The Alchemy Of A Standing Ovation

by Cari Cole

I got my first major standing ovation from 3,000 people at Town Hall in NYC several years ago. It was the second time I performed at a venue that large (Carnegie Hall was my first medium size venue of stature, believe it or not!) and I was pretty nervous at the time.

No matter how accomplished I got at my craft as a singer and artist, I’ve always been a nervous Nelly, obsessing about the smallest details until I make myself sick. My jitters would come and go in waves, but anytime the pressure was on, there I was with the heart pounding out of my chest — and throat as dry as the desert. Before the show (at Town Hall) I used every trick in the book to calm myself down and get rid of my cotton mouth (and as a vocal coach, I know them all). Throat spray, homeopathic remedies (they help), gallons of water and throat lozenges. I tried meditating, praying and cursing, but nothing took the deeper anxiety away. But typical me, I just pull myself up by my bootstraps and lurch out on stage regardless.

But this time, I started focusing on what I wanted to give the audience. More than anything, I wanted them to have an experience of the song I was singing, the love in my heart, and the joy I have for music and being able to perform for them. The funny thing was, once I focused on what I wanted to give them, the energy shifted. When the performance became about me giving to them (instead of performing for them – big difference), I was able to get out of my head. After all, performing is not about how good your voice is; it’s really about communicating, storytelling – an experience parlayed from human to human, and what you are doing as a singer is just that – telling a story.

That night, not only did I impress my audience, I got my first standing ovation (from total strangers).

I remember that I was in such a zone during the performance that it was a surreal experience watching everyone come to their feet. I was so hyper focused on the song that I had slipped in to an altered state, and I was loving it.

It was probably one of my most vulnerable and at the same time one of my most authentic performances. I laid it all out there, opened my heart as big as I could and soared in to the crowd, free falling.

And wha la –

It worked!

I learned something powerful that night. That performing is about giving. It’s not about the notes you sing or the songs you play – it’s a part of it – but I’m talking the alchemy of a standing ovation here. It’s so much more about what you give the audience. They want YOU.

Priceless.

At your next performance, try to give more of YOU. Reach out more than you have before. Focus on giving all of the emotion you can. No holds barred.

Let me know how it goes! Can’t wait to hear all about it.