Why Don't Skaters Make More Contact With The Audience (Visually If Not Verbally)?

[Peter G]

It could be during practise sessions, or while waiting to take the ice, or when they come off the ice. It could be the hour or two before or after practices by hanging out in public areas of the rink. It could be a bit during warm-up ice time. It could be after they've taken the ice, but are waiting five minutes for the previous skater's marks to come up. Or the five minutes after their performance while they're waiting for their OWN marks.

At Skate Canada, this question keep coming back to me. Some skaters were so good at this. In a way, it's working the crowd. Making contact with the audience, so they have a connection with you. Which means they will root for you more. Which means your performance would hopefully be better than it would otherwise.

A few skaters (Jennifer Robinson and Annie Bellemare) finished their practise session early. I think they knew people would want their autograph. BOTH of them signed autographs for 20 minutes. I swear they stayed until EVERYONE got what they wanted from them. Very cool. Putnam and Wirtz were very good also.

I remember Laetitia Hubert and Jennifer Robinson talking to the audience during their practise time at 2001 Worlds. I think everybody felt special because these skaters addressed them personally. Even if it was "1-to-500" (instead of "1-to-1")!

Some skaters joke to the camera in the kiss and cry, Josee Piche gave a thumbs up to the corner of the Hershey Centre when they applauded her, even though they were waving U.S. flags!

But so many other times, so many skaters did not take advantage of these opportunies. Not only does it build a connection for that competition, but it's an opportunity to build a fan base where people will remain interested in you from competition to competition, and ultimately into your pro career.

I know some people are shy (interesting that they choose to skate in front of 5 to 20 thousand people so often, though). But it seems like it makes sense to get over your shyness if you want to succeed.

[Justine_R]

I think Jeniffer Robinson makes best eye contact with the audience too!

But i do agree some skaters need to work on there eye contact.I dont have an example but im sure there are some people just don look out at the crowd at all.It really annyoys me!

[RobinA]

Maybe because they are figure skaters, not movie stars?

[blurrysarah]

I really don't think a figure skater has any obligation to make contact with the audience. They are there to skate, to skate
the best they can, and I can forgive any skater for not being a people person. Some people can perform to a faceless crowd better than they can meet and greet with the public, if that's the case, so be it. The public may not like them for it, but it's not as though the public are doing the competition judging. After all, I don't think the fame and autograph signing are the first things that go through a young beginning skater's head, they do it because they enjoy skating and they want to excel at their favourite sport. It just so happens the sport is a spectator favourite.

[CanAmSk8ter]

"Getting over shyness" is not as easy as it sounds. I've skated in front of two or three hundred people, and I'd rather do that than chat with strangers any day.

[Justine_R]

Orginally posted by RobinA-Maybe because they are Figure Skaters and not movie Stars.


Thats not the point,Skaters still need to make eye contact with the audience like say at the end when they courtsey /bow if they just looked down at the ice and not up at the audience it would be quite rude wouldnt it?

[RobinA]

I wouldn't take it as rudeness, I'd probably figure the skater was shy. Of course, I'm an American, where eye contact is considered a good thing. Many cultures think eye contact is rude and aggressive.

[LTM]

I don't think movie stars is a good analogy. Skaters are athletes but also like stage performers. They are doing what they are doing in front of an audience. Connecting with that audience factors in, I don't care how shy your are. Sometimes, no matter how
technically brillant a skater is, he/she comes across as stiff and uninteresting if they can't reach their audience. And to do that you got to look at that audience once in a while.

[Justine_R]

Thanks Ltm that is exactly what i think.

[RobinA]

Stage performers...dancers.... All manage to connect with the audience without eye contact. Ever see a ballerina make eye contact?!? Connecting with the audience is in the performance. Or not. It doesn't depend on eye contact.

[bleu]

Originally posted by RobinA
Stage performers...dancers.... All manage to connect with the audience without eye contact. Ever see a ballerina make eye contact?!? Connecting with the audience is in the performance. Or not. It doesn't depend on eye contact.

Mind you, eye contact is part of performance - as in, looking at the audience as though acknowledging their presence. Thus, connecting with the audience. Heck, with the prices that these fans are paying, you bet they will be remember that ONE skater who connected with them during the performance!

No matter how you look at it,

if there is no audience then there is no skating event.
If there is no skating event then there is no need for a skater to skate.

The audience is the key!

[pinkjellybean]

Originally posted by bleu
No matter how you look at it,

if there is no audience then there is no skating event.
If there is no skating event then there is no need for a skater to skate.

The audience is the key!

