What are the best techniques for building rapport with your audience?

1 Know your audience

The first step to building rapport is to know who you are playing for, what they like, and what they expect from you. Research your audience before you perform, and tailor your setlist, style, and tone to suit their preferences and mood. You can also use social media, surveys, or feedback forms to learn more about your audience and their interests. Knowing your audience will help you create a more engaging and relevant performance that resonates with them.

3 Use body language and eye contact

The third step to building rapport is to use body language and eye contact to communicate with your audience. Body language and eye contact can convey your emotions, confidence, and enthusiasm, and make your audience feel more involved and connected. Use body language and eye contact to express yourself, acknowledge your audience, and invite feedback. For example, you can smile, nod, wave, point, clap, or dance to show your appreciation, excitement, or gratitude. You can also look at your audience, make eye contact, or wink to show your attention, interest, or intimacy.

4 Share your values and stories

The fourth step to building rapport is to share your values and stories with your audience. Values and stories are the core of your identity and message as a musician, and they can help you create a deeper and more meaningful bond with your audience. Values and stories can reveal your passion, purpose, and personality, and inspire your audience to relate to you, support you, and follow you. You can share your values and stories through your lyrics, music, introductions, or anecdotes. You can also use values and stories to create a theme, a narrative, or a call to action for your performance.

6 Show gratitude and appreciation

The sixth and final step to building rapport is to show gratitude and appreciation to your audience. Gratitude and appreciation are the emotions that make your audience feel valued, respected, and rewarded as your fans. Gratitude and appreciation can help you create a positive and lasting impression, and encourage your audience to come back, spread the word, or buy your merch. You can show gratitude and appreciation by saying thank you, giving shout-outs, offering gifts, or asking for referrals. You can also show gratitude and appreciation by following up, staying in touch, or giving back to your audience.