5 Ways To Improve Your Live Performance
Here are 5 ways to rock your next show! 👊
1. Arrive Early/ Sound Check
Most shows you play will have a call time for artists to load in and sound check. Make sure you are there for this. DO NOT BE LATE. You should be rehearsed and ready to go. This is not a time to practice. If there is a dedicated person running sound, introduce yourself to them. REMEMBER THEIR NAME! Be respectful and trust their expertise. It's likely that they have mixed a number of shows in this room and know what sounds best. If you have specific things you need (inputs, etc...) be sure to communicate that beforehand. Many places will provide the sound engineer's contact info for you to use leading up to the show. Be mindful of the time you've been given and don't go over. Always be respectful of other performers while they soundcheck.
2. Get a Feel for the Room
Hang out. When I play a venue, new ones especially, I like to get there early and take in the vibe. Talk to the bartender/employees. They can offer you great insight as to what kind of people you can expect. If you aren't going first, watch some of the other performers. Notice what works for them and what doesn't. Is the crowd responsive? Are they paying more attention to the game on TV? What's the energy in the room like? As an entertainer, it's part of your job to gauge the energy of the crowd and use it. Not every room you play will be a listening room. There will be plenty of times (especially early on in your career) that you will need to gain the attention of an audience that has no intention of listening to you. Having a feel for the people in the room will help you convert passive patrons into active listeners. (Check out the YouTube video linked for more insight!)
3. Manage Your Energy
As a performer, one of your biggest responsibilities is to manage the energy in the room. You are the vibe for the night. This starts with managing your own energy. We all have personal lives and, in my opinion, the best part of being an artist is being able to use my creative output to deal with the complex emotions I experience day to day. That being said, there is a big difference between a performer who channels their emotions into a performance that unites the room and a performer who allows their emotions to run wild ruining the evening for everyone in attendance. Stay Positive. Criticizing the audience for not listening is the quickest way to ensure they continue to ignore you and, in most cases, it will only make things worse. It's your job to get people to want to listen. Focus on the friendly faces. Even if there is only one. Find them and work with them. Showing love to the ones who are listening is the best way I have found to bring the fringe listeners into the mix. And being good... being good helps.
4. Stay Sober
This one allows for a little leeway. One of the reasons most of us chose to become performers (other than our undying love for personal expression) is because it's fun. Going to shows and hanging out with like minded people is one of the best things about being alive. Having a drink or two or a little smoke with friends before a show to loosen up is totally cool if that's how you get down but be careful not to overdo it (that's what after parties are for). The last thing anyone wants to see is someone on stage slurring their words and flubbing through chords. I've watched performers crash into mic stands, act belligerent towards the crowd and venue staff and start strangling themselves with the mic chord on stage. While it might make for a funny viral video, I can assure you that you don't want that kind of reputation. If you want to turn your passion into a profession then treat it that way. From the moment you arrive at the venue until the moment you leave, you're on the clock.
5. Practice, Practice, Practice
This one might seem obvious but I can't tell you how many times I've heard artists on stage admit to not being prepared. Why would you expect people to pay money to see you if you aren't going to prepare? Practice your set. Practice it over and over and over until you know it forwards and backwards. Make sure you can fill the time you were allotted without going over. Practice your banter between songs. If you want to tell a story to introduce a song, practice it. This should also be figured into your set length. I like to practice while doing a physical activity like running or jumping rope. It helps with stamina and also adds an element of distraction. You have to be able to play while people are talking, eating, drinking and carrying on in all sorts of ways you would never imagine. This doesn't mean you have to be a robot on stage. It's great to be spontaneous in your live show. Being able to call an audible mid set based on the vibe in the room is incredibly powerful but remember, improvisation is a skill and knowing your songs inside and out is the best way to be able to make meaningful changes on the fly. Open mics are a great way to practice in front of a live audience with very minimal stakes. Whether you are a seasoned vet or just starting out, I can't recommend hitting up your local open mic enough.
