Opening act

{{Short description|Entertainment act that performs at a concert before the featured act}} {{for|the American reality talent show|Opening Act}}{{redirect|Support act|the Australian charity that supports people in the music industry|Support Act}} [[File:Dani Litani 1 ST 08.jpg|thumb|Dani Litani opening for Joe Cocker, 2008]] 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 ==

=== Rock music === 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 === 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.<ref name="hero">{{cite news|url=http://www.canadaeast.com/entertainment/article/537325|title=Shining a spotlight on the crowd warmer, the 'unsung hero' of TV tapings|last=Ahearn|first=Victoria|date=12 January 2009|work=The Canadian Press|access-date=6 May 2011}}{{subscription required}}</ref>

More rarely, a comedian will open for a music concert.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://archive.jsonline.com/entertainment/musicandnightlife/bands-comedians-appearing-together-0d4ibft-143648176.html |title=Music and Nightlife: Bands, comedians appearing together |last=Levy |first=Piet |date=21 March 2012 |website=Tap Milwaukee Journal Sentinel |publisher=The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel |access-date=22 March 2019}}</ref> Their role is to make the audience feel integral to the show and encourage reactions during the show.<ref name="moneyshot" /> 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.<ref name="hero" /> Some warm-up routines before talk shows involve giving prizes to audience members.<ref name="moneyshot">{{cite book|last=Grindstaff|first=Laura|title=The money shot: trash, class, and the making of TV talk shows|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5pyLV0KM0wEC&pg=PA65|year=2002|publisher=University of Chicago Press|isbn=0-226-30911-8|page=65}}</ref> The use of warm-ups in comedy dates back before television to radio shows.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=QgpaAAAAIBAJ&sjid=RUsNAAAAIBAJ&pg=7411,6901030|title=Warm-Up Session is Fun|date=18 December 1975|work=Waycross Journal-Herald|access-date=6 May 2011}}</ref>

=== Sports === In sports, an undercard is a preliminary bout or race between lesser known competitors, at a boxing,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://static.espn.go.com/boxing/news/2002/0609/1392693.html|title=ESPN.com: BOXING - Undercard: Pacquiao defends IBF junior feather title|website=ESPN}}</ref> professional wrestling,<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://prowrestling.about.com/od/wrestlingterminology/g/gloundercard.htm |title=Use of the word "undercard" in wrestling |access-date=2020-07-09 |archive-date=2016-03-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303174843/http://prowrestling.about.com/od/wrestlingterminology/g/gloundercard.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> horse racing,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.horse-races.net/library/preak07-ucresults.htm|title=2007 Preakness Undercard Stakes Results|website=www.horse-races.net}}</ref> auto racing, or other sports event.

==References== {{reflist}}

Category:Concert tours Category:Concerts Category:Stand-up comedy Category:Broadcasting occupations