Performance and Gigs
"For optimum amp tone onstage, plug your amp into your own AC outlet.." - Eric Johnson
DOING GIGS
In my opinion, there are two kinds of performers:
1 - Concert performers -- who do well in front of a sit-down audience
2 - Club performers -- who do well in a noisy atmosphere
Knowing which kind of performer you tend to be can help you a lot in deciding where to play. For a lot of people, it's easy to be both types of performers but some people truly prefer playing in one atmosphere over another. If you want to be at your best, it's smart to be comfortable. So if this is an issue for you, take the time to think about it.
Next you have to consider if you are going to be performing your own material or covers or both. If you decide to do covers, here are some good tips:
1) The song should really move you.
2) Make the song your own, otherwise after awhile you'll just feel like "parrot" for someone else's material (and to me there's far less creativity in that - just my opinion mind you).
3) Cover Songs are great ice-breakers and shouldn't be overlooked as great tools for any songwriter to use. Do covers, from artists who lend to your style in one way or another. Opening with a recognizable cover song really helps an audience relate to you and get an idea of where you're coming from as an artist ... and also helps them relate more to your originals, too.
Of course, to play at most venues, you've got to be prepared to sell yourself. Here are some tips on this subject:
Get your Bio / Demo ready for the Concert Promoters & Club Owners.
I've read a bunch of stuff about preparing demo submissions for venues, with bio's and clippings and stuff like that - but I'm sure there's more to it than that?
You don't need much. No club owner or manager is going to want a twenty-page book on you, nor will he/she be impressed with elaborate artwork and/or printing. Just a single sheet of paper that briefly and concisely states what type of artist you are, what kind of songs you play, how you interact with an audience and where you've played or are playing ... and a CD with either three or four whole songs, or six to eight songs that each fade after a minute. That, along with a congenial introduction and follow-up calls will be enough.
Performance anxiety can be an issue. Fortunately, most musicians overcome this in a short period of time - I've found that going to open mics, just getting up there and doing it has helped immensely. Find a supportive group of people in your genres' scene.
Here are some more tips to help you...
1 - Know your material and your performances upside down and backwards. You have to be able to play your songs and not mess up under any situation, and the way to do that is to KNOW them well ... memorization ... playing a song and working out each and every measure of it until you know it blind-folded. Then, if something bizarre happens while you're in the middle of a performance, muscle-memory and instinct will take over and you won't be thrown.
2 - Know your strengths ... know which songs are "yours" and which songs aren't. In effect, build a really strong set list. When someone like Bruce Springsteen cuts a new album, he'll record 50 songs ... 12 of those wind up on the album we hear and the other 38 go to other artists to do.
3 - LOOK unique . Dress yourself in a way that makes a statement. You know from my previous posts that I believe in dressing the way you always dress; to not be pretentious or something you're not ... but that doesn't mean that you want to look like the guy next door. You want to create an "image" ... just make it an honest one. So you usually wear jeans and a t-shirt? Fine. Just add some accents that make it all yours. A unique pair of glasses (if you wear them), a very special vest, a wardrobe of scarves, purple boots or hand painted sneakers ... whatever separates you from the average guy walking down the street and doesn't make you look like you're trying to be someone who lacks sincerity or who has lost all sense of reality.
"With the above going on, you're going to FEEL confident, because you ARE ... and THAT sells."
