Here are some good rules to live by when you are playing a show. If you are professional and give off a strong presence on and off the stage, you will be invited back. Many of these ideas are simple and you have probably thought of them, but making sure to apply them will ensure your popularity with both the audience and the venue.

10. Confirm the date with the venue two weeks in advance.

Call the or management group; tell them you are confirming the show and double-checking arrival times. Find out if there are any last minute changes that you should be aware of. This highlights your professionalism and it gives reassurance that you and your band will be there. There are many times when a club double books by accident or a band doesn’t show up. Confirming the date will ease your mind as well as the venue’s.

Add a column in your show spreadsheet for confirmation, and check it off as you call each venue.

9. Tip the soundman

Tip the sound guy or girl. This is the person handling your sound and they have the ears at the front of the house. Take care of them and they will remember you. When I was on the road, we often gave a ten or twenty to the soundman and any time we came back, they took extra special care of us.

8. Be early, Be prepared

Know the room and know where you are playing. Know the potential traffic problems of the area. Get there early and make sure to double check that you have all your equipment, your merchandise, and your contracts (if required). Print out the direction and contact information so you can call the venue if there are problems. Know when load in time is, and make sure you are there ready to go. These small details will make all the difference.

7. Do a last minute poster run of the area

Grab some posters during the down time and hit the vicinity of the club. Do some last minute promotion, hand out some leaflets and see if you can book a radio interview between the load in and the performance. There is so much wasted time between sound check and the actual show that can be filled up with effective marketing.

6. Be nice and be aware

Show respect to the venue, the staff and the other artists. Some nights may not be the nicest rooms, the best stage, or the best shows. Still, showing respect is paramount. Don’t talk trash about the room, other bands, or anyone for that matter. If someone is talking trash about you, take the higher road and keep your mouth shut. Venues, managers, agents and staff will see it and, in turn, will want to work more with acts like you.

If you have problems with your monitors, your agreement, or with anything that’s wrong, address it in a respectful manner. There is no need to go “diva,” and it doesn’t make anyone want to help you. When you come at someone with respect, most of the time you will get it in return.

5. Organize yourself and your gear.

Make sure all the gear is top notch. As you unload, get your cases out of the way. Find out where the green room is or where you are suppose to store things and try to consolidate and pack your stuff tightly. If it’s a shady place, bring the cases back to the cars. Count up your merch, make sure to track everything you need to go over. Talk to the soundman about issues or important things that they might not be aware of. If you are bringing certain sound equipment, make sure it is well marked and not easily mistaken for the venue’s gear. Same goes with cords and power supplies. It will make your life a lot easier.

4. Get on and off the stage quickly.

If you are doing a load on during the set, organize your gear to the side of the stage. Figure out an order for the gear and find the fastest way to get it up on the stage and ready to go. Ask if the band before you needs help loading off. Too often people waste time standing around, which backs up the sets and ends up either cutting bands sets or making delays that don’t need to be there.

Load off quickly as well. If there is a band coming up, move pieces off the stage right after you are done. Don’t take a cymbal off its stand on stage; take the stand, with the cymbal on it, off the stage. Unplug, and move. Show the respect to the venue and the next band. People remember things like that. Don’t go have a conversation, a drink or hang out. Clear the stage first, and then be social.

3. Market on Stage

Have a great show and have a good time with your audience, but don’t forget to market while you’re on stage. Mention the band name numerous times. Get it into the audience’s head. Bring up the website, the myspace, tell them the name of the album or merchandise that you have. Tell the audience where you are from. Brand your sound and your name to your crowd and then they will know how to find you.

2. Market the show well in advance

Promote and market your shows well in advance. Promotion brings people out, and even if you do not have a budget to market, you can still go grassroots and make things effective. Using press releases, craigslist, myspace, local radio and local websites where the venue is based can help. Start promotion 6 weeks out with releases. This will allow the time to get stories done about the show and the band. (A follow up blog on marketing steps will be appearing later this week.)

1. Have fun, or at least look like it.

Whether there are 5, 50, or 500 people, play the same show. Showcase what you are about by showing that, regardless of how many people are there, you are having fun, having a great performance and making the most out of whatever situation you are in. Connect with the audience no matter how large or small, and you will continue to build a fan base. Every show is as important as the next one. Treat all shows that way and you will see results.

Lastly, work the eye contact. I can’t stress that enough. Look at the audience and connect with them. This is where you are going to build the reputation, and it is where the buzz about your shows and your performances gets started. If you make them all walk away wanting more, they will come back, and then some, the next time you return.

Loren Weisman
Producer
www.protectomatic.com
www.myspace.com/protectomatic
www.protectomatic.yuku.com
www.lorenweisman.com

Article Source: http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.
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For more education on careers in the music industry, check out: www.Music-Career-Guide.com

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