I’m sure you know a band or two that completely transforms when they are up on the stage during a live musical performance. For musicians, these sets are the moments we live for. Strong and engaging shows are memorable both to the fans and the band as well – especially when performers push themselves to the limits to offer an amazing performance every single second of the show.
If you really want to make money from your music then you’ll need to learn the small details that go into creating a great musical performance. Besides the fact that the music that you are playing needs to be in top form, there are a few other details that you can add to take your musical performances to the next level.
Sound check thoroughly
A through sound check will give you an opportunity to work out any challenges and solve any issues before you take the stage for your set. This is an essential part of not sucking at touring. You’ll have time to fix technical problems and make adjustments as needed before you begin.
If you miss the opportunity for your sound check then you may be scrambling around up on stage in the minutes before you’re supposed to start. This leaves you looking unprofessional to everyone in the room, including your fans.
Create a pre-show ceremony
Many of the most successful bands have perfected their pre-show ritual to include all the things that help them get in the zone and kill their set.
Whether it is total silence and meditation before you go on, or a giant glass of water for each of you lined up backstage, make sure you know what you and your body need to put on your best show and then stick to it. A true professional will figure out what works best and then make sure they have these consistencies.
Craft your on-stage persona
For the frontmen and frontwomen out there especially, your onstage persona becomes much of what your fans remember, and what keeps them coming back. The onstage persona applies to everyone, and also tends to happen quite organically.
Being on stage gives you the amazing opportunity to become your music onstage: you don’t have to be yourself. In fact, it’s rather encouraged to not be boring, Become a true star and live it up onstage – have a great time and give it everything you’ve got.
As soon as you notice that some early form of your onstage personality is forming, don’t be afraid to push that character further while you’re performing in order to fully embrace the beast.
Dress to impress
Your clothing is an extension of both your music and art, and your fashion choices will stick in the mind of fans long after the performance ends. All eyes will be on you and the band as you’re performing, so take the time to get looking nice. Work together to coordinate a band style that feels right to you and is also similar enough to, but a cut above what your audience is wearing to the show.
Once you get up there, be proud of yourself onstage and don’t hold back. You’re your own worst critic, so try to put any feelings of inadequacy or insecurity behind you and just own your outfit, and space, up on stage. Let go of inhibitions and pull on the security of your on-stage persona.
Put your best face forward
I’ve sure you’ve been to a concert where the artist show zero emotions while they sing or play, maybe the sound if great but it doesn’t make for a memorable performance.
To truly wrap in your audience in and pull them into the music, make sure your face tells a story, show the emotions you’re feeling. Close and open your eyes wide, really show your sadness or anger, and smile large when needed. Generally, practice your “good face” while performing.
If you need help with this, you can also review footage from your sets as a band and work together to see where you can improve your singing, and performances, to make sure that you are really conveying the emotion needed to keep the music memorable. Give each other both positive and negative feedback on how you played and make plans of things you will change in the future.
Crafting a great performance takes planning, effort, and hard work to keep the show memorable and keep your fans coming back for more. As with all things in life, practice makes perfect. While perfection may be impossible, we must always be striving to get as close to it as possible.
BONUS MUSICAL PERFORMANCE TIP
It goes without saying that the best ways to slay your musical performance is to get in front of the right crowd. You and your band can win the fans you deserve by playing at at youbloomDublin 2017. The 5th annual Music Festival & Summit will feature eclectic bands from all over the world, music industry professionals, and and hundreds of potential new fans, creating the perfect atmosphere for your next musical performance.
Apply to play youbloomDublin 2017 today by filling out the form here. Hurry! Room is filling up quick!
This is a guest post written by Ronald McCarthy.
