He may never make it as a contestant on Dancing with the Stars, but Alan Jackson doesn’t need to jump around to win over a crowd.

The veteran country crooner had the more than 6,000 fans at the Abbotsford Entertainment and Sports Centre yelling for more on Friday night, thanks to a little planning and some old fashioned show biz tricks.

From the two minute countdown clock on the large video screen behind the stage – signalling when Jackson would appear - to opening his set with the legendary hit Gone Country, Jackson had the crowd on board early.

And then, while singing Small Town Southern Man, Jackson switched the lyrics to Small Town Canadian Man. After that the fans were his for the night.

Jackson is what some would call, a stand up singer. He has a solid voice, which he put to good use. However, as a visual performer, he does little more than wander around the stage, waiting for his next vocal cue.

Fortunately his easy, casual conversation with the audience and the multi-screen backdrop, more than makes up for his lack of dance moves.

A true showman, the tall blonde singer set up his own encore.

While performing yet another hit, Where I Come From, the video screens jumped to life. But this time, the images weren’t of the band playing or the audience cheering. Instead, fans were treated to a video montage of Abbotsford itself.

It was clear that Jackson’s staff had done its homework as such familiar sights as city hall, the police department and even the Duke of Dublin appeared on screen as he performed.

After Jackson left the stage, the crowd kept on cheering until he returned.

It was emotional manipulation, but everyone loved it.

One fan, Angie Ward, came all the way out from Surrey, by herself, to catch the show.

“I’m very impressed,” she said of the building. “I had no idea Abbotsford had a facility like this.

She also admitted that Jackson wasn’t the only reason she came to the show.

“I like George Canyon too.”

Canadian country singer George Canyon opened for Jackson and while he doesn’t have as many hits, he still wowed the crowd with his energetic performance and deep, sincere voice.

From his hits Somebody Wrote Love and Let it Out to Johnny Cash’s Burning Ring of Fire, Canyon kept the crowd going until Jackson hit the stage.