This is *not* a dumb question--more people should ask this question-

How do you capture an audience? Simplest thing is to watch somebody who gets the kind of response you'd like to get, and make note of the things that they do--

First--How do they start off? A very well known performer and teacher of Danse Orientale told me that the zils (finger cymbals) are used to draw attention to the dancer, even before he or she is on the stage--as Mary Poppins said, "Well begun is half done."

If you start off with something that has a solid, driving beat, you will do way better than if you start off with, say, a lament about the sinking of the Titanic in Yiddish (I am not making this up)--Make sure you always know your material inside out before you add it to your set, so that no matter what happens, you can stay focussed on the audience--

As to specific songs, different songs work for different people. even tricks like Kara's are rather subjective(a bit awkward for me to "play" to a man)--I find that it is very helpful if I interact with someone in the front row--

Even more important is your closing, as they say in theatre, a great close can save a bad show--watch how some one you like does it--

It would be nice if every performer was natural, clever, and spontaneous in front of an audience, but most aren't, and successful performers learn to put together a show that makes it look like they are--They also say" Sincerity is the most important thing, if you can fake that, you've got it made."