Abstract
In this study, we suggest a typology of stage entrance behaviour of performers, based on audience members’ first impression of selected video recordings of an international violin competition. For the first time in performance research, we have focused on the stage entrance, which commences with the performers’ first appearance and lasts until the first tone is played. Against the theoretical background of the social interaction theory by Goffman, with its emphasis on the role of impression management, we assume that performance evaluation can only be understood as an interaction between expectations from audience sub-classes and behaviour groups (types) of performers. We conducted an analysis of performer behaviour in three steps: (a) Using methods of classical test theory and item response theory, we presented a selection of six items that describe performer’s impression management with regard to the audience’s impression formation (nodding, direction of gaze, touching one’s self, stance width, step size, resolute impression); (b) by means of a multi-level latent class analysis, we came up with three latent classes of the audience’s first impression judgments (appropriate, acceptable and inappropriate stage entrance behaviour) resulting in two latent groups (types) of performers’ stage entrance behaviour evaluation (match or mismatch to the audience’s expectations); (c) the association between audience first impression classes and the audience’s motivation for performance continuation was used as an indicator for a more in-depth engagement with a particular performance. Our finding of a statistical model-based typology allows the integration of a performer behaviour that had previously only been marginalized as irrelevant. We argue that the evaluation of audio-visual music performance remains within the framework of general rules of social interaction. Consequently, for an adequate understanding of music performance, we suggest a model of performance elaboration as an alternative to models of musical communication.
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