Hi Friends,
It’s me — Michael Misko, your friendly neighborhood magic director.
With apologies to Ron Popeil, the subject of this email has to deal with setting (and delivering) expectations to your audience.
The moment you walk out on stage, your audience is wondering if they can trust you. You have to earn that trust as quickly as possible – because the sooner they know they’re in capable hands, the sooner they can relax and enjoy the show.
I’m a comedy magician. That’s two words, equal weight. I need to deliver on that dual promise immediately. If I don’t land the first joke, or I don’t deliver on my opener, I can inadvertently send my show into a tailspin (AND HAVE) that will throw off the energy of the entire show!
No one was laughing.
When legendary musical theater composer, Stephen Sondheim, was rehearsing A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (his first Broadway foray as composer and lyricist) out of town, he couldn’t understand why the show was falling flat. No one was laughing. He brought in legendary director/choreographer Jerome Robbins as a show doctor.
Robbins took one look at the show and said, “Steve, ‘Love is in the Air’ [the opening song] is exactly the wrong number…it misleads the audience. They don’t know it’s going to be a low comedy show. You’ve got to write a number that tells them that!”
Sondheim then penned the show’s opening number, “Comedy Tonight,” which set the appropriate expectations for the evening. A Funny Thing…Forum went on to be a commercial success, running for over 900 performances, and winning the coveted Tony Award for Best Musical in 1963…all because it set and then delivered on the audiences’ expectations!
WATCH THE VIDEO BELOW!
Try this:
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Decide what expectations your show sets within the first 30 seconds
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Ask yourself, “do I deliver on that?”
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If not, focus on delivering. Hint: the answer rests with your character. In a previous email, I discuss how to develop a strong character. View that email here.
This is work you can do on your own. You just have to remove the rose-colored glasses and take a hard look at your material (and your character).
If you’d like to get to the bottom of this sooner, I can be YOUR show doctor! Let me use my years in the theatre and on stage to help you diagnose your opener. Fast. Because the worst time to learn this is when you’re already on stage “lying” to the crowd. Don’t be like me. Deliver on your expectations the first time!
If you’re serious about taking your magic to the next level, set up a consult call! Check out the details at my coaching site:
Best,
Michael
PS – If you wanted to order a copy of my book, Comedy, Character & Control, recently reviewed by Genii Magazine, click HERE.
PPS – If you wanted a copy of my essay, This Will Be Mic, So There’s No Confusion, nearly 30 pages on using a handheld mic for the stand-up entertainer, you can get that by clicking HERE.