What actually goes on between the audience and a performer? Why are some performers so good and others don't seem to touch their audience at all? What is the magic formula of a good artist? Is there something like a bad audience, or is everything on the performer? These are important questions for any performing artist and I think everybody who goes on stage in front of people has to have a basic understanding about this.
I am a professional magician myself and I will reveal what I have understood about these things during many years of professional work and experience.
It has been said that the first minutes on stage are critical; the audience is evaluating you and getting their first impression.
It has been said that you can never make another first impression.
Ok, these statements seem logical, but I don't fully agree with them.
You see, when you enter stage, it's important to give your audience time to get to know you.
 It's not so important what you do, more important is what you don't do...
Because if you rush into a routine - whatever it might be - the audience might feel confusion, and they want to evaluate you at this point.
This is the reason I want to give them a feeling of confidence and that they are in good hands from the very beginning.
One of the most important things is to be and stay relaxed for the whole of your act.
You can be little nervous and still be relaxed - as long as you accept your nervousness, but being uptight on stage is death! The audience is not stupid, so don't underestimate them.
 You need to be relaxed to communicate with the audience, this communication is done on the energy level and it is not going to work if you are stiff and frightened.
I always open with a slow trick, and some slow comedy one liners.
I want to stand in front of them and let them have a good look at me - feel me, feel my presence, be open for them.
 I also want to establish a rhythm to my show in the beginning, and I want to start slow but increase the pace slowly later.
I also want to be in full control of every moment, because if I'm not, disaster can follow.
Once you have established yourself, you are free to breathe - for a while.
However, if you cannot hold the interest of your audience, your first confident impression will change to a negative "he is confident but he doesn't deliver" attitude.
So you got to be good at what you do and you have to have solid material that gets and holds their attention.
Now is the time when the energies between the audience and you start moving - remember when I told you earlier to be relaxed? Once you give them something, they will react and that reaction is what you get back and it is vital that you respond correctly - if you are relaxed you will respond automatically right.
These are emotional energies that you cannot see, but you feel them.
 A strong wall of acceptance can flow towards you if you are doing a good job.
This in turn will give you more confidence and energy and you can return the compliment by giving them more.
It's much like surfing and it's sometimes difficult to be aware of the energies while on stage, because there might be so many other things going through your mind, but at the same time this is something that you need to learn to be aware of.
Sometimes you might feel a negative wave - maybe you did something that hurt the collective atmosphere or you went too far with something.
People react with their emotions and you feel them.
At this point you want to correct your mistake and build trust again.
It's all about awareness and pacing.
This is the way you touch your audience - by letting them touch you.
This is what goes on between an audience and a performer.
There can be bad audiences that have decided not to give you anything or are emotionally cold at the moment and you cannot surf without waves.
It is not your fault.
You do your best and remember that you and your audience are always one.