Do you do ‘dry runs’ before delivering an important new product or service?
I call it doing the prep.
The famous rock band Queen stole the show for Live Aid at Wembley Stadium in 1985. The story of how Queen achieved this has become one of legend.
In this blog, I explore how Queen prepared for this outcome well before they went on stage.
Bob Geldof, he of Boomtown Rats fame, is well-known for his philanthropic work in raising funds for world poverty. One of his biggest successes were the Live Aid concerts held simultaneously in London & Philadelphia. The biggest artists in the world donated their services at these stadium concerts.
The best performers in the world performed at Live Aid. Imagine the likes of Queen, U2, David Bowie, The Who, Elton John and Paul McCartney all playing on the same bill.
With an estimated audience of 1.9 billion people watching, the stakes were high, and the event was a logistical nightmare for the production team.
Each artist was given a tight time allocation. If you exceeded your allocated time limit, the audio was turned off.
Queen had reached a flat spot in their career at the time. Surrounded by the best of the best with the world watching, they wanted to shine.
And they stole the show from arguably the most talented bill ever assembled.
So how did Queen do it?
The first step was to review the brief.
They only had 21 minutes.
They had to create maximum impact in minimum time.
But how can you make such a lasting impression in just 21 minutes?
With Dire Straits playing before them and David Bowie following them, they went to work.
Unlike most of the bands appearing, Queen practiced their song list and time allocation meticulously.
Freddie Mercury practiced stage moves suited to a stadium show.
The band workshopped and layered in audience participation including synchronized hand movements, clapping, stomping and singing refrains with the audience. All of this to induce a feeling of community in the large crowd assembled.
The band practiced and honed their 21 minutes.
They wanted to come out and immediately blow the crowd away with a stripped back version of Bohemian Rhapsody.
The final setlist was just 6 songs.
1. Bohemian Rhapsody
2. Radio Ga Ga
3. Hammer To Fall
4. Crazy Little Thing Called Love
5. We Will Rock You
6. We Are The Champions
Queen were ready.
When their turn to take the stage, they ran on and delivered a searing set that took the audience, and the 1.9 billion television viewers, by storm.
The final step was Mastery. Talent combined with seamless execution.
They were in flow, in the moment.
When preparation is leveraged by talent, and provided a stage, amazing things happen.
Queen at Live Aid was one of these amazing moments.
They did the dry run.
They did the prep.
Then mastery met opportunity and they stole the show.
You can see Queen’s amazing performance at Live Aid here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TkFHYODzRTs
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