a couple of blog posts ago i may have been a bit harsh on bands calling out all the things they do that are tacky. i'm really just trying to help them give a better show and gain more success as a band. really. i promise. that's all i'm doing. okay, maybe i'm also venting but let's just call it an 'everybody wins' post.
so i thought for this go 'round i would be a little more positive and just give my advice for bands how to make a live performance great and a show that will leave people telling their friends, "you've got to see them live!"
you don't need flashy production. yes, flames and moving stage pieces and crazy lights are fun and can make a show really engaging but you don't have to have that to have your audience totally captivated. all you have to do is play well (so yeah, you're gonna have to practice. a lot.), go for a little audience interaction, and genuinely love what you are doing.
1. play well. seems obvious but it's amazing to me the lack of preparation some bands have when going into playing a show. practice your butt off and when you're SO SICK of your own songs, play them again. get a set list and stick to it. especially important when you don't have a decade of touring under your belt. as a band you'll feel so much better about your set if you are all on the same page and know which song is coming next. just because somebody yells "freebird!" doesn't mean you have to try and play it.
2. audience interaction. saying "feel free to dance or clap if you are feelin' it" NEVER works. no one is ever going to start doing anything, even if they are super feeling it. audience mentality is sheep mentality. if you want everyone to start clapping, you have to start the clapping. if you want everyone to dance, you shake what your momma gave you on stage. if you want them to sing along (and they don't know your music) you have to teach them a part to one of your songs or cover a song they know. and don't forget to interact with each other while you're at it. i know it sounds like a lot of work but it is (or hopefully will be someday) your job so you should expect that it occasionally is work even if you love it....
3. and speaking of loving it....love those moments. you have 20 minutes (if you're an opener) to an hour (headliner) to show that audience your art. you probably wouldn't be in a band if you didn't love playing music and performing your music for an audience. if you're annoyed half of your set because the sound tech is struggling to get it right, or you and the drummer had a spat before the show, or you had to wear your second favorite shirt because your first favorite shirt smells like armpit your fans and future fans know. i'm not saying be fake but i am saying that the people in the crowd didn't pay money to come watch you mope or be a diva. you may just have to suck it up and leave your crap backstage...don't worry, you can pick it up again before you climb back into your van if you want. force yourself to remember why you wanted to do this in the first place.
4. don't be a tool and skip out right after the show if you can help it. sign some cd's, take some pictures, thank everyone for coming. make those fans feel like they're your friend.
obviously you don't have to take my word for it but i have gone to countless shows, both good and bad, as an audience member and maybe just maybe i've gleaned a pearl or two of wisdom in the abundant hours spent standing in a sweaty venue or dusty festival field.
xo
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