Imagine being the music provider for a formal choral evening and playing rock music.
Yes, I know what you're going to say.
“But some churches have rock bands, so how is that wrong?”
It isn't.
If that was the brief.
Did you bother to familiarise yourself with the actual event, the people attending and what they were expecting?
This particular evening called for Handel and Bach vibes.
Yes, artists have taken those classics and incorporated them into contemporary music. But I digress…
Read the room.
Know your people.
Make it your business to understand who you are serving and then serve them well.
Emotional intelligence matters just as much as logistics.
Actually, I would go so far as to say that in events, you need to develop a sixth sense.
Have a grip on what is happening around you. Open the eyes in the back of your head if you possibly can. Be alert. Listen. Observe.
I personally try to identify footsteps.
Sounds banal, doesn't it?
But I establish very quickly whether the footsteps coming towards me belong to someone in a hurry, someone with a problem, or someone simply taking a leisurely stroll.
You learn to listen for urgency.
The Atmosphere
Can you cut it with a blunt knife, or are you going to need a sharp one?
What you really want when entering a room is an atmosphere that feels light, happy and welcoming.
That's a great starting point.
But sometimes you walk into a room and immediately know:
Something isn't right.
Don't ignore that feeling.
The Temperature
Is it so icy that it feels as though someone has dropped an iceberg in the middle of the room?
How do you remedy it?
I know what I'll do — and leaving does not feature in my solution!
Try some music.
Music can change the atmosphere almost instantly. It can be an ice breaker.
No pun intended.
Well… perhaps just a little one. ?
The Body Language
Then there is body language.
People can be off-putting.
Not everyone, of course — but there are those little red devils with massive horns who seem to have made it their life's mission to test you.
So what do you do?
Smile.
Wear your biggest, warmest smile.
It is very difficult to remain completely hostile towards someone who is standing in front of you smiling genuinely.
There will always be difficult situations.
Always.
But we have to get through them.
That is non-negotiable.
And if you decide to hide in the corner and hope the problem disappears, I can almost guarantee one thing:
It will follow you.
Face it.
Deal with it.
And sometimes, yes…
Fake it till you make it.
Reading a room may initially seem like another mountain to climb, but ultimately it boils down to one thing:
Pay attention.
Listen to what is being said — and what isn't.
Watch the faces.
Notice the body language.
Feel the atmosphere.
Understand your audience.
And above all, remember that the room is constantly communicating with you.
You just need to be paying attention.
Read the room.
Then respond to what you see.
That's where the real skill lies.
