4. Opening Act
This element is so much more important than many think. A good support act is vital for the show to be an unforgettable experience. The support act sets the stage; that is why they are there. Therefore, it is of utmost importance that they set it up right. If they play music of a genre that doesnt suit the headliner, that wont cut it. I once saw U2 with opening act Jay-Z. I love both artists. But boy did the crowd part ways between acts. Jay-Z was simply incapable of setting the scene for a rock show. He naturally doesnt match the main act. Even more important than whether or not the right act is selected, however, is whether or not they are any good. If they arent, all they will achieve is to annoy the audience and kill the initial buzz of being at the show. The best opening acts I have seen are the ones who come out with full force and attack the audience like they are the headliners. Stone Sour and Billy Talent have both perfected this art for me. It is a matter of the support act being confident enough to act like big shots when they actually arent that important. It makes all the difference for the crowd. If youre weighing up two shows and one has a support act that you know can deliver, that show definitely has a good head start on the other.