There are many skating events that go on without much of an audience. Are you saying that doesn't qualify as a skating event. I don't feel skaters "owe" the audience anything. The audience is lucky to see the performance. And when it comes down to it the audience is there to see the skaters "skate". I wouldn't condone skaters being rude to the fans but I really don't think they're obligated to chat it up. Yes, I think it's courtious to stop and sign atleast afew autographs and not just brush people off... but at the end of the day the skater is there to skate, they have a job to do and a job to focus on. I don't think it's wrong if a skater doesn't interect much with the audience, I would rather they focus on skating well, I would enjoy that so much more than a splatfest combined with an autograph.

That said, I definately appreciate a skater who takes some time with fans, mainly because they don't have to.

[Pupiczech]

I think that before a skate, especially at a competition, during the warm-up the skaters should be left alone to concentrate, get "in the zone", get ready to do their work. They should not be talked to, shouted at, or otherwise bothered.

At Skate Canada we sat in the front row and every time a Canadian skater went by us during the warm up my friend (a Canadian) would yell out to them, "come on. You can do it." This was really beginning to tick me off. These kids need to concentrate, not try to acknowledge a fan who is bugging them in a very inappropriate time.

We were sitting at one end of the arena. Jeff Buttle started to skate and as he approached the Kiss & Cry end of the area (totally opposite us) someone in the front row raised a big sign. (I saw it on ABC last night and that reminded me of this). It did not distract him, luckily, but how rude is that? Almost as rude as the camera flashers.

Let these kids do their jobs. After the competition when they are taking their bows or out in the arena concourse make your comments, your eye contact, your requests for autographs. They are glad to chat you up then.

[AshBugg44]

During my interpretive this weekend I made eye contact with the audience a lot - and the judges too! That's because we have I Will Survive/RESPECT for our song...and I was having fun!

[Justine_R]

Definetly ashbugg44!
Making eye contact with the audience is the way that the audience feels involved.!Well that what i think.

[bleu]

Originally posted by pinkjellybean
There are many skating events that go on without much of an audience. Are you saying that doesn't qualify as a skating event. I don't feel skaters "owe" the audience anything. The audience is lucky to see the performance. And when it comes down to it the audience is there to see the skaters "skate". I wouldn't condone skaters being rude to the fans but I really don't think they're obligated to chat it up. Yes, I think it's courtious to stop and sign atleast afew autographs and not just brush people off... but at the end of the day the skater is there to skate, they have a job to do and a job to focus on. I don't think it's wrong if a skater doesn't interect much with the audience, I would rather they focus on skating well, I would enjoy that so much more than a splatfest combined with an autograph.

That said, I definately appreciate a skater who takes some time with fans, mainly because they don't have to.

I mean no audience per se. For me, skating is all about people. The program is design with the audience in mind. Even the expression etc. It all comes down to performance...performing for who? the audience. So, yes the audience is it.

The only time that I know of where the audience does not matter is during the construction of the program. Even then there is an audience though small(i.e the coach).

Now I agree with you re: skaters practicing and not obligated to sign autographs or chat with their fans. It is practice time and who knows how that went...sometimes it was went bad and the skater is in no mood to chat.

[pinkjellybean]

Originally posted by bleu
I mean no audience per se. For me, skating is all about people. The program is design with the audience in mind. Even the expression etc. It all comes down to performance...performing for who? the audience. So, yes the audience is it.

The only time that I know of where the audience does not matter is during the construction of the program. Even then there is an audience though small(i.e the coach).

Now I agree with you re: skaters practicing and not obligated to sign autographs or chat with their fans. It is practice time and who knows how that went...sometimes it was went bad and the skater is in no mood to chat.

I agree and disagree... In the end when I skate what counts is how i feel about my skating but after that it's how i performed for the judges and that's what the performance is tailored to... But I do agree that part of a successful performance, and what sets a skater apart from the rest is the ability to interact with the audience while they're skating in order to convey the program... but when i read this thread a lot of what jumps out at me is talk about skaters interacting with their fans when they're not skating... and to me that's up to the skaters and what kind of people they are and how comfortable they are around strangers.

[Justine_R]

Originally posted by pinkjellybean
I agree and disagree... In the end when I skate what counts is how i feel about my skating but after that it's how i performed for the judges and that's what the performance is tailored to... But I do agree that part of a successful performance, and what sets a skater apart from the rest is the ability to interact with the audience while they're skating in order to convey the program... but when i read this thread a lot of what jumps out at me is talk about skaters interacting with their fans when they're not skating... and to me that's up to the skaters and what kind of people they are and how comfortable they are around strangers.

Yes,I think if you are not visually in contact with the audience then well the performance is not very good.
because in everyones programs we all want to see a nice big smile at the end dont we?
No eye contact at the end of a performane as well would just be like
a skater just skating of.

[Skatewind]

Originally posted by bleu
No matter how you look at it,

if there is no audience then there is no skating event.
If there is no skating event then there is no need for a skater to skate.

