- 09/18/2019
- Posted by: Mike O'Malley
- Category: Blake Shelton, country music, country radio programming, DJs, radio programming
We learn by watching and imitating. From perfecting a dance move to watching a YouTube DIY video, the process of observation and modeling is powerful. This struck me at a recent Blake Shelton show. Here was a master showman plying his craft so deftly that I was compelled to make notes. I shared 15 of these observations with our Partner Stations. And, in the spirit of “watching and learning from the best,” here are Seven Showmanship Lessons from Blake Shelton that you can use starting today.
Seven Showmanship Lessons from Blake Shelton
- You’ll be most effective in connecting with your audience by understanding them in a far deeper way than demographics or stereotypes. Have a profound knowledge of listeners’ lives.
- Conversations make you more interesting and real. Make them about the audience and feed off their reactions to take things one level deeper.
- Rehearse to the point that what you do and say come off naturally and appear completely unrehearsed. Preparation leads to confidence which leads to being comfortable and natural.
- Make stars of the audience and cast. Encourage audience-participation. This is fun for the audience and reinforces the performer’s accessibility.
- Reflect and reinforce shared values. There was no mistake that a Blake Shelton show is a country show.
- “Show up” between every song. Don’t be a bystander in your own show.
- Acknowledge the audience with gratitude and appreciation for their presence, passion and participation.
If You’re New to Country or…
If you’re new to country and want to know what the format is all about – or if you’re a performer who wants to remind yourself of the power of an incredibly well prepared show – you can’t do much better than spend a couple of hours at a Blake Shelton concert.
Related:
The Country Music Hall of Fame and the Power of a Performance
Committed to Doing Your Best Shows? You’re to be T.O.A.S.T.E.D.
How Political Analysts Can Help Coach Talent
Photo by Jana Ursina Kunz on Unsplash