An opening act, also known as a warm-up act, support act, supporting act or opener, is an entertainment act (musical, comedic, or otherwise), that performs at a concert before the featured act, or "headliner". Rarely, an opening act may perform again at the end of the event, or perform with the featured act after both have had a set to themselves.
The opening act's performance serves to "warm up" the audience, making it appropriately excited and enthusiastic for the headliner.
Usages
[edit]Rock music
[edit]In rock music, the opening act will usually be an up-and-coming group with a smaller following than the headliner. On long concert tours, different opening acts may be used for different legs of the tour.
Comedy club
[edit]In comedy, a warm-up comedian or crowd warmer is a stand-up comedian who performs at a comedy club or before the filming of a television comedy in front of a studio audience.[1]
More rarely, a comedian will open for a music concert.[2] Their role is to make the audience feel integral to the show and encourage reactions during the show.[3] They usually work alone and perform a comedy routine while also possibly explaining aspects of the show. In a television recording, they will also perform during commercial breaks.[1] Some warm-up routines before talk shows involve giving prizes to audience members.[3] The use of warm-ups in comedy dates back before television to radio shows.[4]
Sports
[edit]In sports, an undercard is a preliminary bout or race between lesser known competitors, at a boxing,[5] professional wrestling,[6] horse racing,[7] auto racing, or other sports event.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b Ahearn, Victoria (12 January 2009). "Shining a spotlight on the crowd warmer, the 'unsung hero' of TV tapings". The Canadian Press. Retrieved 6 May 2011.(subscription required)
- ^ Levy, Piet (21 March 2012). "Music and Nightlife: Bands, comedians appearing together". Tap Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved 22 March 2019.
- ^ a b Grindstaff, Laura (2002). The money shot: trash, class, and the making of TV talk shows. University of Chicago Press. p. 65. ISBN 0-226-30911-8.
- ^ "Warm-Up Session is Fun". Waycross Journal-Herald. 18 December 1975. Retrieved 6 May 2011.
- ^ "ESPN.com: BOXING - Undercard: Pacquiao defends IBF junior feather title". ESPN.
- ^ "Use of the word "undercard" in wrestling". Archived from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2020-07-09.
- ^ "2007 Preakness Undercard Stakes Results". www.horse-races.net.