OC Music Magazine

David Hooper

So you’ve booked a gig.  Now you have onemission:  To make it so unforgettable that the people who attend can’tstop talking about it.  You want them to come to your next show, andbring their friends.  So what can you do to make your gig the best itcan be?

1.    REHEARSE

It doesn’t matter if you’veplayed your songs ten thousand times, you still need to rehearse. Practice isn’t just about the technical aspects of music.  It’s alsoabout the band being on the same page, creatively and energetically. Don’t let yourself get so busy with promoting the show that you neglectthe most important element:  rehearsing.  Make sure you have a solidpractice at least a day or two before the show, and the day of theshow, warm up as a group before the gig.

2.    Do plenty of PR and generate a big crowd.

Publicrelations may not be your specialty, but if you’re in an independentband, chances are you’re doing your own PR.  There are plenty of waysyou can generate a buzz before your show, including flyers and cards,asking your friends and family to spread the word, going to other showsto make connections, and using online networking sites.  Don’t holdback—the more people you get to your gig, the more energy you’ll have,and the more unforgettable your show will be.  You might feel likeyou’re repeating yourself over and over and over—and you are!  That’sok.  Think about how many times you’ve seen a certain commercial onTV.  Clever advertising is only part of the equation—the other part isrepetition.

3.    Give away CD’s or t-shirts.

Peoplelove free stuff!  By giving away your own promotional items you are notjust rewarding your loyal fans, you’re sending them out of there with apiece of the show that they can share with the rest of the world. Don’t feel obligated to spend too much on this.  Even giving a way oneor two items can be a useful marketing tool.

4.    Invite writers to come and write/blog about the show.

Everycommunity has both professional and amateur writers who have a loyalreadership.  Even if their blog or column isn’t about music, they candrop a couple lines about your show and your name will be out there forthousands of people to read.  Even better:  develop a relationship witha music writer or blogger.  Send them a CD and personally invite themto the show.  All you need is a one writer with a substantial audienceto generate some serious interest in your show.  Not only can they helpyou get people in there—they can help remind people after the show howgreat it was and keep the buzz going for weeks.

5.    Invite other bands to come and show support.

Chancesare you already have some allies in the music community, but I can’tstress enough how important it is for you to invite them and ask fortheir support.  These are people who know what you’re going through andknow what you need at a show.  They can bring their crew, keep theenergy level high, and give you some honest feedback about theperformance.

6.    Look good.

Even if your vibeis classic grunge, make sure you put some thought in to how you look onstage.  You want to impress and your style is part of the wholepackage.  I don’t mean that you have to wear glitter eye shadow andfeather boas (unless, of course, that’s your regular look).  What Imean is to make the effort to look memorable.

7.    Scope out the venue beforehand.

Youmay have been there before, but go back and spend some time reallytaking in the lay of the land.  Figure out how you want to set up yourequipment, and see if there’s anything you can use to your advantage. Is there something you can incorporate in to the show?  Will people beable to see you from every part of the room?  If your sound personcan’t be with you at this time, by all means make sure you get plentyof time before the show starts for a sound check.

8.    Make sure you have a high energy level.

Thebottom line is that the quality of your performance depends on yourenergy level.  You need to be able to pour it on and sustain it for theentire duration of the show.  The best performances are those that keeppeople on the edge of sanity from start to finish.  That can’t happenif you’ve spent the day mowing your lawn and drinking beer.  Take anap, spend some time getting yourself psyched up, and when you take thestage, and be ready to give it your all.  Play every show as if it wasyour last, and you can be assured that every show will be unforgettable.

9.    Interact with the audience.

Performanceis a relationship.  The performer and the audience are in it together. Don’t discount this dynamic.  It’s invaluable for putting on a showthat is memorable.  You don’t need to pull someone on stage andserenade them—but saying a few words to the audience, thanking them forcoming, and asking them to come again is just as important as playingevery note flawlessly. You worked hard to get the crowd in the door,and chances are a lot of them are there because they want to show youtheir support—so let them know you know they are there and that you’replaying for them.

10.    Have someone take photos and video – put it on your site.

Remindpeople about your show and let everyone else see what they missed byputting video and photos of the performance on your website or MySpacepage.  You don’t need a professional photographer—just get a friendwith a good digital camera and have them take some shots.  It’s awonderful way to let people see you in action.  Instruct your friend toget shots of the crowd.  People love to feel like they are in the rightplace at the right time, and they will gladly forward your pictures onto their friends and family if there’s a shot of them included.   Whenyou get your pictures up, send a bulletin or email out to your“friends” or subscribers and let them know they are there.