All good things come to an end.
Eventually, your gig will conclude. Another artist will take the stage, the gallery will close, the interview's over, or it's closing time — however, the feeling you impart within us last forever.
"I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." - Maya Angelou
In theater, we refer to the song that comes late in the show, which brings everything together as the "Eleven O'Clock Number."
As a commercial musician, the last song is the one we want people running out the door singing as they leave the banquet hall.
"The End" is the combination of the “Eleven o’clock number” and the closing song. Between the two, is our opportunity to share our mission and the call to action. It's not our opportunity to thank those who had us out to play, how to settle a bar tab, the location of the after-party, or similar logistics - save that for earlier. Remember, do not start a gig with logistics and don't end with logistics.
Start and end with "mission" and "legacy." The "mission" is your "why" for being here; the "legacy" is what you hope people will do once they leave. Combining "mission" and "legacy" will inspire your audience to pick up your torch and carry on.
If you've done your job right, people will forget the song lyrics, they'll forget where they saw you, but they'll never forget how you made them feel. Embrace the end.
