Paul King's Top 10 Tips For Performance (Part 2, tips 4-7)

Here is Part 2 of Paul's tips on performance....enjoy!

4 Stagecraft

Be professional about everything you do from the second you go on stage until the moment you leave. This means having set lists, having names to your songs, having instruments tuned, making the most of sound checks, having an emergency joke or riff you can play if something goes wrong, like you need a string or whatever. Thank the audience when they applaud – never turn your back on them straight after a song – acknowledge their appreciation.

5 Styling

Make some kind of effort to look the part. Over 50% of the information we take in is visual. It is not just about the music. Try and find a consistent look and style that reflects what your music and songs are about. Its showbiz folks – be a bit more stylish than your audience – its what they expect.

6 New Songs

Just like established acts, be careful when you introduce new material. How often are we pissed off when we go to see a band that plays none of their classics because they are busy plugging their new album. It’s the same for unsigned bands. If you have 4 songs on your Myspace page, then surely this is what your fans will want to hear – songs they have familiarity with. Try out the odd new song, but don’t overdo it and never use a set as a free rehearsal – your material should be well polished before you perform to a live audience, otherwise you may end up losing hard earned fans, not gaining new ones.

7 Set List

Give your running order serious attention. It’s important to create a dramatic arc to your set. Keep in mind that you will have multiple set lengths depending on where you are playing; it’s not as simple as just cutting your set in half.

Part 3 to follow...