How to be a better artist
(9 things Jon Bellion taught me about performance)
Hey, I’m Alex! Sometimes I blog, other times I rap. I have a new single out, “So We Go By.” Feel free to also check it out on iTunes or Spotify!
They say there’s no better way to learn than to watch the pro’s. That’s what I did on Tuesday night. I weathered the city’s foray into winter (Minneapolis, whatsup?) and headed to the 7th street entry to catch Jon Bellion and his live band perform.
Who is Jon Bellion you ask? He’s dope. While I was a bit outside of his demo, my initial sentiments proved to be true. I should have brought a notebook, cause I got schooled.
Here are the 9 things that Jon Bellion taught me about being a better artist.
1) Have a hype opener
Bellion’s opener was a DJ, and he worked the crowd like an absolute pro. Your opener should be an enthusiastic performer capable of bringing life into the crowd. You should choose them wisely.
2) DO IT LIVE
No, like literally find a live band. Having a live band means displacing attention and providing your audience with more options for entertainment. If at any point I were to have gotten bored of Jon (don’t worry dude, didn’t happen) I could have watched the drummer, the bassist, or the keyboardist. You can feel the added presence of more musicians on stage and it just makes the whole performance feel bigger. You commanding an iTunes playlist and you commanding a live band are two very different things.
3) Know how to sing
There’s nothing more refreshing these days than seeing a commercially viable artist who can still belt out notes live. It’s just a dynamic that sets you apart. More importantly, the ladies love it. Damn you Jon Bellion!!!!! *shakes fist*
4) Have a routine
Some people believe that practice breeds inauthenticity, but those people tend to suck live. Having a well-practiced, well-executed call and response activity to perform at your set can do wonders. It can reenergize the crowd, it can reenergize the artist and it again speaks to a kind of “bigger” performance. The audience doesn’t know if it’s your first time and quiet frankly they don’t care. They just want to experience it.
5) Build a loyal fan base (regardless of size)
There was one point in the show when I thought I was cool because I knew all the words (not really) to the song. I looked over and saw a sea of singing faces. Everyone knew the damned words. I wasn’t special at all. That is what a loyal fanbase looks like; 200 16–20 year olds, singing every word to your song at 9pm on a Tuesday. Jon Bellion has been cultivating that fan base for three years. Now, its supports him on a nationwide tour.
6) Sweat a little
People feed off of your energy. They want to shout and they want to let loose. They’ll only do it if you do it first. Show them what it means to be alive. Hype or die.
7) Preach
At one point in the show, Jon stopped to give a really touching monologue on the deception of success and what it means to be human. It resonated with the crowd if not for the passion he showed while giving it. Too many artists neglect to be real with their audience. Remember, you have the opportunity to influence and impression. Speak from the heart. Inspire someone. Preach (preeeacchh!)
8) Your show doesn’t stop after your set
I feel like a huge difference between a hobbyist and a pro is how they handle themselves after their set. A hobbyist “kills” their set and then they’re off to the bar. After his set, Jon organized a Q&A session next door for everyone in attendance. That was really cool. Show your fans that they mean something to you. Talk to them. Listen to them. Hang out with them. Just do whatever it takes to let them know you appreciate what they do for you.
9) Take risks
You spend the whole night watching someone be so much better than you at something, well, you’d think that might get you down. But it shouldn’t. It should do quite the opposite. You should always chase after the people who are better than you, because it’s those people who can show you what you need to improve on. Don’t surround yourself with people who are as good as you, surround yourself with people who are better than you. As I was watching him take questions, I realized that I couldn’t leave without trying to make an impression. Like, I had to do something, regardless of how lame. So I approached him before I left, apologized for interrupting and handed him one of my cards. He looked at me a bit dumbfounded (Admittedly, he was smack in the middle of trying to answer someone’s question) and said “that takes balls dude. I’ll check you out.”
Bottom line, performance is all about taking risks. You share something that means the world to you with total strangers. That’s the game. Embrace it. Embrace the challenge of trying to advance your career. Take risks, but obviously, try to avoid being a dick in the process. Did I succeed? I don’t know. But I took a risk, much like Jon did the entire night.
In general, Jon impressed me with the professionalism he brought to the stage. Every note, every word all seemed expertly crafted. There wasn’t a single perceived moment of confusion. The set flowed naturally and with purpose. The biggest difference between a professional and a hobbyist is the amount of preparation that goes into their work. Jon Bellion approached the stage like a savvy veteran, an individual who was pursuing a passion.
If anything, you should attend live shows for the opportunity to observe someone who has mastered, or is in the process of mastering their craft. Being exposed to that kind of talent was as invigorating as it was daunting. That’s what it takes to succeed, strive to get there.