The audience is the key!
Interesting observation, but I disagree. Most skaters I know skate because they like to skate, meaning to put the blade on the ice & glide, jump or spin. They didn't get into it & don't stay in it solely because of any audience. Likewise, the audience does not schedule & implement skating events, so most of them would continue on just fine in one way or another with or without an audience.

Usually I tend to think of the audience as a positive addition for any competition. I feel otherwise in a case where spectators believe they are the be all & end all, to the point where the actual skating is unnecessary without their presence. Some skaters believe skating is worthwhile for skating's sake.

[Skatewind]

Originally posted by Justine_R
Thats not the point,Skaters still need to make eye contact with the audience like say at the end when they courtsey /bow if they just looked down at the ice and not up at the audience it would be quite rude wouldnt it?
Skaters who do not make direct eye contact do not all possess poor posture or carriage on the ice. Quite often, that is not the case & some of the better presenters may actually never make direct eye contact with the audience during a performance & they don't need to do so in order for the performance to always be effective. There are many effective variations to skating, it's not all comprised of "TA-DAH!" moves from the Ice Capades.

[LTM]

Would be a strange sort of skating fan, skatewind who thought the skate unneccessary.
But i have yet to see a champion who did NOT feed off the energy in a building. Or see the slight difference the between skates done
to an excited full arena vs a half empty vacuum. Eye contact in not the only way a skater or any performer makes connection with their audience. It has more to do with acknowledgment of the audience's presence and sometimes it's very incandesent quality you can't quite put your finger on. And I'm wouldn't be a bit surprised that for some skaters it's incrediably difficult but at the beginning of the 21st century, that's become part of competing and it's probably not going to change.
And I'm sure there are lots of skaters who skate for the love of it.
But you don't need to compete to spin, glide or jump. You just need love for the sport and lessons.

[sk8er1964]

I agree with Skatewind and pinkjellybean. Personally, I don't skate for the audience when I compete. I compete because I love to compete, and I love to skate. I love the challenge of bettering myself and my last performance. The audience (and the judges, for that matter) have nothing to do with why I am competing.

That said, of course I take the audience and judges into consideration when I compete. Any skater who is able to add showmanship to their technical skating will be a better performer, and will probably have better success. There's no quesiton about that.

IMO, the audience enhances a skaters performance, but it is not the reason that a skater competes.

[Justine_R]

I still think it is a necessary part of a performance.
Lets say,It gives it a round finish.

[Peter G]

If someone wants to skate just for the sake of skating, cool! Skate at the public rink, or find some frozen pond. Rock on! :D

However, for the select few who choose to perform in front of an audience AND want to have a CAREER as a skater... Well, we've come full circle. See the first post of this thread. :mrgreen:

[Peter_K]

So then what about the situation where a skater is competing at sectionals or a club event, sometimes in front of a handful of people?

We, as skating fans often forget the the "big" competitions, (like a nationals or GP event) are but a small fraction of the competitions a skater is entered into. (The first time I ever saw Putnam & Wirtz was at CO sectionals last year -- the 25 or so people in the audience in the rafters were enthralled.)

Also, we in Canada and the U.S. are quite spoiled when it comes to audience levels. Keep an eye on the rest of the GP events and look for all the empty seats.

If you really want to see a skater smile, go to a sectional or club event and say hello afterwards. It really means more to them when you take the time to go to a smaller meet fewer people go to, let alone know or care about.

I guess what I'm saying is that I go to an event to see the skater skate. I hope every skater does their best. If that means their level of concentration comes at the cost of audience involvment, so be it.

--Peter

[Skatewind]

Originally posted by Peter G
If someone wants to skate just for the sake of skating, cool! Skate at the public rink, or find some frozen pond. Rock on! :D

However, for the select few who choose to perform in front of an audience AND want to have a CAREER as a skater... Well, we've come full circle. See the first post of this thread. :mrgreen:
There are many, many skaters I know who are making a wonderful CAREER out of skating who also subscribe to the same philosophy I noted earlier. That's because skaters can love skating for skating's skate & have beautiful artistry while at the same time not subscribe to stereotypically formed constraints about exactly what constitutes presentation based on narrowly formed rules of a few. Good presentation can make or break a program, & it is not unimportant. However, the parameters of what many of us consider to be good presentation are far wider than what's been specified in some of the previous remarks.

The people in the audience at a competition event are there as spectators, not participants or organizers. It's a competition. The athlete's first & foremost priority should be the competition, not the audience.

I am :?? by several of the comments here from non-skaters who seem to believe this is not the case or that competitions cannot be held without them. There will be nationals or other such competitions, with or without an audience, as long as USFSA continues to organize & hold the competition, since promoting athletic skating competition is their primary goal.

