Live House

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1

Ichika

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Something very crucial...
2

Shiho

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Could you explain to us what you mean by that?
3

Naruse

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Alright, where do I begin...
4

Naruse

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You're all familiar with the concept of staging, yes?
5

Shiho

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Yes. You're talking about how we present everything through the effects we use and such, correct?
6

Naruse

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That's right. Staging covers what music you play, how you play it, the effects you use and the way you interact with the audience... Every aspect that makes up the show.
7

Naruse

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And the bands who know staging the best use all of those elements to put their shows together.
8

Naruse

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In order to fully captivate their audience.
9

Shiho

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We thought we had a good grasp of that...
10

Naruse

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Then, what were you all thinking about while you were playing just now?
11

Ichika

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We were trying to put on a performance which allowed our music to fill the venue and connect to our audience's hearts.
12

Naruse

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I see.
Then, here's my next question.
13

Naruse

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What did you want your audience to feel just now?
14

Saki

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What did we want them to feel...?
15

Saki

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Umm... We wanted them to have fun, and feel happy as our music struck a chord with them...
16

Naruse

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And did you only think about that during your actual playing and performance?
17

Saki

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U-Uhh...
18

Shiho

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...
19

Shiho

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Yes, you're right about us not having a solid plan in terms of guiding the audience to feel a certain way.
20

Shiho

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Like you just said, Ms. Naruse, we have to think about our performance as a whole in order to really connect with our audience. From the way we play to the lighting effects we use and how we interact with them.
21

Naruse

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Exactly. As professional musicians, it's important to build each show with a specific concept in mind.
22

Naruse

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Oh, also...
I had a chance to listen to some of your recordings, and your playing there was basically the same as what you just played for me.
23

Naruse

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You improvised here and there, but aside from that, it was basically a perfect recreation.
24

Saki

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...!
25

Naruse

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That's something, but it also feels like such a waste.
26

Shiho

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What...?
27

Naruse

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If I were you, I'd rearrange each song so that it fits within a show's concept.
28

Naruse

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For example, if I want to get the audience going right from the start, I'd take the first song and try to give it a little more energy.
29

Naruse

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On the flipside, for the last song, I'd try to make it feel more sentimental. I might add an a capella part that the audience sings with me as we say goodbye to each other.
30

Shiho

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Yes, I see...
31

Shiho

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(Since going pro, we've been doing our best to put on the best shows we can.)
32

Shiho

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(We've polished our individual songs, but we never thought about the overall construction of our shows, and never chose specific concepts...)
33

Shiho

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(I thought we were doing things right, but...)
34

Shiho

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It wasn't good enough to move their hearts.
35

Naruse

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Unfortunately, no.
36

Naruse

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To be blunt, if you play like this, then you're going to struggle to warm up the crowd before we go on.
37

Shiho

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...
38

Naruse

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That said, you're diamonds in the rough.
39

Naruse

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If you all can polish up your staging skills, guide the audience's emotions and get them to rock out to your music...
40

Naruse

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Then you should be able to put on a performance that really moves their hearts.
41

Shiho

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Thank you, Ms. Naruse.
42

Shiho

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You've opened our eyes to something we've been missing.
43

Shiho

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But...
44

Shiho

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Now that we know about it, all that's left is for us to work on fixing it.
45

Shiho

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We promise to master it before your show.
46

Ichika

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Shiho...
47

Naruse

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*Nod*
I'm looking forward to seeing the way you all grow.
48

Naruse

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Anyway, let me teach you a little more about presentation techniques and other staging essentials.
49

Naruse

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But that's all I can do for you.
50

Naruse

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Leo/need's music is yours and yours alone.
You'll all have to decide amongst yourselves how you're going to improve from here on out.
51

Honami

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Of course...!
And we're ready to learn.
Next Chapter: Staging Strategies