I want to look at this video (Journey’s Steve Perry at Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 2017) as an example of great front man in action on stage, in the context of an awards banquet rather than in concert. I want to point out some behaviors for commanding an audience’s attention that work regardless of the context.

Throughout the whole video, notice how it feels like Steve is completely in the moment, comfortable in his own skin, with this audience, right now. This is not a person you expect to be pulling out their cell phone to see if anything more interesting is happening. The only people in the audience I see with phones out are the ones who are trying to capture what everyone in the room senses is magical moment in time.

Steve’s facial expression during the initial applause is a mix of smiles and earnest gratitude. Then some perfunctory but seemingly heartfelt crowd work (“Hello rock and roll hall of fame…pause…you sure look good to me tonight!”).

And then BAM, the man in charge TAKES CHARGE and immediately starts telling his story. It’s a complete narrative about an emotional experience that is personal to him but also universal enough (and told in such a way) that most people could likely project themselves into the narrative.

The narrative: Explicit conflict (Steve was trying to get signed, which was hard to do in those days). Plot points (he’d go see Journey perform, he’d was blown away, a fate-like process got them together). Resolution (Steve reached his career goal and they wrote great music together). Secondary implied conflict (Arnel replaced Steve, potentially volatile situation, how does everybody feel about that?). Plot points (Arnel sings his heart out every night). Resolution (Steve tacitly approves and Steve explicitly says he loves Arnel).

Steve looks over at Neal for a personal aside about writing their first song together, “remember that?”

Steve is a powerful man who doesn’t owe anybody anything, which makes his constant compliments extraordinarily powerful and believable as something well beyond flattery. What a pleasure to hear every single compliment: the band was great, Neal Schon was great, Herbie Herbert believed in Steve, “are you fucking shitting me?” after saying the name of each band member and their unbelievable musical ability, graciously recognizing and complimenting his replacement Arnel.

Slip of the tongue at 1: 02, “bar to none” but nobody cares. We love this story and we want more! Heartfelt trumps perfectly delivered.

Now back to some crowd work to summarize and bring the energy level back up: “Speaking of fans….speaking of fans!” with a raised voice pitch and level.

And finally he further embraces the reality of the shared moment by acknowledging out loud that he hasn’t been active with the band, but (crowd work) “you’ve never not been in my heart, and I love each and every one of you.”

Master behaviors:

• Judicious use of crowd work that feels completely earnest
• Complete immersion in the shared moment
• Unshakable self-confidence without the crutch of arrogance
• Heartfelt delivery of planned remarks that feel extemporaneous