All set to play in front of a crowd after years of practice? Here are valuable tips on how to make the most of the opportunity.
If you are fascinated by the guitar, then I’m sure you would have heard of names such as Bruce Springsteen, The Rolling Stones, Queen, and a few more.
These bands give mind-blowing and captivating performances, driving the crowd insane almost every time with their performances.
Do you see yourself doing the same one day with your guitar skills? I’m sure everybody dreams of such things, and you never know, with perseverance and a little bit of luck, you could be in that enviable position.
So how does it feel like playing on the stage, in front of a crowd? Well, if it’s your first gig, a little bit of nervousness is natural, but then as you start playing the fear usually disappears.
Here’s a list of 20 valuable tips, advice and suggestions, which can help you feel better and give your best when performing in public.
Keep them in mind, and implement whenever you get the opportunity, and you’ll be on your way to a successful and lucrative career.
- Improvise during rehearsals, but play within your ability on stage, especially when you are new to gigging
- Be confident, it will put your band players at ease. Besides, audiences can smell fear
- Play with the band, listen to others in the band, and NOT try to overshadow
- Please management first, then the audience, and finally yourselves until you become a star
- Show energy on the stage and avoid standing still
- Connect with your audience, don’t ignore them
- Try to act professional, be it on stage or off-stage
- Be consistent every time, be it on stage or off-stage
- Give your best; you can seek opinion later regarding your performance
- Try to start on time, and do not overrun unless the crowd has gone berserk with your performance
- Play for everybody, not just to those in the front
- Intros and endings is your opportunity to shine, to get remembered
- Ensure you have strong opening and closing numbers
- Expertise comes next to entertaining
- If something goes wrong, try to complete the number, and then fix it later between numbers
- Be alert and always know what’s coming next
- Take good care of your music gear like pros do
- Be prepared to cover any potential problem, concerning your music gear
- Do your sound-check much before the performance, or keep it as short as possible
- An encore is worth only if the crowd has gone mad, and if you see genuine audience reaction
The New Jersey Symphony Orchestra (NJSO) came to an abrupt halt after the piano stopped working mid-concert (at bergenPAC in Englewood).
Well, it was a big thing considering:
- The amount of preparation that goes into symphony performances
- Bookings can take place up to three years in advance
The opening concert of Music Director Xian Zhang’s first series with her orchestra in 2017 started out without any hitch with a performance of Verdi’s “Nabucco.” But when it was time for the main event, “Rachmaninoff Second Concerto,” featuring celebrated Russian-born pianist Kirill Gerstein, things did not go as planned.
Zhang and soloist Gerstein were about a minute into Rachmaninoff’s concerto when something sounded wrong — the treble notes on the Steinway were just not ringing right.
A few minutes later, Gerstein though it was best to stop playing, so he stopped playing mid-phrase.
He turned to the audience and politely explained the problem, “The sustain pedal isn’t working. It would be unfair to you and to Rachmaninoff to continue with the part of the piano missing.”
He then asked if there was a piano doctor in the house, before walking off stage.
This particular Steinway Model D, made in 2013, retails for approximately $160,000. It is owned by Steinway and Sons and was on loan to NJSO for the concert. Malfunctions of the storied brand are rare, but — according to a Steinway spokesperson — “it does happen.”
“It broke during the performance, was fine in rehearsal. The piano was quickly diagnosed and repaired by Steinway & Sons concert technician Li Li Dong,” spokesperson for the symphony said
The piano was later brought off stage for repairs. After a 20-minute hiccup, the show did continue, which is the mark of a good orchestra.
KeytarHQ editorial team includes musicians who write and review products for pianists, keyboardists, guitarists & other musicians. KeytarHQ is the best online resource for information on keyboards, pianos, synths, keytars, guitars and music gear for musicians of all abilities, ages and interests.