Last weekend, I attended the Canada’s Got Talent auditions held in Toronto. I normally wouldn’t even bother, but I had a hook up on tickets and the person who had them was quite persuasive that I attend.
It was a 4-hour event and overall, I’m glad I went. It helped me to drum up some blog posts about my experience. Of course, none of my blog posts contain any spoilers, so I’ll instead focus on the business application of the auditions.
What I saw was more than just auditions. Each contestant was telling a unique story. Whether they sang, danced, juggled, belched (yes, you read that correctly) or played an instrument, each contestant vying for a spot to compete on the show in March 2012 was sharing a unique experience.
After watching the auditions, here are the 5 things I learned about storytelling:
- Get to the point – Each contestant only had 90-seconds to share their talent. One man lost his opportunity to move on to the next stage because he took longer than 90-seconds. As one of the judges said, it’s vitally important to stay within the parameters of the time given otherwise you’ll start to bore the audience.
- Have a beginning, middle and end. The judges often complained of acts that didn’t make sense. Just like a song, it’s important that you have structure to your story. It flows better and the audience is able to appreciate it more.
- Don’t give away everything too soon. One of the judges, opera diva Measha Brueggergosman said that there should be a little mystery to each act. Those who promised a “more extreme version” or “additional tricks” kept both the judges and the audience eager for more. One 13-year old contestant boldly answered after being asked what he planned to showcase during the rest of the competition should he get through that “I’m trying to do what no 13-year old has ever done before, so put me through.”
- Don’t be afraid of the grit. That’s what judge Measha said to one of the contestants who sang that “the storm’s a-coming” and “the devil’s nipping at my heels”, but had a smile on his face the entire time. Measha encouraged him to feel the song and not be afraid of the negativity. We often tell stories that bring us back to moments in time that are painful. It’s important to feel the raw emotion and share it with your audience. They’ll appreciate the authenticity.
- Help the crowd feel. This follows point #4 above. At the auditions, the host told us that the audience is the 4th judge (behind comedian Martin Short, Measha and songwriter Stephan Moccio. Because the audience influences the judges, it was vitally important that each contestant kept us involved. Whether you do magic tricks, sing songs, play an instrument or simply have a booming voice, remember to always tell a story that gets your audience involved in it as well.
