the Way of the Showman 143 - The Metaphorical Showman: Connecting Performance to Play (Showmanship & Play 25 of 30)
Have you ever wondered why some performances captivate you completely while others leave you checking your watch? The secret might lie in the ancient art of play.
In this expansive exploration of showmanship through metaphor, Captain Frodo delves into the profound connection between performance and play. Drawing on both philosophical underpinnings from Aristotle to modern cognitive scientists like Lakoff and Johnson, this episode reveals how metaphorical thinking shapes our reality—not just in language, but in thought and action.
At the heart of this discussion is a powerful insight: successful showmanship transforms audiences from experiencing clock time (Kronos) to being fully present in experiential time (Kairos). When performers approach their craft playfully—keeping their audience's experience central, making presentations gripping rather than boring, and inviting participation rather than merely demonstrating skills—they create those magical moments when everyone stops and thinks, "Oh my god, this is it, I get it."
The episode unpacks the first of five criteria of play—that it's fun, enjoyable, and something we don't want to end—demonstrating how this maps perfectly onto the performer-audience relationship. Both audience and performer enter a sacred space where ordinary objects and actions take on extraordinary significance, creating a shared experience that benefits everyone involved.
Whether you're a performer seeking deeper connections with your audience or simply fascinated by the psychology behind captivating experiences, this episode offers fresh insights into how metaphorical thinking transforms our understanding of performance arts. These aren't abstract musings but practical approaches that can elevate any presentation from merely impressive to genuinely transformative.
Subscribe to The Way of the Showman to continue this journey through the metaphorical landscape of performance and discover how embracing play might be the most serious thing a performer can do.
...
Now you can get t-shirts and hoodies with our wonderful logo. This is the best new way to suport the podcast project. Become a proud parader of your passion for Showmanship and our glorious Craft whilst simultanously helping to gather more followers for the Way.
You'll find the store here: https://thewayoftheshowman.printdrop.com.au
If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.
If you want to contact me about anything, including wanting me to collaborate on one of your projects you can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
or find out more on the Way of the Showman website.
you can follow the Way of Instagram where it is, not surprisingly thewayoftheshowman.
If you find it in you and you have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at:
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo