The Qualities of a Great Entertainer

by Chris Miksen, Demand Media

Confidence makes your act look natural and effortless.

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Enthusiasm

There's not a whole lot of entertainment to be had without enthusiasm. Your deliveries rely on enthusiasm, and not in just over-the-top, boisterous deliveries, but the low-key ones too. Picture an actor playing the role of a depressed and apathetic person. If the actor is not enthusiastic about the role, it's going to show. He won't appear convincing or pull the audience in. Enthusiasm also spawns commitment. Commitment, which consists of a willingness to improve, breeds talent. Some people are born with natural talent, but if they don't identify their weaknesses and improve upon them, they'll hit a wall quickly. Talent is specific to each type of entertainer. A career as a stand-up comedian, for instance, calls for a vastly different host of talents than career as a musician.

Confidence

Great actors bubble with confidence. Confidence enables you to put on a believable act. It makes your delivery convincing and makes whatever scene you're in entertaining. Without confidence, your movements seem stiff, your words drip with nervousness and uncertainty and you're unable to really tap into the talents you have. Confidence comes partly from practice and knowing that you have the talent to entertain and partly from a mindset that pushes away doubt and worry.

What Makes A Good Entertainer?

What Makes A Good Entertainer?

One of the things I've noticed lately is that there are a lot of artists performing but very few are TRUE entertainers. There is a misconception that just being able to do something well will get you over. Let's face it good musicians and singers, sad to say, are a dime a dozen but truly great entertainers are few and far between. What makes a good entertainer? First of all I believe that entertainers are born not made. In most cases either you have it or you don't but there are some things that can raise every one's entertainment game. Being able to sing or sound good is important but your stage presence is actually a bit more important when it comes to a live show because people can stay at home and listen to your CD if all they want to do is have a listening experience. A good entertainerunderstands that people want to hear and see something special. You must always engage the audience by making them a part of the show. This can be done by simply talking to them in a relaxed and natural manner and putting yourself in the midst of the audience. Don't ever let the stage confine you especially if you are in a small club or venue. Make the entire venue your stage and be daring. People love to see amazing things. Do your homework! Study the things that all great entertainers have in common. Energy, presence, timing and intuition. A great entertainer can never be lazy. Most artists don't fully connect with their audience because they just refuse to work for it. Some nights are easier than others but great entertainers do what they do no matter what. Your performance should not be based on the size of the venue or audience. Great entertainers put 100% of themselves into every performance and the audience appreciates seeing someone give all they have. This is the secret to building a true fan base. This also sets up how you are perceived. For example, if people consider you a good local guy then you are probably good but you are not anything unique but if people consider you a great entertainer then you are a star to them. You are a star that just happens to reside near them or that they have close and personal access to but a star none the less. A great entertainer is also ALWAYS paying attention to what's going on around him/her and finds a way to make those happenings a part of the show. The key to being a good entertainer is just being honest and passionate about whatever you do. Just be YOU and your audience will be entertained. Now go have a GREAT SHOW!

How to be Good entertainer

How to Be a Good Entertainer

Edited by Layla Garcia

The entertainment industry in Nigeria is now more than ever over crowded, everyone has a talent and trust me most are really very talented. So if you are in the industry and you want to beat the competition, be u a singer, an actor, a dancer, in order to get the greatest attention you have to be able not just to sing, act or dance, you have to be able to entertain the best. Everything else falls into place. Follow these simple steps below and you are on your way to being the best entertainer ever;

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Steps

1. 1
   Dare to be different. Its simple logic. If everybody does things the same way and someone comes and does it somewhat differently, people will remember that someone. So watch your competition closely and try to outdo them. Remember this can go both ways, it’s either people like it or they don’t. So whatever you decide to do to be different, make sure it’s a step ahead of your pairs and even if it’s stupid, let it be the best stupid thing ever. Deliver it with grace and confidence and finesse. Gather around you people who believe in you and can spur you on. A good example is D’banj, he didn’t know how to sing, so he sing –talked his way through on a great beat by Don Jazzy and had the best team ever to spur him on. Mo’hits. They made him feel like the best till he became the best entertainer in Nigeria.
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2. 2
   Build a brand.Let your attitude, costume, mode of talking and carriage speak of your brand. Do not form it…no, create it and grow into it. Live it. Its better when your brand stems from something already in you. It becomes your skin. If you can’t figure it out by yourself get someone to figure it out for you. Entertainment business is not a joke, you need a good working team. Example: Olamide is known as the voice of the street. That’s his brand. His attitude and everything portrays that.
3. 3
   Work on your talent and improve on it. If you want to be an entertainer, let your focus not be on being the best in your chosen field, let your focus be how to best entertain your audience. Because if you are the best and yet they don’t enjoy it, all you get is respect from your pairs who are in your field (because they are the only ones who will truly understand what magic you performed) but you don’t get to have their fame and riches. So learn your audience, focus on them, find out what they love most about you and build on it. If a less technical or crazy error will get them entertained, put a lid to your thoughts and beliefs and get them entertained. Learn from Miley Cyrus. In an interview with E after her crazy weird 2013 MTV awards performance, she told E that she wasn’t trying to be sexy on the show contrary to what people think, if I was trying to be sexy, I can sing better than that she said, I can dance better than that. Her aim was not to be the best singer/dancer or performer that night, her aim was to wow the crowd, so if she had to be less of a singer or dancer to do that, she had it done!
4. 4
   Sometimes it’s good to stick to a winning formula, but watch your crowd diligently, know when to take the risk and change. You have to be careful though a change not well executed can cause you your career. So be careful and figure it all out to the end before you execute. In other words you must have a solid laid down strategy on the change that is suitable for your brand.
5. 5
   The audience does not know what they want but they notice the slightest change somehow without knowing what it really is and just begin to fall away.Never ever take your audience for granted . Every step or change must be in the right direction, every error must me creatively done.