Are you a performing artist who finds it difficult to talk to your audience? Do you feel awkward or a bit shy and don’t know what to say in between your songs, or how to introduce yourself? Is it that you feel happy singing or playing your songs, but you are nervous of saying something stupid or making a fool of yourself when speaking at your gig? If so, you are not alone – it is one of the major issues that comes up when working with my musician clients.

Having been to a lot of gigs recently, I have been specifically observing how each band or solo artist has interacted with their audiences and it has become obvious how much more enjoyable the gig is when this interaction is done well!

This was particularly highlighted when I went to see James Morrison at his gig in Leicester earlier this year. His support act was a guy called Newton Faulkner (you can find him easily on MySpace), he came on stage and instantly had the audience eating out of the palm of his hand – his banter and instant rapport was almost startling – whether he has a natural talent for this or whether he has practiced it to perfection, I don’t know – maybe it’s a bit of both – whichever, the effect was amazing.

I also went to a gig where 5 unsigned independent bands played. One band stood out – not just for their music, which was great, but because once more their interaction with the audience was so much fun.

Of course Robbie Williams is a master of stage presence and his showmanship is second only to that of the late Freddie Mercury – the ultimate showman in my opinion!

As a result it has become very clear to me that not only is it necessary for you to write and perform great songs, but to be an all rounded entertainer, if you want to be successful in your music career.

To give another example, years ago, the Bare Naked Ladies used to include a medley of other artists’ songs in their set. They would be instantly recognizable because they were current hits, but the band added a twist – they sang their own witty lyrics over those hits, which were usually about the city they were gigging in – this engaged and warmed them to their audiences. They are well worth checking out if/when they are on tour.

You too can engage and have fun interacting with your audiences, how? Carry on reading…!

Tip 1 – Create great material – for your interaction with your audiences. You are very creative, so this shouldn’t be too difficult for you to do! If it helps, take a blank piece of paper and write a script of what it is you want to say.

Start with an introduction of yourself – picture in your minds eye how your gig will start – will anyone else introduce you onto the stage or will you just walk on? Either way you can walk on and say “Hey Leicester, how you doing?” make sure you have a big smile on your face and then start playing your first song. A further tip here is make sure you know in which town or city you are playing in – there is nothing worse than saying the wrong place – a cardinal sin of gigging! Being in Sheffield (a few years ago) and watching The Fall say, “hello Nottingham”, didn’t go down well and they lost us as an audience from the start!

If you are an artist or a band supporting another act, after you’ve finished playing your first song, you could make sure that the audience knows who you are – quite often audiences don’t know in advance who the support acts are going to be, so tell them your name!

In Part 2 of this article you can see what special ingredients’ you can use to delight your audience!

Lindsey Benton runs her own coaching and mentoring business, Bravura, for musicians and non-performers in the music industry. Lindsey helps her clients work through solutions to succeed in their music career and life. Lindsey writes a monthly newsletter for musicians to give insight and helpful tips to make positive advancement in their music careers. Check out http://www.bravura-group.com to view coaching packages, reports and the newsletter.

For more education on careers in the music industry, check out: http://www.music-career-guide.com

***

Here’s How:

Choose Your Targets:

What’s the dream concert for your band? Who would you really love to play with? Make a short list of the bands that you want a chance to play with, and then find out who their agent is. Get in touch with that agent, send them a promo package and let them know you’re interested in playing with the band. At the same time, keep an eye on that band’s touring schedule. When you know shows are in the works, reach out to the agent and say, “remember me?” Make sure you keep the agent updated on all of the good things that are happening with your band that make you the best bet for the openers.

Make Friends with the Venues and Promoters:

Getting picked by the agent isn’t the only way to get on the bill for a concert. Often, the support bands are chosen by the venues or the promoters of the shows. If you are already a part of your local live music circuit, then these people should already be on your radar (and you on theirs), but if not, get out there and make yourself known. Let the venues and promoters in your area know your band is always on the lookout for a good support slot and that you hope they will consider you when they need an opener.

