Type: Opening act, speed painting
Pros: The audience enters to a blank, dark canvas and within a couple of minutes three painters create a masterpiece. The painting starts with a series of brush strokes and over time grows to be a full caricature portrait of a famous person.
As an option, one of the painters can paint the portrait upside down and then spin it to reveal the finished artwork. The performance is accompanied by live singers who perform a medley of popular songs.
Note: There are other similar groups who also paint portraits but just to a music track without the live singers.
Cons: Based on the audience, the live singers can be a little forced if the selected music doesn’t connect to the theme or message of the event.
The length of the performance needs to be controlled. The longer this is drawn out, the less effective I think this act is as an opening.
Producer’s Notes: This is a performance that once you have seen it, you probably don’t need to see it again, but for a first time audience it can work and definitely grabs the audience’s attention.