One coming before performances to record shows (8)
I believe the answer is:
ancestor
'one coming before' is the definition.
(our ancestors came before us)
'performances to record shows' is the wordplay.
'shows' says the answer is hidden in the clue.
'ANCESTOR' is hidden in the letters of 'performances to record'.
(Other definitions for ancestor that I've seen before include "One of one's forebears" , "Forefather" , "An escort (anag.)" , "not being of the modern generation" , "Enactors (anag)" .)