5 posts in this series
In 1943, Dariel Fitzkee cataloged thirty-nine distinct appeals that capture audience attention. Eighty years later, every single one still works, because human psychology hasn't changed.
Read MoreFitzkee identified six primary appeals that operate at the most fundamental human level. Understanding them changes how you think about every performance choice.
Read MoreBeyond the primary appeals, Fitzkee identified production-level appeals: the power of physical action, coordinated group performance, and precisely timed execution.
Read MoreFitzkee's most provocative insight: instinctual appeals (danger, beauty, rhythm) will always outperform intellectual appeals (cleverness, complexity, puzzle). Instinct beats intellect every time.
Read MoreFitzkee's counterintuitive advice: always leave the audience wanting slightly more. Most performers do too much, not too little.
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