaimer: I used this artist and particular video for teaching purposes only!

I believe that not any one person can teach us everything, but everyone can learn something from anyone.

I know the Live Music Producer that worked with Taylor, as he is the one who first inspired me to do this when I was 18 years old. 

While Taylor’s show has certainly evolved throughout the years, she maintained the ability to deliver a memorable show with having less of production than what she has today. What made her performance of “Love Story” so great was all the little things she did, and she did them with a purpose. She is doing everything I talked about in a previous post (Purpose and the Little Things - Pt 1).

With the show Taylor has today, the grand production doesn’t distract from her being the main focal point. Instead, the production enhances what she is already doing. 

My band, Bread of Stone, is blessed with having full production, special FX and technological tools for us to use to better engage our audiences. However, the production isn’t a distraction. Nor does it act as a crutch for our live show (See The Most Awkward I’ve Ever Felt Onstage). All the guys and myself have worked on our parts to create a visually entertaining experience, and all the added production simply enhances what we’re already doing. 

Before building a massive show, you need to work on your personal showmanship. Taylor did everything right in this performance:

- Off her mic when not singing

- Using angles very well

- Finishing her statement before moving on

- Starting word - Starting step idea

- Acknowledging certain sections of the audience in the right order

- Animating and accenting the lyrics with her movements

- Side profiles for visually showcasing dynamic vocal parts

- Perfect introduction times and so much more!

Connect with me to receive a FREE consultation to learn these simple yet powerful techniques and to get you on the right path towards creating an impactful and memorable performance!

Are you interested in diving deeper into these areas for YOUR show? I’d love to get to know you and learn about your journey in music! Let’s schedule a FREE discovery call today!

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