Live Performance Techniques
“Your Band is Your Brand!”
The Shift have done many events and we’d like to give some generic tips and techniques to further advance bands to ensure they become more professional and more pleasing to the audience.
Your band (or act) is your brand.
Therefore what is most important is how you look and sound.
Sound Good
Since what is about is the music ensure you practice regularly as band. A good place to start is to ensure you’re mixed as a band and with the drums being the loudest instrument it is wise to match all the other sounds to around that level.
If you’re a singer ensure use ‘microphone control’. No one wants to hear the singer well above the rest of the band on the powerful notes. It’s so simple to remember; all you need to do is to stand back on loud notes and get closer on the quieter notes. Once you get used to the technique it will come to you as naturally as singing does.
If you’re a drummer it is important that you have dynamics or you’ll drown out the rest of the band. Use your ears and perfect your performance by not playing too loudly.
Image is Key
Some bands will consider their music their most important factor, and so it should be, however as people, we also engage visually.
Take a short video of how you look and ask for honest and constructive criticism.
Think about if you all look like a band or as individuals. Each case is different but your image will go a long way to helping you in your videos, live performances and ultimately your success.
Everybody needs more fans!
The more people that like you the more fans you’ll gain. It’s not a complicated formula. But what is important is band members all put the effort into promoting your gig.
In a day and age where everyone is on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram etc. it is equally important that you are as your audience awaits.
Share in local groups and regularly update your fans about local performances and if possible create a following that will attend your events.
Engage
It is essential that you engage with your fans and spend some time with them pre, mid and post-performance.
Explain what your songs are about, what inspired you, and how good the crowd is. If the crowd don’t seem responsive it is your job to get the response.
One thing we recommend more than anything and what we have noticed from all our events is how much more of a response artists get if they play some cover songs. Ensure that not only do you play covers but you play quite a good mixture of them. The benefits are they relate to that song and it keeps the audience hooked for when you play your original songs.
Punctuation and Attendance
Sounds like being at school doesn’t it? But that life lesson comes in handy when event organisers and your audience are expecting you. If you become known as an unreliable band you’ll lose gigs and will soon be put down the list of who will be asking you to perform.
Also remember you could have a number of fans coming to watch you so if you don’t turn up you may miss your chance with them and they’ll look at other bands.
Cancellations should be very, very few and far between.
Good Luck!
We hope this short but informative guide is beneficial for you.
Sometimes these fine-tunings are the difference between a professional act and an amateur act.
So… from all at The Shift we hope wish you well and… Good luck!