Stagecraft – Jeremy from Everything Everything
With
Katie MeluaJeremy Pritchard of Everything Everything on stagecraft and visual identity - why your stage presence, not just your playing, is how you connect with fans.
What's in the course
40 lessons (2h 33m) · 1 free
01. Getting started, open mics and unpaid gigs
2:52
02. Becoming local heroes and booking tours
6:12
03. Getting creative about gigs
3:44
04. Stagecraft – Jeremy from Everything Everything
You are here2:21
05. Capitalising on your audience
4:50
06. Engaging Direct to Fan
7:41
07. Knowing your online audience and using data effectively
7:25
Lesson transcript
The Thorny Issue of Stagecraft and Showmanship
It's a complex topic, and for some people, it's an uncomfortable area to navigate. Acknowledging that stagecraft and showmanship are needed can be challenging, but it is essential.
The Importance of Visual Identity
- You can't just turn up, play the songs, and leave.
- You need to tell people who you are.
- Having some sort of visual identity is crucial, even if it's an anti-identity.
If you look great in the clothes you woke up in, then fantastic, go for that! However, that was never our approach. We designed a different method, influenced by bands like Kraftwerk and Devo, opting for a more uniformed style.
Engaging with Your Audience
The way you communicate with an audience is something to consider. There isn't an easy way to learn this; it requires practice.
Finding the Right Balance
- If your setlist says, "It's great to be here in Brighton," it can come off as contrived and insincere.
- Striking a balance between what works and being too scripted is crucial.
It's perfectly fine to have certain phrases or sentiments you share at specific points in the show; consistency can be valuable. I remember being relieved to learn from David Byrne that it's okay to reuse certain lines.
The Role of Humanity
You must also be responsive to the audience in front of you. That human element can be incredibly attractive in a band:
- Making mistakes can actually work in your favor and help connect with the audience.
- A single false start or technical issue can serve to engage the crowd positively.
- However, more than one slip-up can start to stray into a less favorable territory.
Ultimately, it's all about finding that fine balance in performance.
40 lessons
2h 33m of structured video lessons
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Meet your guru
Meet your guru
Katie Melua is one of the UK's most successful recording artists, with more than 11 million albums sold worldwide and a string of multi-platinum releases. Born Ketevan Melua in Kutaisi, Georgia, in 1984, she moved with her family to Belfast as a child and later studied at the BRIT School in London, where she was discovered by songwriter and producer Mike Batt.
Her debut album 'Call Off the Search' (2003), released when she was 19, spent six weeks at No. 1 in the UK and went six-times platinum, driven by the hit single 'The Closest Thing to Crazy'. Its follow-up 'Piece by Piece' (2005) topped charts across Europe and featured her signature song 'Nine Million Bicycles'. In 2006 she earned a place in the Guinness World Records book by playing the deepest underwater concert ever staged, 303 metres below sea level on a North Sea gas platform.
A remarkable run of top-ten albums followed — 'Pictures' (2007), the William Orbit-produced 'The House' (2010), 'Secret Symphony' (2012) and 'Ketevan' (2013) — as Melua refined a sound that moves effortlessly between jazz, folk and classic pop songwriting. 'In Winter' (2016), recorded in Georgia with the Gori Women's Choir and produced by Melua herself, revealed a new depth to her artistry.
Her recent work is her most personal: 'Album No. 8' (2020) and 'Love & Money' (2023) drew some of the strongest reviews of her career, and 'Live at the Royal Albert Hall' (2024) celebrated two decades at the top of British music. She remains a captivating live performer, touring extensively across Europe and beyond.
