:: thisisjustin.com ::

How do rockstars engage with their audiences better than websites?

First off, if you measure your level of engagement by how many unique visitors you have at your site then I think you might misunderstand what I’m saying.

Does a rockstar care how many people showed up to the concert?

Of course.

But what do they really want from their audience?

Engagement!

When they begin to vocalize the lyrics they want their fans to join the party, to sing, to shout, to jump, maybe even start a riot. They thrive off their audience getting involved, as they pour out themselves through their talent of song and music they eagerly await the audience to jump in at any point.

This is engagement!

It are these moments and moments like these that help keep the rockstar doing what they do everyday. Sure they like to travel and meet new people but anyone can do that, they want the thrill of standing in front of thousands of people and having them interact with them. That is a feeling that cannot be replicated.

So why do websites, bloggers, podcaster, content creators, and creative people lack this vital aspect?

I believe that more often than not most of us forget that we need to involve ourselves in the conversation. Or we simply don’t know how. If you remember the rockstar begins by singing first which then the crowd leaps in to create a completely unique song and experience. It’s hard sometimes to remember that we need to be moving forward and always creating and attempting to involve ourselves with our audience.

Ask anyone who has community involvement what it feels like when they get a flood of comments on their blog and they respond. Does the real rewarding work happen in the original content or in the augmented, aggregated content that follows? This is an important question to ask. Does a rockstar get more satisfaction from writing the song once or performing it a thousand times?

My father once told me that what good is it to be innovative and creative if no one gets to experience what you created. Not just see, touch, smell, hear, taste but to interact with those who have similar interests or even opposing interest but nonetheless still be involved with one another in some sort of utopian community that is effortless and free from manipulation. Isn’t this what being a creative of any sort is about?

Sure you have talent and sure many can partake in your genius but does your audience play a part in your creation? Should they? Does community involvement in the creation process help or detour?

Overall, I think that rockstars definiately have a pulse on something that many creatives don’t, allowing everyone to get involved. It’s not only exciting but it helps fuel you to keep following your dream.

What do you think?

Do you let your audience get involved?