Performance and Gigs by Scott Thomas
Scott Thomas
Managing Editor
Guitarz Forever.com
 Google News Updated : Mon, 08 Sep 2008 02:08:49 GMT Cage's 'Bangkok' tops worst movie weekend since 2001 - USA Today
USA Today - By Scott Bowles, USA TODAY After a record $4.2 billion in movie ticket sales this summer, the industry suffered its worst weekend in seven years, with the top movie at the box office doing less than $8 million. Video: 'Bangkok Dangerous' - Not a Safe Bet Fall box office off to slow start Publ.Date : Sun, 07 Sep 2008 16:23:28 GMT Populists Gain Seats in Election in Hong Kong - New York Times
New York Times - By KEITH BRADSHER HONG KONG - Chinese national pride after the Olympics and growing distress over inflation combined to produce a leftward shift in legislative elections here on Sunday. Hong Kong Democrats Retain Veto Bloc in Legislative Elections Key wins for Hong Kong opposition Publ.Date : Mon, 08 Sep 2008 01:32:36 GMT Patriots overcome injury to Brady, top Chiefs - Sports Network
Sports Network - Foxboro, MA (Sports Network) - Randy Moss had six receptions for 116 yards and a touchdown as New England overcame an early injury to quarterback Tom Brady to escape Kansas City, 17-10, in the season-opener for both clubs at Gillette Stadium. Patriots QB Brady out of opener vs. Chiefs Cassel comes through for Patriots Publ.Date : Mon, 08 Sep 2008 01:15:11 GMT Prime Minister Chances Early Election in Canada - New York Times New York Times - By IAN AUSTEN OTTAWA - Prime Minister Stephen Harper, putting aside the date he had set by law, formally propelled Canada into a federal election campaign on Sunday. Canadian PM calls October election With economy slow, Canada to hold early elections Publ.Date : Mon, 08 Sep 2008 01:06:35 GMT Veteran Financiers to Head Fannie, Freddie - Washington Post
Washington Post - By Thomas Heath and Dina ElBoghdady The new chief executives at Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have long histories in the financial services industry. Video: Feds Take Over Mortgage Giants FDIC to help small banks with Fannie, Freddie exposure Publ.Date : Mon, 08 Sep 2008 01:46:18 GMT Health Highlights: Sept. 6, 2008 - Washington Post
Washington Post - On the heels of the huge nationwide salmonella outbreak that caused more than 1400 illnesses from Mexican peppers, a regional Oregon alfalfa sprout distributor has recalled its product in Oregon and Washington state after the sprouts were linked to 13 ... Salmonellosis outbreak prompts sprout recall Salmonella outbreak traced to alfalfa sprouts Publ.Date : Sun, 07 Sep 2008 16:31:13 GMT Falcons head coach: ‘Matt did a very good job’ - Atlanta Journal Constitution
Atlanta Journal Constitution - By CARROLL ROGERS Q. How did the third play - the touchdown from Matt Ryan to Michael Jenkins - develop? New Falcons head coach Mike Smith said of Matt Ryan, ‘It was a great way to see our rookie quarterback throw his first NFL pass. In-game analysis of the Lions' loss in Atlanta Lions' poor tackling about talent, not coaching Publ.Date : Mon, 08 Sep 2008 01:30:18 GMT Amazon Content |
PARLOT::Ebooks, Scripts,
Websites, and more... Canadian Indie bands are dominating the music scene and it... Read More Today's technology for the recording musician has been getting better... Read More Have you ever done any of the following?1. Made excuses... Read More There are basically two ways you can compose a piece... Read More Let's face it. The world will not end if there... Read More "Turn it down!"How often have you heard that command in... Read More John Lennon wasn't always my favorite Beatle; at first it... Read More "But I'm not in it for the money" you say.Me... Read More Many students want to create music that has a certain... Read More Often people receive a banjo, mandolin, fiddle, guitar or some... Read More Getting ready for any type of guitar performance can be... Read More Virtually all of you have probably heard of the RIAA's... Read More A student wrote me an email about the lesson "Ocean... Read More Congratulations, you just bought you first guitar! Now that you've... Read More Now, that you are familiar and likely connected with online... Read More Many artists are still confused as to what goes on... Read More I met New York jazzman Tim Armacost in college almost... Read More There's a reason Apple Computer dominates the legal 99-cents-a-download digital... Read More Do you ramble on endlessly with your improvisations? If so,... Read More "How do I buy a violin, (or fiddle)?"That question has... Read More Meet the 12 Major Notes:1. C (do)2. C# - Db... Read More Buying a guitar is an important decision that my students... Read More 1. Don't try and make something happen. Trying blocks the... Read More In the late 1940's, the 45-RPM record replaced the 78-RPM... Read More ABA form is like a musical sandwich. You have the... Read More
Adsense
websites
Canadian Stars: The Marble Index and the Waking Eyes
Internet Jams
A Guitar Lesson to Help You Develop Your Vision
Chords or Melody First... Which is Best?
