Article: Stage Artistry; A Must Have Skill for Artiste

The joy and take home of every event attendee is an awesome performance. Christians would rather we call it ministration. So, let’s stick with that lingua.
I started thinking about what we really want especially if it’s a “gated” concert. Why do I leave my house to attend a show, could it be that I want to support the artiste or just to have a good time out? These line of thoughts I guess won’t be limited to just one of us.

Having the skills to unleash an outstanding ministration requires a whole lot of work from praying, rehearsing, planning, understanding your audience in line with what you intend to deliver, the list is endless. While I do not want to restrict myself on this article, let’s focus generally on performance or whatever you decide to call it.

On a serious note, not all artistes are good performers. They may have the gift and all what not but stage performance can be very frightening and thus requires constant rehearsals, researching on some live performances, perhaps those of your favorite artiste or mentor if you have one etc.

A good performance leaves the fans craving for more. It puts your name in a record book while the fans go home with an unforgettable experience. Even in churches, whenever the praise and worship leader “delivers” you can feel it in the atmosphere. You need to understand that the moment you get on stage, that time is all yours, whatever you do with it will tell on your brand eventually.

Can I just say this, don’t ever be scared of the audience. They are there to show you love and enjoy your performance with hopes that you can’t afford to disappoint.

When on stage, show dominance, confidence and carriage. Show the attendees you are there to ensure that the experience is good and the resultant effect is they automatically become fans and start spreading words about your music as they can hardly wait for your next performance in their city. A quick look at how you can sharpen your stage craft.

1. Stand in front of the mirror and perform to yourself. Are you convincing enough even to yourself? Ask yourself if you would pay to watch you or even spend an hour sitting in a room listening to you. You can’t deceive yourself and others at the same time.

2. Perform before your friends and family. Well most times as friends and family they will want to prove their loyalty and support. Regardless, do it placing a demand on them to give you a candid view of your performance. Every single one of them must be ready and able to do a critical analysis of their experience with you on stage.

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3. Always prepare to give your audience a good time of their life at every show you host or feature in. Erase your mind of any kind of negativity. Whatever you allow into your mind will affect your output. Develop your mind to produce positive thoughts. Every successful outing begins with your thought process.

4. Be a guest at other shows not necessarily where you are invited to perform only. The kind of energy and presence some performers bring on stage will inspire you to be better. Take notes, record videos and watch them later, you can as well visit YouTube pages of other artistes. As much as you do all of these, remember to still keep your originality whenever you go on stage. “Learn from others not become them”. You can’t stay in anyone’s shadow.

5. Work on your energy & vocal strength. Aside having all the great stage artistry skills, fans want to hear a good voice with an energized atmosphere. Stop putting out unintentional habits that will annoy the audience. Let your actions show you are together with them. Don’t forget every show requires nothing less but optimal performance.

In conclusion whether you are a worship leader or performer as the case might be, you owe the audience a great deal. You can be leading worship without considering if the audience are in tune or not. I was at an event recently even though most are used getting crowds from universities around, one thing I noticed was that the host had a strong stage control and held everyone literally standing for over an hour. There are a few who can do that. I’m not talking about artistes that will rather talk instead of singing and leading the audience. I need to add that when you are invited to sing kindly minimize your talk especially if it’s a concert. Without trying to get hard on you please focus on the now not what has happened in your previous ministrations which we give glory to God for. When you talk too much you distract the flow and it ultimately affects the outcome of your ministration. A lot of artistes get lost on stage especially when sound and light is dope. Your respect for time shows your stage mastery skill not forgetting that if you overshoot your time it affects the entire programme of events. Every opportunity you have to minister/perform must be used so well that the audience will go to bed with your thought at heart and reflect on every single moment of their stay at the event