Avoid These Mistakes
by Zach
When you have gone out of your way to build up a reputation and solicit venue owners to finally book a show for your band, it’s awfully silly to have all your efforts compromised because you failed to make to most of the actual gig. Yet, it’s amazing how often this happens. Here are some tips to keep in mind when your goal is to entertain your audience while building on your reputation:
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1) Have a good idea of where the gig is. Double- and triple- check your directions, and leave early enough to allow yourself time in case the venue is hard to find. Go to Google Maps and print out a map showing the directions you will take, and check the street level view in the venue’s area so you are already oriented when you arrive. Remember, you have to setup your equipment and run a sound check, so there’s really no such thing as too early.
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2) Some higher-profile events, such as festivals, require you to have security clearance. Get the information ahead of time and make sure this will not be an issue, and make sure you know where you are to park, unload, etc. You should have an A-Z idea of everything you need to do to prepare for the show, and leave as little as possible up to chance.
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3) Even though it is a good idea to at least be in the area as early as possible, get a specific setup time from the venue owners or promoters and show up 15 minutes before that time. Make sure it is physically possible to setup your show in the time provided.
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4) Ask if the venue provides a PA system or if you will need to provide one. Also, ask if there is a stage provided or if accommodations need to be made for the performance area, such as moving tables. The venue owner will appreciate your consideration.
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5) Duct tape is your friend. There should be no loose cables in the performance area. Make sure you have enough room to move around without tripping over something or pulling a cable out of an amp.
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6) For your sound check, you want to keep your treble and bass sounds from overwhelming the mix, and you want to avoid unwanted feedback. Keep in mind that two different mixes are used, one for your stage monitors and another for the house speakers. The monitor mix will affect your performance, and the house mix will affect attendance and future bookings. Ask yourself what can be turned down, rather than what can be turned up. In other words, get a professional sound technician.
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7) Limit breaks and intermissions to 10 minutes. People will start leaving if your breaks are much longer than that, and then you will be known as the band that takes too many breaks, which is no good.
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8) Do not criticize band mates on stage. It’s unprofessional, it burns bridges, hurts the vibe of your show, and makes you look like a diva. People make mistakes, and if something is bothering you, mention it after the show.
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9) Ensure people are coming to your show. Promote the hell out of it, get people in the door, and you are much more likely to get booked again in the same venue. If you are playing to an empty house you are doing something wrong.
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10) Tune up before you start playing.
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11) If you can afford it, have extras of everything: strings, picks, guitars, amps, you never know when equipment will fail, but you can bet it will happen at some point.
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Your experiences playing live will be far more enjoyable if you are serious and prepared. While many of these suggestions may seem like common sense, these are the types of mistakes that hinder a new band and prevent them from reaching their potential and gaining fans. Be aware of these errors and omissions, and give your audience the performance they deserve.
