There are a few points that you need to take care of that is common for most concerts regardless of the kind of music or venue you play. Some of the main ones are gathered below to function as a practical guide for your preparation.
Let’s presume you already have a band and a date in a venue you would like to play in. What are the next important steps? They can differ very much depending on where and what you play. Yet some things remain true and common for most of the concerts. Hence the checklist:
– Practice
Start practicing with your instrument for the concert as soon as you know what material you’ll have to play. Dedicate some of your routine to every performance you have coming up. Check out the chords on the piano, prepare related vocal warm-ups, define the parts that is more difficult to play on the bass and focus on them… No matter which instrument you play making a concert-related routine will make sure that you repeat what you need to learn and also don’t end up staying a bit alien to the pieces you will perform on stage.
– Rehearse
Schedule the rehearsals early on. Make sure to have enough rehearsals to prepare the material with the band. Playing the music with your band long enough will make sure that everybody knows each other’s habits, develop a sound together and feel comfortable as a whole.
– Tech rider
Consider the technical needs of everybody and compare it with what is provided by the venue. Not talking about anything like being a production manager for Metallica. It’s enough to make sure there’s going to be a piano, a drum kit or any amps there. If you are working with electronics and need a specific sound try and ask beforehand the details of the sound system the venue can provide. This way you will end up with surprising new obstacles while making your music.
– Take care of travelling to the concert as early as possible
This one applies only if there’s travelling involved. But if you’re playing in your town it won’t hurt to consider how to get to the venue with all the equipment as well. Especially with instruments like drums, double bass or larger setups with electronics the way to the concert might be a bit more painful than usual. Consider all of these setbacks as a part of your plan.
– Promote the event
Invite friends, if the concert is open to public it would be in your own interest to have as many people as you can. You don’t need to have an immense network and make sure everybody in your country hear about the event but it also doesn’t hurt to have familiar faces around you for your own comfort and spend some time to get them there!
– Do a soundcheck
Whether your band needs a lot of amplification or not, it’s always good to know the sound in the room before you start to play. Important: a soundcheck is not a rehearsal (even though many of us wish it was).
– Have a set list
Prepare a set list of songs that you’re going to do. Think of a good order that will keep the audience interested and involved. If you have pieces that have different tempos for example try to come up with an order that doesn’t stay in the same zone for a long time. Or if that’s the effect you are going for make sure that your decisions work in your own interest.
– Engage with the audience
Don’t underestimate making announcements and talking to the audience. It can become a nice frame for your pieces and help get a better response from your listeners.
This is a brief yet universal list of things to keep in mind when you have a concert coming up. Try to watch out for these points to make sure you are prepared for the performance and don’t need to worry about any last minute details. Ask your teacher in MyMusicSchool.com more about additional things you can do to feel better during your performance and get everything done beforehand to make sure you have the best experience out of your music.