What I Learned from a Frontman at the Back of the Forth Pub.
How to Tune In and then Tune Up your Audience.
Last year, on a cool June night in Tasmania, I found myself at the Forth pub - a humble country pub from the outside, but one that magically transforms into one of Australia’s most iconic music venues the moment you step through the back door. Behind it, there’s a big shed, built specifically for live music, and that night, it was packed with 1500 of us, to watch The Jungle Giants.
I’ve been to my fair share of live gigs, but there’s something lead singer Sam Hales did that I haven’t stopped thinking about. Like many frontmen, as he walked out on stage he yelled, “How are you all doing?” But he didn’t just say it and carry on. He listened. He walked around the stage a few times, crouched down, made eye contact - he cared about our response. Then he said, “Yeah, I can feel that.” He wasn’t assuming we were ready for the same level of energy he was bringing. He was genuinely trying to find where we were at.
Over the next 20 minutes, after each song, he kept checking in with us, crouching down, reading the room, and easing us into the energy he wanted to bring. It was as if he was testing the water before diving in, deciding he needed to warm us up first to prevent any shock. And it worked.
By the time he said, “Let’s Jump,” we didn’t need to ask how high. We just knew.
What’s Your Version of This?
As a leader, how often do you take the time to test the water before diving in? How do you gauge the room’s energy and adjust your approach? These are not rhetorical questions! I’m collecting stories of how different leaders assess the vibe, match it and then take it somewhere new. I’d love to hear about the times it’s worked well just as much as I’d love to hear about the times it didn’t. I know you’re thinking about one now - if you’ve got a few minutes spare to hit reply and share it, I’d be super grateful (I won’t share it anywhere without your permission).
Some Things to Try
If you’ve never really thought about testing the water before you dive into a meeting, a workshop, a presentation or an important conversation, I reckon it’s time.
Since that gig, I’ve been diving deep into how we can get better at tuning in and matching frequencies. Here are three key components to help you connect, adjust, and move your audience with you:
Assess the Situation: Consider the context and environment. What type of situation are you in? Is it a high-stakes decision or a casual conversation? The situation determines how you need to approach the conversation - whether you’re shifting from high energy to calm or vice versa.
Understand Relationships: What is your role in this moment? Are you anchoring the conversation, advocating for a cause, amplifying a message, or acting as the architect presenting the plans? Understanding your role in those moments, with those people will help you adjust your tone and behaviour to best serve the situation.
Feel the Vibe: This is all about reading the energy of the room. How does the space feel - open or confined? What’s the pace - fast or slow? Are people engaged or hesitant? Adjust your rhythm and approach based on the vibe to keep things flowing smoothly.
When you master the water test, you don’t just lead - you guide people to a place where they’re ready to follow… or jump! And that’s when real change happens.
Favour
I need a favour. I know you are reading this, as my open rates are going off! I reckon that’s a good sign we need to get it to more people. So here’s a deal. If you send this to one person, I’ll keep being useful. Sound fair? Amazing.
It’s as easy as pressing this big button.
Recommendations
Now that you’ve shared it and done your bit (of course you have) it’s time for me to do my bit! Here’s some useful recommendations to get in your ears, eyes and feeds to help you test the water.
Listen: Get some Jungle Giants in your ears! The Jungle Giants Radio playlist on Spotify offers a blend of their tracks alongside music from artists with a similar vibe. As you listen, observe how the transitions between songs create varying energies, mirroring the ebb and flow of audience moods. Jungle Giants Radio on Spotify
Watch: Ali Walker’s TEDx talk, “The Power of People Watching: How to Read the Room”, explores how to decode group dynamics and understand the energy of a room. Walker shares practical tips for picking up on body language, facial expressions, and tone to help you read the unspoken signals in any situation. A must-watch for leaders and communicators looking to tune into what’s really going on. Watch here
Read: Explore the article "Tips for Reading the Room Before a Meeting or Presentation" from Harvard Business Review. It provides actionable advice on observing non-verbal cues, understanding group dynamics, and adjusting your approach to align with the room's energy. Read the articleHarvard Business Review
Follow: If you haven’t already checked out Jodi Glickman, you’re in for a treat. She’s an expert in understanding how to communicate effectively and read the energy in a room—whether you’re leading a meeting, negotiating, or just navigating a tricky conversation. Her blog and newsletter are packed with practical tips. Follow Jodi on LinkedIn.
If you haven’t yet checked out the podcast version of The Penny Drop - have a listen here. Until next time - happy tuning!