Jan 20 2009
Working Conditions - The Law of Conservation of Audience Energy
Anyone who has been subjected to my show understands that one of my maxims is
If the crowd isn’t making noise every thirty seconds, I’m not doing my job.
I have mapped out one “audience reaction moment” every thirty seconds of so in my act - a point where I ask the crowd something, expect a laugh, applause, and the like. Most of the time I do in fact get it (that’s the benefit of having 7 years to beat this show into shape).
However, there’s no guarantee even at the best of times as to how a crowd is going to respond to the show. Other factors have a bearing on what happens - first among those is, suprisingly, the weather.
I’ve talked before about how Renaissance Faires happen in the hottest places at the hottest times… this can have a significant effect on your show because if it’s too hot, your crowd will simply “melt”.
They’re there watching your show, but they’re not going to make a lot of noise. They won’t cheer much, they won’t boo, they won’t heckle… They are smiling as loud as they can!
This past year I was performing out at the Northern California Renaissance Faire on a week which turned out to be one of the hottest on record. I was doing my best, but I just could not seem to get a rise out of them.
I was making the mistake of not reading the audience and managing my energy level appropriately. As much as we’d like every show to be loud and raucous and exciting, there are times when the crowd is going to be quieter, and we do our audiences a disservice if we bull through or worse, ramp up the energy to an uncomfortable level.
Some things I learned based on that experience and others like it:
- Not every crowd is going to be ready to be loud and rambunctous
Some folks are more naturally reserved, sometimes the climate will make it hard for folks to rise to the energy level you expect - When faced with a lower-energy audience, give yourself permission to relax.
Sometimes the crowd is simply more open to a mellower show. You can always start low and see where the folks you’re performing for want to go from there. I’ve had very reserved audience members “open up” after a while, but only if I’m willing to ease back and not try to drag them up to the level I want / expect of them. - Relaxing is not the same as collapsing
Any student of acting can tell you that you can be quiet and maintain a high level of energy - the key is making and maintaining the connection with your audience. Some of the most low key shows I’ve had have also been the most profitable when I passed the hat. - There are no hard and fast rules. Sometimes all you need are one or two people in the crowd who are willing to play to bring the rest of the audience over. Sometimes it’s too hot to cheer. Sometimes… people are just quiet.
It can be tough to work a lower-energy crowd, especially if you’re already vibrating from the pre-show psych-up… but it can also be rewarding.
Some of the most generous audiences I’ve had have been quieter ones. A strange fact, yet true.
