We found our next step to be the discussion of our findings in link with our individual research, shaping our performance ideas. One practitioner from this I found interesting was John Cage and his lecture on ‘Experimental Music’. One of Cage’s famous performances is his solo piece of a man and his piano, sitting in complete silence for minutes on end. His percussion and music would then come from the confused audience, using everything from coughing and sneezing to audience members asking and discussing what was happening. This piece of music frustrated people so much, they often left. Cage, at first, did not understand this and once said: “It seemed to me that composers knew what they were doing, and that the experiments that had been made had taken place prior to the finished works, just as sketches are made before paintings and rehearsals precede performances” (1958, p.g.1). As music changed, he came to realise that having his music classed as experimental, was not a bad thing, and used it instead to describe the music he was interested in and passionate about. He said: “I have become a listener and the music has become something to hear” (1958, p.g.1).

An audio tour I came across with an interesting performer/audience barrier was located in a shopping mall. Each person involved in this performance was unaware of who else in the mall was listening to the tape, and when they were instructed to work together, the results were very successful. The atmosphere within the mall changed considerably and due to the unusual circumstances, the performance was definitely one of a kind. This type of Site Specific Performance ensured that the audience were involved and gave all types of people the opportunity to take part of such a dramatic experience. Although direct instructions were given, the boundaries were pushed back in that the audience could not just sit, watch and take in the performers on stage but be a part of the act and add to its specified nature.

Works Cited
Cage John, (1958), Experimental Theatre, Accessed Online: http://www.kimcohen.com/sethtexts/artmusictheorytexts/Cage%20Experimental%20Music.pdf
Date Viewed: 09.02.12