Let's Talk Dance
In the past several months I have become more acutely aware and increasingly frustrated with the production elements of events I have attended as an audience member. I realize that having been raised in the world of dance, I am more attuned to the details of presentation and production, but it is quite apparent to me that the selfishness of society is seeping into and overtaking courtesy, consideration, good manners and even common sense in presentational venues. This is not to say that I put on a perfect production at every turn, but I do know that I strongly consider my audience with every planned event. I beg the masses to do the same for as an audience member, I am slowly reaching the point of non-attendance.
When you refuse to consider the audience perspective or overlook the value of the audience's potential for receiving your presentation, and then you have not communicated your intent and therefore, have not fulfilled a purpose for doing so in the first place. If there is no purpose then it becomes a waste of time and might as well have been done, thought, or performed in the privacy of your own space with no audience at all. Why bother people if you do not care what they think or whether they feel anything from what you have written, spoken, played, performed, danced, presented, or awarded?
A writer who writes without considering who he or she is writing for will not yield a readable or valued product. At the very best, it will be received by a limited population who will covet, not share that information. A choreographer who creates a dance as a purging of his or her own emotions without a desire or care to communicate to the audience may as well have done so in the studio. An awards presentation where the giver of the award spends more time talking than the awardee has not been about honoring someone else for their service.
You can express yourself in private but when you call into your presence one other person or several other people, then you are indicating a desire to communicate. Communication requires an exchange meaning that there is an interaction of energy, at least, if not words or gesture between two or more parties. Anything less is uncomfortable and awkward. Imagine the dancer that sends the message out to the body but never receives the confirmation back that the action was carried out. We all have those dancers in our general dance education classes, we call them uncoordinated. To be uncoordinated is to lack a harmonious relationship between thought and action and harmony indicates an agreement in feelings or a pleasing blend of ideas or tones. All these words to simply say that I believe it is essential to place the audience's needs, desires or limitations in high priority in whatever event is being produced. To say, "We understand that this is long and we are going overtime," or "we apologize for your inconvenience but we must get through this" is the same as saying "we do not care about you, this is about us." As an individual trait we call this being inconsiderate.
So what has set me off, you are asking? And why is she being so inconsiderate taking up my time with her gripes? Yes, it is my selfish ranting because I have recently attended some of the most uninspiring music performances, dance performances, awards events and church services that I can imagine. This was not due to the quality of the performance material or the topic of interest, but rather the production elements. Seemingly very little care or thought was given to the receivers of the performance-the audience!
One of the least considered elements is time. Whether it is dance, music, public speaking, dramatic interpretation, it is essential to consider the time constraints of the audience. What is the audience's knowledge and interest level in what you are going to be presenting and what is a reasonable amount of time to ask them to observe or listen without response time? You see, you must remember that especially if you are presenting something moving, inspiring, or cathartic for your audience, they are going to feel the desire to comment or respond. If you over saturate them and leave no outlet for response, they will cease to absorb. Don't you stop to squeeze out the sponge every few minutes so it will continue to absorb the spill you are cleaning? So it is with people.
Before you put on an event ask yourself what or whose purpose you are fulfilling. Are you saying, "You should take time out of your schedule to come see what I have to show you or hear what I have to say. It is very important to me."? Or are you saying, "Please come and share this time with me. I have something I think is wonderful and I want to see what you think about it too."?
What do you think? Write and tell me!
Kathryn Austin, M.A., RDE welcomes comments, questions and topic suggestions from all readers. Please indicate if you do not want your comments published or if you want your name withheld. Email Kathryn at kaustin2@cfl.rr.com or by snail mail at PO BOX 771518, Winter Garden, FL 34777.