Let’s talk about the fine art of opening and closing your act. Now, let me be clear, starting with a generic “How are you doing tonight?” is a bit like opening a can of disappointment according to Steve. It’s your beginning; it’s how you define yourself. So, let’s dive into the dos and don’ts of setting the stage.
Opening
First things first, the opening sets the tone. Acknowledge the circumstances; make it a bit strange. Maybe drop a date on them like a dime opening. Picture this: “Good evening, it’s great to be here. Move to the left, no, it’s great to be here. Move again, it’s great to be here.” You’re creating those opening moments, engaging the audience, making them wonder what they’ve stepped into.
Never kick off with a cliché “How are you doing tonight?” That’s a beginning faux pas. Instead, define yourself right from the start. For example, “I will not ask you how you are because, quite frankly, I don’t care.” Bold, right?
Endgame
Now, let’s talk about the endgame. Your ending gives the beginning and middle meaning. Always think about how you end before you even begin. Work backward from that ending. Your goal? Get the audience crazy and excited at the end. It’s not about a polite response; it’s about dropping something big or giving a sense of conclusion.
You might want to say, “And now, I want to get serious for a moment” with an arrowhead, a balloon animal, and nose glasses. It’s about grabbing attention or creating a feeling of conclusion, not necessarily revealing who the killer was, especially in comedy. Shape your show so they feel like they’ve seen and experienced something to remember for the rest of the day.
Working backwards from that ending
Picture this: you’re standing on stage, and you’ve got the power to craft an ending that leaves your audience buzzing. Now, how do you get there? It’s all about reverse engineering the magic.
Think of your ending as the grand finale, the crescendo of your performance. You want the audience to leave thinking, “Wow, that was amazing!” So, before you even step foot on stage, ask yourself, “What do I want the audience to feel or think when they walk away?”
Let’s break it down with a couple of stellar examples. Take the comedian who, in the last five minutes of their act, seamlessly ties together all the seemingly random anecdotes they’ve been sharing. The punchline becomes a thread that weaves the entire performance into a cohesive masterpiece. The audience is left in stitches, and they realize they’ve been taken on a comedic journey with a purpose.
Or imagine a speaker addressing a serious topic. They drop a bombshell revelation, leaving the audience in stunned silence. The ending becomes a thought-provoking moment that lingers long after the curtain falls. It’s the kind of impact that makes people reflect on what they’ve just witnessed.
So, when you’re preparing your act, start with the ending in mind. What emotions do you want to evoke? What message do you want to leave lingering in the air? Then, craft the rest of your performance like a puzzle, each piece leading seamlessly to that unforgettable ending.
Remember, working backward isn’t just a technique; it’s a strategy to ensure that your performance resonates long after the curtains close. So, go ahead, set the stage, tell your story, and leave them wanting more.
Button up your act
If you’re searching for the ending, look in the beginning or middle. Something established there is the key to pulling it all together. Remember, the ending is what they’ll remember. Think of yourself as telling a story. Wrap it up, leave them with a nice applause.
And there you have it, the art of opening and closing your act.
Unanswered Questions for Posterity
- Can you share an example from your own experiences where working backward from the ending enhanced the impact of a performance?
- How do you balance surprise elements in the ending with maintaining coherence and relevance to the rest of the performance?
- Can you share a personal experience where a surprise element in the ending added a memorable touch to a performance?
- How can humor be effectively employed to tie together surprise elements and maintain coherence in the context of a comedic performance?
- In your opinion, what’s more challenging: crafting a surprising ending or ensuring it stays relevant to the overall theme of the performance?
- In what ways can the ending of a performance serve as a powerful tool for conveying a message or eliciting a specific emotional response from the audience?
- How can you tailor the opening to reflect the specific theme or mood you want to convey in your act?
- In comedy, how do you strike a balance between surprise elements and a conclusion that satisfies the audience?
- Can you share an example from your experience where the ending of a performance had a significant impact on the audience’s response?
