I was invited to perform at the historic El Campanil Theater for 1000 strangers last weekend, and boy was it fun. This was the biggest theater I’ve ever played, and it was great! I could tell, however, what other performers meant when they said you could feel the distance between you and the audience.
There’s something only performers can intuit, which is the energy of a space depending on its size and density. A great cabaret is amazing because a performer can really connect with an audience. The taller the stage, the farther away the audience, and the more people, the less connection. Or at least it’s much harder to connect with the audience. This makes sense. Regardless, the show was wonderful. I had a great time and can’t wait to go back.
