The Art of Bringing Another Artist Onstage
BY: SOPHIE BRADECICH
Unfortunately I am not the Hannah Montana-style rockstar I thought I would be at this age. I do not, and probably will never know the feeling of singing to thousands of people. If I ever did get that moment I don’t think I would want to share the spotlight with someone else. I understand in principle why many artists would want to share the stage with their friends, colleagues, or mentors. However, many of these stars don’t realize that sharing the spotlight affects not only their experience of the concert but also their fans who paid to see them.
One scenario which tends to work well is a larger artist bringing out a newer artist they share a following with. This makes the larger artist look like a philanthropic hero and they avoid being overshadowed. If all goes well, the younger artist impresses and excites their existing fan base and reaches a larger crowd than they could alone. It’s always sweet to see an artist letting their opener come back out to sing harmony/ a duet with them. It's a great substitute for when the headliner can’t bring all their collaborators on tour and needs to fill an empty spot in their song.
The reverse situation doesn’t work quite as well. Though it might excite fans to see a huge artist at a smaller show, there’s the accompanying feeling of an older artist out shining the newer player and stealing their thunder. An exception to this rule would be bringing out an older, maybe even retired artist, to sing one of their most iconic songs.
PHOTO: HELENE PAMBRUN
A true masterclass in this principle is Harry Styles bringing out Stevie Nicks at the Fine Line album launch concert. Stevie Nicks is a name that will excite both Styles’ fan base and the parents that took them to the concert. Styles had previously noted the influence she has had on him which makes the moment even more special and intimate. They performed “Landslide”- a multi-generational classic, which is much better than performing a Harry Styles song. It might have been cute, but I think that Stevie Nicks might be above learning harmonies for “Watermelon Sugar”.
Understanding your audience is crucial in choosing a guest to bring onstage. Collaborating with a personal mentor is a hard opportunity to pass up, but if the audience is not familiar it might be more awkward than anything else. A concert may be put on by the artist, but is ultimately for the audience. While I think Alanis Morisette is one of the coolest people on the planet, the large majority of Olivia Rodrigo fans likely don’t appreciate how Jagged Little Pill was THE breakup album of the 90s. Bringing Morissette out during the Sour Tour made sense content-wise, but there is not a significant overlap of fan-bases. Though it’s a great headline to post to music blogs, the majority of people actually attending that concert would not care much about the collaboration.
PHOTO: Skyler Barberio
While an amazing guest could enhance the concert-going experience for both performers and audiences, it needs to be a thoughtful decision. It is all about finding a balance between audience expectations and creating an unforgettable experience.