Putting it All Together:

This one combines steps one and two and may seem trivial, but when the perfect opening band opportunity comes along, you’ll be glad you did it. Make a contact database of all of the agents, promoters and venues that you have identified as helpful to you in your quest to be the opening band. Not only will you always have the info you need on hand when you need it, but your database will also help you keep track of with whom you are (and should be) sharing news about your band.

Timing is Everything:

When you know that the perfect supporting band opportunity for your band is coming up, don’t wait around for your contacts to think of you. Hit up the right agents, promoters, and venues and ask for the gig. Finding the opening band is one thing crossed off the very long “to do” list for people working on a show, so often, the first band that asks often gets. Act fast, and be the first to throw your hat in the ring

Don’t be a Deal Diva:

Generally speaking, being the opening act doesn’t pay particularly well, at least in terms of cold, hard cash. The pay comes in the form of a chance to play in front of a larger audience than you would get on your own, and the chance to play in front of other people who can help you in your career – press, labels, managers, promoters, agents, and so on. If you refuse a good opening gig because you don’t think the money is right, you’ll only hurt yourself.

Do the Job:

Opening slots tend to beget opening slots, provided you deliver the goods. Be professional and polite, show up on time, grin and bear it if you get shafted on the soundcheck, play a good show, and stick within your alloted time. Thank the headlining band/agent/manager/promoter/venue for the opportunity. Reliability goes a long way in the music industry, and if you get a reputation for it, the offers will start pouring in.

Promote Yourself:

Many opening bands are lucky to get a mention on a concert poster, so you should take matters of promoting your opening gig in your own hands. Send out a press release letting the local media know about your upcoming show. Be sure to email your mailing list so your fans can come out and support you, and of course, update your website to include the show. You may not get a very long set as the opening band, but you should treat it as you would any other concert. Don’t, however, try to pass yourself off as the headliner – make clear in all your promo material that you are the opening act.

Tips:

Choose your Shows Wisely:

When you are making your shortlist of bands with whom you would love to play, remember that you’re not just picking your favorite bands. Pick the bands whose audience you believe is a good audience for your kind of music.

Start Locally:

Getting in touch with agents and trying your hand at getting on regional/national tours as the supporting band is a good thing to do. However, especially when you’re first getting started, actually landing this kind of gig can be a little tricky. Put an emphasis of being one of the go-to opening bands of choice for your local area by working with local venues and promoters. Sometimes this may mean you’re the “opener for the opener” on a three band bill, but it is a great way to build an audience while building relationships with bands, promoters, agents, and venues that will be handy in the future.

The Show Isn’t About You:

Sad, but true – the opening band can get the shaft in many ways. Your soundcheck may be cut to to five minutes, you may not get to share in the rider, you may not be getting paid much, if at all, and after all that, the audience may all be at the bar or talking through your set. Frustrating? Definitely. But no band has ever played a show that hasn’t made an impression on someone, and if you want that impression to be good, stay professional and positive. Some show experiences may be better than others, but each show can be a stepping stone to something bigger.

Ask Before you Do:

Some headlining bands (or at least their agents and managers) can get a little huffy about opening bands selling their merchandise at shows – after all, if someone buys your album, they may decide not to buy the headliner’s t-shirt. Find out before the show if you will be allowed to sell merchandise, and where in the venue you can set up. I know, I know, it’s a bit annoying, especially if you are out of pocket to play the show anyway. Just focus on how well you will treat the opening bands when you’re the headliners.

Beware the Buy-On:

On very large tours, you may find that the opening slot is filled through a “buy-on” – meaning that the opening band pays a fee to get to be on the tour. This kind of thing usually happens between major labels/major label artists and on stadium or arena tours. If you are an indie band (or an indie label), don’t sell the car to stump up the cash for a buy-on gig. There are better ways you can spend money on your music career.

Written by Heather McDonald

For more education on careers in the music industry, check out: http://www.music-career-guide.com

***