New Age Music - What Is It Good For?
Play Too Loud And Well Cut The Power!
JOHN LENNON - The Man and His Times
How To Make a Fortune Teaching Piano (or Guitar, or Drums, or Singing, or?) To Beginners
Everything I Play Sounds the Same
When Does Practice Make Perfect? Not Much Of The Time Unless All The Pieces Fit First
Guitar Performance - Make The Most of It!
Where To Download Music On The Internet
Just 3 Chords? No Way!
Your First Guitar
Setting Up In-House Retail Sales
Prepare for the Master (CD Mastering)
Jazzing Up Your Leadership Style
MP3 Music Subscription Services. A Good Deal?
Form - Giving Shape to Your Music
Buying a Violin
Play The Piano Like A Pro
Buying A Guitar - Do You Know What To Look For?
Top 7 Donts for Successful Improvisation
Why Do Music Lovers Still Prefer to Buy Records?
How to Compose Using ABA Form
Affordable and Reliable Web Hosting Starting at $4.49/Month
Getting the Best Performance From Your Artist
So now you've decided to record your songs. Good for... Read More
The Revolution of Electric Guitars
Sometime during the 1930's electric guitars were introduced onto the... Read More
Oh My Aching Head! Can Music Really Make You Feel Better?
We all know, if only instinctively, that music has a... Read More
Music and Emotion
The Age-old Puzzle of Human ResponseIf you've listened to more... Read More
How to Compose Your Own Music Using 8-bar Phrases
Some people think composing is this miraculous thing that only... Read More
Turn It Up: Plugging Into The Perfect Guitar And Amp Settings
Yowza! Did you hear that hideous noise? It sounded like... Read More
Guitar Practice - Make It Your Priority!
Every student realizes that guitar practice is important if they... Read More
Liberate your iPod
When Akio Morita came up with the idea of the... Read More
Eminem: A Social Commentator
In an interview given to Musik Magazine in 2000, Eminem... Read More
An Interview with Angus Young of ACDC - Why He Plays a Gibson SG
Steven: Maybe more than any other guitarist ever, you're inextricably... Read More
Suzuki Violin Vs Traditional Violin
The Suzuki violin method has come to dominate the way... Read More
Why Play Guitar?
As a full-time guitar instructor, I am constantly faced with... Read More
Name That Tune - Tips For When You Can?t Remember The Song Title Or Artist
For years, you have been searching for a song lodged... Read More
Dance Musics Most Popular and Enduring Theme: The Declaration of Independence
It all started with Gloria Gaynor's "I Will Survive" in... Read More
Is the Record Album Dead? Not by a Long Shot
In 1982, Sony and Philips introduced the compact disc, a... Read More
Why Do Music Lovers Still Prefer to Buy Records?
In the late 1940's, the 45-RPM record replaced the 78-RPM... Read More
Guitar Humidification
Problems with humidity can lead to heartbreak for the classical... Read More
All About Eminem
Marshall Mathers, was born October 17, 72, and could be... Read More
Learn to Fiddle the Orange Blossom Special, the Most Popular Fiddle Tune in the World
Learning to fiddle the Orange Blossom Special is not easy,... Read More
Review: The Bled - Pass the Flask
Released in 2003, Pass the Flask turned this little quintet... Read More
Who?s Playing What? A Guide To The Guitars Of The Pros
Eric Clapton performs his slow-handed magic on his. Even with... Read More
CD Review: Amber - My Kind of World
Pop/Rock Recording Artist Amber, who has scored seven #1 Billboard... Read More
14 Ways Musicians Can Increase Their Tips
I was listening to NPR the other day when they... Read More
Learning the Piano and Playing the Piano
Many piano students spend much time learning how to play... Read More
Building A Good Relationship With Your Guitar
The guitar is considered the friendliest musical instrument there is.... Read More
Music & MP3 |