Last weekend I enjoyed my first Coldplay concert. They are currently on tour in the U.S. plugging their Viva la Vida album. What can I say? It was the best concert I have ever attended, and I have seen my fair share of great acts. Not only did they cover all the good stuff from their current album, but they also performed some of their classics like Yellow, In My Place, Politik, and Fix You (highlighed below).
I have been a fan of Coldplay for quite some time now so it was an experience that left me wanting more. In fact, my wife and I were looking up tickets last night to see if we can see them again before they leave the states. We are actually considering using their concert as an excuse to visit London or Dublin this fall.
Not surprisingly, all I have been playing in the background at the office is… you guessed it – Coldplay! Well, it got me thinking. The way they perform and hold an audience is inspiring – lots of great lessons for presenters. With that said, watch this video of their song Fix You. I apologize for the quality. I captured it on my Flip camera.
Here are 5 things we can all walk away with from this performance:
1. Mix it up
Their concert was full of highs and lows. Specifically, the song Fix You has its fair share of ups and downs. You feel like you are on a ride.
2. Don’t be afraid to use humor
Chris Martin loves to joke around. At one point in the show, he stated “This is for everybody in the back row” (:16). He also added the line “when you are sitting in the back of a Coldplay show” (2:00). Don’t be afraid to use humor.
3. Move around
You will notice at 3:15 that Chris is on the left hand of the stage (audience perspective) moving around and engaging the audience. He obviously has a passion for his message.
4. Turn on the lights
This video is worth watching just for the lighting and visuals. Be sure to pay attention to how you light a room.
5. Get the audience involved
Pay close attention to 4:34 in the video. The audience is definitely engaged. Wouldn’t it be marvelous if we could all engage an audience like this?
Viva la Presentation!
