Every Show is Built Backwards

When I design a show, I don’t start at the beginning.

I start at the end.

What do I want the audience to feel as they leave? Inspired? Uplifted? Deep in thought? Like they just saw something unexplainable and unforgettable?

That final feeling sets the tone for everything else. The closer informs the build. The emotional payoff guides the pacing. Every callback has to land, and every moment has to earn its place.

Biscotti watching over setlist prep.... ruthless boss

There have been shows where I’ve gone in with two closers in mind, times where I made the decision mid-show based on the crowd’s energy and connection. One audience might need a big laugh. Another might be ready for something more personal and reflective. I’ve changed the ending last-minute before because it just felt right for the moment.

That’s part of the magic too: listening, reading, adapting.

I’ve got sets of routines that are built with callbacks already layered in. If I open with one, I know what stories or jokes can echo later on. That structure keeps the show cohesive, even when the content varies from gig to gig.

I also think about variety in pacing:

• Solo pieces

• Audience interaction from their seats

• One-on-one stage moments

• Group routines that pull up a team or couple

That variety keeps the energy dynamic and gives me options for where to insert those callback beats and transitions.

Behind the scenes...literally in Detroit

Every type of event needs a different build.

Theater shows give me the most freedom, that’s where I’ll test new material and play with rhythm.

Corporate events, youth groups, retreats, those are places for the strongest, most trusted material. That doesn’t mean it’s predictable. It means I know exactly how to customize what works.

Sometimes I restructure the show on the fly. Energy shifts. Crowds surprise you. And my job is to make the person who booked me look like a rock star. To give their guests an experience they’ll talk about long after the lights come up.

Designing a great show isn’t about what you want to do.

It’s about what the audience will remember.

And that means building backwards.

Trino's Main Site