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Public Relations: The Artistes’ Take

What clientele is to trade is fan base to artiste, they say. We have seen products, for all their great specs, struggling to stay afloat in the market or even sink. A compelling reason could be their poor client pitch. An artiste’s (performing arts included) situation is none too dissimilar. With the growing prominence of social networks, fans are coming to expect more consistent dialogue with the celebs. Those who fail to measure up to this call shall fall behind.


Techniques Vary

Artiste-fan communication is not a new thing; it existed all the time. The rise of digital platforms has made it measurable though. In the past, to delight the fans, the artistes infused various tactics. Each one had a distinctive way of doing it. Here is a small anecdote that sums up a standout one.


At Ease with the Audience

Late Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavatar was a great Carnatic singer of the sixties. Savvy with fan interaction, he established a close rapport with the audience. Interludes between the Kritis were his reach out time.


There were smiles, gestures and even witty comments that were widely cherished. Once,

Bhagavatar was rendering kacheri before a large audience in a temple. A listener was seen moving up and down the stage hesitantly carrying a tape recorder. Those were the days of bulky reel to reel tape decks. He wanted to record the concert, but was scared how Bhagavatar would react. Though the person was causing disruption, the maestro kept his cool. During the interlude Bhagavatar called him near and enquired the matter. The person requested his permission to record the concert. In a serious voice Bhagavatar replied, “OK, but are you willing to pay?” The man went red. He wasn’t carrying much cash. Sensing the confusion, Bhagavatar added with a smile, “Don’t pay me any money dear; go and get three coconuts.” There was a sigh of relief. In no time the coconuts were placed in front of Bhagavatar. “No, not for me, go and break them before the Lord (Vinayaka)” said Bhagavatar pointing to the nearby temple. “I only want your recording to be hassle free.” The audience burst into loud applause and the person prostrated before the Bhagavatar. Can you think of any other artiste, present or past, who is so much at ease in communicating with the crowd?


Unwinding Behind the Scene

Prior to the pandemic outbreak, behind the scene chat provides an in demand setting for artiste-fan interaction in performing arts. Fans engaged in candid talks with the artistes are a common sight in Kathakali green rooms. The listings ranged from casual chats to critical reviews. As Kathakali’s makeup is a long drawn process, these chats helped the artistes to unwind.


Involving Audience

Involving the audience in live stage concerts is a technique used by the musicians to engage the crowd. They encourage the audience to pick the next song. The most favoured ones are then sung. This is a win-win situation. The artiste gets the audience to his/her side and the audience too revel in a participatory mood.


Digitally Speaking

The digital boom blazed the trail for a new kind of artiste-audience relations. This trend took off with movie stars and later became more widespread. Based on the posts - picture, video and live cast- on the socials like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram the fans follow or like the artistes.

The digital fan base for the artiste is thus built. The number of followers indicates the artiste’s acceptance. These platforms also enable the artistes to be virtually present among the distant fans. Interactive sessions, webinars, live concerts, open forums etc. incite novelty and avoid the turn off. The aim is to engage the subscribers deeply so that they would not drift away. Invitations to the stage programmes are easily flashed through the digital media.


Old school or digital, the rule is plain. A great show will only get you so far, but it is the great fan base which makes your career count. How to achieve this? The take is yours.

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K.V. Murali Mohan

A passionate freelance writer and ardent communicator - Double Post Graduate in communication subjects -Recipient of Kulapati Gold Medal and TKM Rao award in Journalism - Credited with four decades of literary pursuit spanning over 300 plus articles in national and regional publications.

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