It was New Year’s Eve. The unknown band was opening for a well-known group at a great venue. Clearly, they were being given a chance to raise their profile and possibly sell a bunch of CDs. Sadly; the group squandered their opportunity.
The lead singer of the opening act contorted his face too many ways and times to count–all the while keeping his eyes firmly shut. He turned his back to the audience to watch the drummer’s solo. And he ignored the people right in front of the stage in favor of his band mates.
Never once during their 45 minute set did anyone in the band attempt to engage the audience. They sang and played… to and for… themselves. HUGE mistake!
The same goes for people when they’re presenting or selling from the stage. If you want to sell people on your idea, company or services, you’ve got to connect with your audience. Eye contact is a big part of this. So is talking to your audience. (“How is everyone doing?”) And a well-timed smile always helps build rapport. It’s really not that hard.
But if you’re not willing to make the effort –or even pretend to make the effort– no one will care about you or what you’re pitching.
(Attention band members: Plugging sales of your CD doesn’t count as conversation.)
No surprise then that the band received only a whisper of applause from the crowd when they were done. No one tried to meet them after they came off stage. And I certainly didn’t see anyone buying their CDs.
They were the worst thing a band could be: forgettable. And you will be too if you don’t engage your audience.
