I used to think audience participation was optional -- a fun bonus you could add if you felt like it. Then I learned that it is the single most powerful tool in live performance, and also the single most dangerous.
Read MoreThe phrase 'I need a volunteer' is a performance killer. It creates anxiety, breaks momentum, and hands control to the room. Here is what I do instead.
Read MoreThe moment someone leaves their seat to join you on stage, they have given you something priceless: their trust. The question is whether you treat that trust as sacred or disposable.
Read MoreThe instinct is to be the funniest person on stage. The skill is knowing when to step back and let your volunteer get the reaction. Generous performers build audiences that adore them.
Read MoreThere is a two-second window between the end of the routine and the volunteer's return to their seat. What you do in that window defines the kind of performer you are.
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