Stephanie G. Mathis Adaptability is the key to being a successful tour musician. Your ability to adapt and handle the unexpected will determine whether you are a successful touring musician.
It’s no secret that musicians are finding it difficult to earn money from album sales. Bands need to stay on tour to survive and generate consistent income. However, it’s not always easy to develop material in between shows. When are you going to work on your set to make it perfect?
Why not work on your live set while you are already on tour? Here are five tips to help you work on your live show while you’re on the road.
Addition of a new song to the set
As a writer, the road can provide a lot of inspiration. Before the days of cut-and-paste production, touring bands used to perform their material live in front of an audience before they even entered the studio. This method is just as important today.
If you have a focus group in front of your face, take advantage of it to get immediate feedback about new ideas. This will save you time and energy wondering whether they are good or not. Here are some different ways to add, workshop, and integrate new material into your show:
Record a short demo of the song in the hotel or van. During the day, pass the song around to your bandmates and ask them for suggestions on how you could improve it. The song will be on everyone’s mind as you have some time to flesh it out.
Soundcheck. Soundcheck is a free rehearsal space and time. You can make the most of your time by creating a chord chart to share with other musicians or simply jamming out to find out what works.
Play it one night when you feel the mood is right. Remember to tell the crowd that this is a brand-new song. Wait until the song is ready, but do not be scared if it’s not.
Do not be discouraged if your audience does not absolutely freak out. People prefer familiar songs. It can be difficult to gauge the reaction of your audience when you introduce a new song. It doesn’t necessarily mean that the song isn’t working; it’s just new.
Have documentation? Posting it on social media can get you more feedback from your fans. You may find that if you post the lyrics on social media, your audience will start singing along later.
Changes to your setlist
Some bands find it easier to change their set list from one night to the next than others.
If you are performing with synced videos, lighting cues, or other large production elements, you’ll want to ensure that everyone is on the same page. Check that all tracks are in order, that playback is on and working, that nothing is muted, and that setlists reflect any recent changes.
Do all this as early as you can before your show. Last-minute changes have caused unforeseen technical problems that almost ruined a big production tour.
Metrics can be used to your advantage.
Are you unsure where to start making adjustments? Take a look at the metrics.
Artists of any level can use real-time analytics to make creative decisions based on their music.
Watch your Spotify data and Apple Music For Artists to see which songs are doing well in different parts of the nation or the world. It would be best if you used a song that is popular in a certain market to make it the highlight of your show and engage your audience.
The Bandzoogle website has an EPK built in, as well as all the tools needed to grow your fanbase and attract bookers. Create your website now!
Films to watch
I frequently compare athletes and musicians. Both are craftspeople with similar passion, drive, and attention to detail. To gain an advantage, athletes watch films of themselves and their competitors’ performances. The same is true for musicians.
Set up a GoPro at the back of the stage so you can view your performance as a group the following day. Make a list of what you would like to improve or change, both as a group and as individuals.
It may seem overkill to do this at every show, but doing it now and then to make sure that the live show you perform is as enjoyable for your audience as for yourself on stage can help to tighten up as each tour date goes on.
You can share exclusive content with your fans on tour and when you return.
Prepare in advance to allow for changes.
You’re likely used to switching between supporting, direct support, and being the headliner at each show. Bands often finish one tour, then start another week later, with a different set format and length.
It would be best if you tried to be as prepared as you can for every tour. This includes having alternate set options and songs that you could add or drop.
Don’t hesitate to schedule an emergency rehearsal if you ever need to make changes to your band. It’s important to keep your standards high, even if you embrace change. Book a rehearsal room and experiment.
You can also contact the venue ahead of time to get your load-in date moved up and gain a few more rehearsal hours. You should give it a try! Even venues have let me set up my band the night before so that we could do our entire rehearsal in the morning. Never be afraid of asking.
