Music Biz: Tips for Artist Performing Booked at Music showcases
SHOWCASE TIPS:
There are certain critical factors you must consider before participating in a performance showcase. Let’s explore some showcase tips.
Showcase Necessities:
There are certain things, which are necessities for the showcase experience. Always bring a backup performance track, business cards, flyers or promo material, and an appointed person to collect emails or sell merchandise.
Also, ask if video taping of the event is allowed. If so, then bring along a photographer and videographer to film your performance.
Be Professional
Showing up fashionably late to a showcase or any industry event makes you look bad, and it causes people to question your level of professionalism. At the same time, once you are at the showcase, demonstrate a measure of respect for the host and all of the artists who perform on stage.
More importantly, be mindful of whom you surround yourself with. Usually, it is the non-talented person in the crew who causes the most trouble at an event. Some times your crew can do more damage to your music career than help it by being very unprofessional and starting fights.
Stage Presence & Performance:
Sadly, most independent artists get on stage and just wing it. They do not rehearse and they put little effort into putting on a good show. All great performers rehearse and practice. If you want to perfect your stage presence, then it is imperative that you take time out to rehearse.
The four basic tips for having a great live stage show include the following: Make an exciting entrance, connect with the audience, engage the crowd, and make a memorable exit. Whether your audience is 50 or 5000, go hard or go home! Never slack when you hit the stage. In like fashion, do not jump off stage and do your entire set in the audience. Furthermore, if you forget your lines on stage (And it happens to the best of them), then do not say “I forget my lyrics.” Just stop, improvise and then go into a freestyle. If you do that, then sometimes the crowd will not even notice your mistake.
Keep Performance Set To A Minimum
If you are an aspiring artist with no known song catalog, then keep your performance sets to a minimum. Do not bore the crowd. There is nothing worst for an audience than hearing 6 songs in a row from an indie artist whom they have never heard of before. Always leave them wanting more.
Hype Man
Select a hype man who complements your style and who adds value to your performance. Your hype man should not outshine you on stage. Also, in most cases, bringing 50 dudes on stage with you, who mean mug the crowd, while you perform, does little to enhance the value of your live show.
Holding The Mic And Handling Tech Issues
Holding the microphone correctly is essential, especially for rap artists. Never cover or hold the top of the mic when performing, because it will cause your vocals to sound muffled and distorted. In case of technical difficulties during your set, do not become alarmed and do not berate the DJ. Use the opportunity to promote your website, album or mixtape. Also, utilize the time to perform a brief freestyle or acapella until the technical problem is fixed.
Engaging The Crowd
Never tell the crowd that they are dead, or they are asleep just because they do not participate along with you. Keep it upbeat and have fun on stage. T
he positive energy will hit the audience. In addition, if you are going to dive into the crowd at a showcase, then make sure you have enough fans in the audience to catch you. SMH
Be A Good Sport
If you lose in a showcase contest, even though you thought you should have won, still be gracious and shake the winner’s hand. Thank the host and the judges too. Always demonstrate class, dignity and professionalism.
Network
Stay focused and try to network with as many people as you can. Go around the room and introduce yourself. Hand out business cards and try to collect business cards too. Have a firm handshake and look people in their eyes when talking to them. Make sure you get the most out of your showcase experience.
In conclusion,
Paying to perform in quality showcases can help expand your brand. However, try to build an infrastructure and a buzz, whereby you can advance to presenting your own concerts.
Written by Jesse Atkinson for the book “The Independent Music Grind”
Article is copywritten. May NOT be used without written permission.
