Storytelling Tips We Can All Learn From Metallica

I am still tired from last night's show because it was chock full of the awesome. My ears are still ringing, and the mad pulp bastard is acting like the old, slow bastard.

Such is the price we pay for rock n' roll.

Last night as we rocked out, it occurred to me (because this is how my brain works) that the best rock n' roll songs are stories, and the best concerts are novels with each song being a chapter. With that nugget of insight, the following are my further observations on "story" by way of Ulrich, Hettrick, et al...

1. COME IN SWINGING:

The guys started the show with a rapid-fire head-banging tune that got the audience quickly off their feet and into the experience. They also came in late, which built the expectations up in the audience to a fever pitch.

2. CONCENTRATE ON THE ESSENTIALS:

This was a stripped down show. Three guitars, a drum set and amplifiers on a sparse black curtained stage. The amplifiers were set up so that the readout panels with their glowing diodes and LCD's providing a line across the back of the stage and defined the space.

And truly that's all that was required. The rest was audience and creators...

3. CONNECT WITH THE AUDIENCE:

Even though the band was separate from the audience they consistently asked questions, got feedback, threw stuff into the crowd and roused everyone to cheer and rage. They always made sure to go back and reconnect somehow with every new song.

4. STORYTELLING IS A COMMUNAL EXPERIENCE:

Stories are meant to be shared and spread. People texted with their phones. My date Twittered the whole thing.

And of course, there's the YouTube:

5. GIVE THEM WHAT THEY EXPECT:

Lots of classics thrown in there - Enter, Sandman - One - Sad But True...

6. BUT NOT EXACTLY HOW THEY EXPECT:

As you can see they flipped up a classic song by adding Flea to their mix (which was a good fit). They worked new songs into their playlist, changed guitars up, changed the arrangements. They played on everyone's expectations and brought something new to the table.

Storytelling is a lot like Rock n' roll. The good stories are memorable and leave your ears ringing the next day. The great ones inspire you, and make you question how they were constructed.

Or is this all that gin talking?