[skatign babe]

If you want to see a skater interact with an audience spend your money on a show instead of a competition...thats where the skater are there to entertain an audience....from my point of view (i am a skater and i compete) a competition is all about impressing the judges and doing your best the audience really makes no difference.....
as for eye contact...if you actually talk to most competitors the audience before during and after the skate is a complete blur(not to mention you get pretty tired)... i cant see anyone who is in the audience nor can i hear anything but my music......

[FSWer]

I could use your help too skatin babe. I am from Connecticut and live near Simsbury's ISCC. Were I live it also seems to be the easiest Rink to get to and see a Show at. However here is the problem....whenever I go with my Mom and Dad to see a Show there anytime we ask if I can please meet the skaters the woman at the desk always says "no". Also the skaters have never come out in the lobby either. Am I doing something wrong? Because they never interact with me. Prease help me? Thanks.

[Lynnet]

quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Originally posted by bleu
No matter how you look at it,

if there is no audience then there is no skating event.
If there is no skating event then there is no need for a skater to skate.

The audience is the key!


I would agree with you if this was a pro-event or a show - those are put on to make money so no audience, no money, no show. But we are talking about a sport competition here. The audience is a 'nice to have' but in no way are they the key. All that is really required are the skaters and the officials. The rest of us are just lucky to be there!

Lynne

[loveskating]

When it comes to skating, and most sports, in a capitalist economy, its ultimately and overall ALL about the audience, for they are the consumer for the whole skating industry, the nexus point where the money is made. If they do not want to skate or watch skating, there will ultimately be no skaters...unless, of course, the government subsidizes, as ours and others subsidize opera.

It does not follow, however, that any particular skater skate for the audience...in fact, to the contrary, IMHO they skate for the love of skating, and later, perhaps, for the success it can bring them personally. Consider a loaf of bread...to the baker, its for sale; to the buyer, its just for dinner...same loaf of bread. A "thing" can be more than one thing, all at the same time.

The issue of a particular skater's ability or inability on the ice to connect with the audience is a different issue.

[Skatewind]

Originally posted by loveskating
When it comes to skating, and most sports, in a capitalist economy, its ultimately and overall ALL about the audience, for they are the consumer for the whole skating industry, the nexus point where the money is made. If they do not want to skate or watch skating, there will ultimately be no skaters...unless, of course, the government subsidizes, as ours and others subsidize opera.
Tickets paid for by the audience allow the event to be scheduled in a better venue, with better sound system, etc. It allows the LOC & USFSA to offer more perks & support to the skaters, as well as (hopefully) make some profit for the LOC's club or non-profit. But you can rest assured there would still be a national skating championship with or without an audience, even if they had to go back to doing it the old fashioned way. A qualifying competition is an annually scheduled event by itself, with or without the secondary considerations like location, venue & audience.

[peaches]

Originally posted by Skatewind
Tickets paid for by the audience allow the event to be scheduled in a better venue, with better sound system, etc. It allows the LOC & USFSA to offer more perks & support to the skaters, as well as (hopefully) make some profit for the LOC's club or non-profit. But you can rest assured there would still be a national skating championship with or without an audience, even if they had to go back to doing it the old fashioned way. A qualifying competition is an annually scheduled event by itself, with or without the secondary considerations like location, venue & audience.

ITA. Nationals and Worlds were not always such heavily attended events, and there are plenty of lower-level and/or club events as well as recreational events and they'd go on, just as they did before, without a big audience.

The spoiled, entitled attitude of a lot of fans these days makes me :roll: . They're owed nothing more than to get to watch some skating in the seat the ticket says they paid for at certain time on a certain date. If some skaters want to take time out of their workday, (and, yes, it is their workday people are asking for more time out of, they're not at a competition to mingle, they're there to do their job, elite skating is a career) to mix with the fans, then great, that's their prerogative, but it's not necessary, nor should anyone expect it. Just my .02

[snoopysnake]

Competitions are for skaters to compete. If they have great audience contact and rapport, that's icing on the cake, but one can enjoy a cake without icing. To some people, the cake is the best part. And cake without icing for some is as good as cake with.

There is as large a variety of individual personalities in skating as there is in life overall. Some people value a "Little Miss Perky" more than a "Ms. All Business" regardless of whatever other qualities they have. I see this among adults in the business world, as well as in the way many adults view children.

In a competitive situation, skaters are not in debt to their audience. It is we who are in debt to them! Exhibitions are the chance for the skaters to show their appreciation for us.

As far as fan contact goes, autograph and photo ops, etc., unfortunately there is much risk involved security-wise. Another consideration is illness...suppose a skater caught a cold or flu from mingling with fans at a practice a couple of days before their event?

I love the special feeling if a skater seems to "connect" with me in some manner or another, but it is a privilege, not an entitlement.