Facing an audience is no easy task and one should never take the business casually. Performing in front of hundreds of thousands of people tend to keep the performer in the eyes of several people, whether live or not. This then further reaches another hundreds of thousands of people through word of mouth. And trust us, this only leads a band to either of the two results — It was an amazing show or I cannot tell whether it was worth visiting! Whether online or offline, once a band has performed, it is sure to be in the minds of people for a lifetime. And you of course cannot take the risk of going into trouble, especially when you are willing to make a career in this industry. It is obvious that you HAVE TO play good music and attract as many audiences as possible. But there are other important factors to keep in mind too for preparing a successful gig. Allow us to help you learn a few important Do’s and Don’ts while performing in a show:
1. The Client:
Do: Approach a client who is willing to give you the best in the industry. This is important because when you make contacts and several clients approach you, you must be sure to make the ideal choice so as to maintain the reputation of both sides.
Don’t: When you feel that the client who has approached you isn’t offering the best deal, do not turn him down in a manner that he refuses to approach you further in the future. Building and being loyal to contacts is necessary as you never know who can be of help to you and when!
2. The Venue:
Do: A venue always decides how an artist can perform. With the knowledge about a venue, you will be able to understand the type of audience you will come across. This will then help to execute plans based on types of music, time to dedicate and so on.
Don’t: Many venues restrict to certain forms of music. If you too come across such restrictions, ensure that you do not break the rule! Breaking it may cause you to never being able to perform in the same venue again.
3. Instrument:
Do: Unlike solo gigs, a band cannot afford to take the risk of not communicating with the other artists beforehand. Make sure that each of your artists knows what to handle even when you are requested to perform music you had not planned.
Don’t: It will be wrong to assume that you can share a gear without discussing before starting the performance. Do not pull out confusions on stage with your artists as this will not only delay your performance, but will also invite you to a series of complaints from coordinators and audiences alike.
4. Sound check:
Do: Be on time to the venue so that you can fix and get things ready for the live show. Coordinate with the engineers and your artists to moderate the volume levels and other controls for a good show.
Don’t: Ensure that you respect the decisions of your sound engineer and do not get obnoxious. They know better about the areas and will ensure that you receive the best.
