Image: IMG_4937 courtesy of jeaneeem

If you’re new to this series, you may want to go to this article to learn how this all started. In this last article of a 6-part series, I will describe in detail why really showing your audience that you appreciate their support is an important part of being a super start that people love; and will use a couple of examples from Michael Bublé’s concert on the 31 May, 2008 to illustrate it.

The importance of giving back

So you’re now a Super Star; all those fans that adore you and idolise you constantly make you feel you are invulnerable. But remember: you too are human. After all, we all start from the same place; an innocent, naked bundle of cries and love who is totally and utterly dependent in others (especially Mum) to survive in this world.

You may think that you are where you are because of what you have done; and that is partly true. But it is equally true that if it had not been for all the help you received along the way, it would have been impossible for you to reach Stardom. You may simply not have been alive for long enough to reach Super Stardom had your mother not cared for you, protected you in those early days, and nurtured you. If you also reflect back to those days when you were an unknown artist, you will remember just how desperately dependent on the help from others you were. Someone discovered you and trusted you and took a risk on you just to see-if-you-had-what-it-takes to get to where you are now. Other artists decided to give you a break and call you for a supporting act that skyrocketed you into the limelight for those few but critical minutes. And at some point, your fans decided to support you by shelling out their hard-earned-cash for your music, one CD at a time.

As you reflect on the long chain of events that made you a Super Star, you will find that despite your own perceptions of grandeur, it was mostly through the generosity of others and the trust they put in you that you finally made it. Now that you are on stage, in front of tens of thousands of the very people that propelled you towards stardom, you might want to consider giving back. Acknowledge the role they played; give them their five seconds of fame by acknowledging the critical role they have played in helping you be there tonight. Remain humble and honest while you say it, for your fans will spot a cursory or even fake acknowledgement, and will hold that against you for a long time.

Be creative in how you say Thanks!

Have you ever noticed how many people have developed the habit of saying Thank You when it is deserved? Not many. Our modern world pushes us from one responsibility to the next without letting us take that 5-minute break we need to stop, think about who should we thank for their contribution, and actually say it like we mean it. Yet not all is lost. A slow movement is taking the world by storm to show us that slowing down to reflect; smell the roses; and connect with others is a worthwhile activity. More people are acknowledging the value of slowing down every day, and as a result more Thank You’s are being dished out on a daily basis.

Yet we must remain alert; it is too easy to fall into the trap of thinking there’s only one way of saying Thank you. A look back at our own lives often reveals a hundred ways of creatively saying Thank You without even using those words:

1. Give a present. By carefully observing the likes and dislikes of the person you want to Thank, it is easy to choose a small and inexpensive gift that will be appreciated by the other person.
2. Give a card. We all do it at birthday time, don’t we? Just remember that the not-so-glossy card hand-drawn by your 3 year-old is more memorable than the super-sized farewell from “the mob” at your last work’s farewell. Remember that expensive is not always better, and making it personal and unique makes a big difference.
3. Just Say It. Yes, you can always use the words. You can do it in 2 seconds: just say Thank You and move on. Or you can do it in 2 minutes: say Thank you for…. and proceed to explain what are you’re grateful for and why. But why not do it in 5 or 10 minutes? Do what the professionals do, and tell a story that illustrates how the actions of the other person made a massive difference in your life. Using stories to say Thank You gives you the opportunity to be creative with your words; weave a strong emotional plot in the story; and connect with not only the minds but also with the hearts of your audience. Reach out into their souls and touch them gently; you will be giving them something they don’t get as often as they could: the attention and time of someone who cares.

How did Michael say Thank You?

He used all three techniques described above. First, he told us a story of how he grew up; and how he had a tough up-bringing. He related to us by saying he understood that many of us might be going through hardship, and made an effort to shell-out the cash to come listen to him singing. He also said he really appreciated the effort we have made in making babysitter arrangements; travelling from another city; or giving away a night of being with friends, in our efforts to come and listen to him. He explained that this meant a lot to him, and explicitly Thanked Us, his fans, for making his career and professional life possible.

He then used the light & sound crew he had at his disposal to make a magnificent Than You card: in what was the most effective use of large backdrops I ave ever seen in a concert. While singing Home, Michael got his crew to project images of Sydney and Australian icons in the back of the stage (take a close look at the photo of his concert that opened this article; that image at the back is from our beloved capital, Canberra).

He then closed his performance by giving us a wonderful present: he came back out onto the stage, and invited his supporting act to perform one more song for us. The emotional power of hearing Michael perform his last song with such an incredibly talented vocal group was a wonderful gift; a golden brooch, some might say.

There were also a lot of small gestures; too many to be mentioned here in detail. But it was evident that Michael made a real effort to show his appreciation for his audience; as already related, he kept it humble, real, and very human; and in doing so he connected with our hearts in a way that I have not seen many artists connect ever before in a stage. Well done, Michael; you had previously won our hard-earned-money. Tonight, you earned something that is much more valuable: a special place in our hearts, and a memory that will never fade. May you keep going on to bigger and better things. Oh, and please keep singing: we love your rendition of Jazz on- and off-stage!

Closing thoughts

If you have followed this series, you know now from observing Michael Bublé in action that there are five things you can do be the type of super star that people truly love:

1. Engage your audience
2. Appreciate the artists from your band and supporting act by acknowledging in public their unique contribution
3. Show you too are human
4. Have a sense of humour and use it - have some fun while you’re in that stage!
5. Appreciate the effort & support of your fans

I thank you for staying with us, and wish you the best in your future performances. Put these lessons into practice, and you too will be able to become a super star that people truly love!