To be honest, this isn’t only applicable to musicians. The art of reading the room has gone out the window. What is reading the room? DuckDuckGo came up with, “Reading the room means being aware of the opinions, attitudes, and emotional cues of a group of people you are interacting with. It involves observing body language, facial expressions, and other nonverbal signals to gauge the overall mood and adjust your communication accordingly.” Thanks, DuckDuckGo. For a more concise definition, I like Cambridge too.
“Why should I have to read?”
This skill is important for performers. If someone on stage is good at this, the set list might change slightly from venue to venue depending on who shows up. That’s great! But it rarely happens. I’ve been trying to think about why.
One reason is the performers often don’t know about “reading the room.” I’ve asked them. Many have never heard the phrase. This is for you.
Another reason is the performers are inundated with things to think about and the room reading doesn’t make the priorities list. It’s unfortunate because nearly everything they’re worried about would be better if they were free’d up to make connections with the audience. Kinda’ paradoxical in that regard.
Another reason, (and I’ve seen this one a bunch), is inebriation. Getting hopped up on goofballs then blowing your voice out with an “all eyes on me” approach can work. But it’s an awfully risky venture because it rarely works. I think it worked once for some, and they’re in bafflement as to why it doesn’t keep working every time. Must be why they keep doing it, right?
Most times it’s practice.
The most common reason I’ve observed is rehearsal. If you barely know your stuff, you’re focused on that. That goes away with rehearsal. It frees you to focus on other things. Like connecting with folks who paid to see you. If you can’t look at them while you play, opting for the music stand, you are wasting valuable connection opportunities. Try learning that stuff and looking around. Big difference. I promise it’s worth it.
What are you looking at?
I have a tendency to look at folks in the face when I play. I have a few reasons. One, it helps me sing right. If I sing to one person at a time, my volume and delivery is better. If I look at everyone at once all the time, I’m too loud, singing to the back wall, no one in particular, get tired too quickly. So, focusing on one audience member at a time helps me sing just for them. That turns out to be good for everyone.
Another reason I look at them is to observe them. Most the times they aren’t looking back. But I can gather intel on what the mood is or how I’m doing sometimes. It’s a gauge.
The main reason is one on one connection. I want to give that to whoever wants it. I love when my favorite artists do it, they taught it to me, their fault. Screaming at the back wall is out, singing to someone’s face, in.
Reading the room isn’t about being psychic, it’s about looking around and adjusting accordingly. Musicians who are great at it have a leg up on folks who aren’t. They’re more likely to play the right song at the right time. That’s all any musician I know wants to do.
The easiest way to make this happen in your performances is to limit distractions and rehearse your ass off. When you can play the songs backwards and blindfolded, you find extra energy and attention span for making some kid’s day gawking at your guitar or something. Good luck, musicians.
(An old post I saved. Playing on stage with my wife and oldest friend is fun. They’re great minds and musicians. Dustin Fike Photography also shot the set. I recommend him whole-heartedly. These pictures mean a lot to me. Thanks, Dustin.)
To sum it up.
I hope if you’re struggling, you consider reading the room. It might be the difference in your enjoyment in the whole deal. That’s pretty valuable around these parts, enjoying performances. Be a part of that for someone. They might even tell their friends about you. Bonus.
Back to home.
(Side note – Keri and I will be performing house shows and listening rooms once our album is complete. We’re thinking early fall at the moment, but we aren’t in a position to say with any certainty. Letting it take what it takes. Rehearsing. See “The Kintners Music” tab for contact information, how to hear us, and even a music video. Thanks.)