Live performance is one of the most exciting and rewarding aspects of being a musician, but it can also be challenging and exhausting. How can you keep your energy and enthusiasm high throughout your show, and deliver a memorable experience for your audience? Here are some techniques that can help you stay focused, motivated, and confident on stage.
A well-crafted setlist can make a huge difference in your performance. It can help you create a flow, a mood, and a story for your audience, and also keep you organized and prepared. Think about the order, the tempo, the transitions, and the variety of your songs, and how they fit with your goals and your audience's expectations. You can also use your setlist to plan when to interact with your audience, when to take a break, and when to surprise them with something unexpected.
Create different setlists for different types of shows. A setlist that works for a corporate gig, might not work at a college event. If possible, take requests before the show, and incorporate them into your setlist. When planning your setlist, put some of your high-energy crowd-pulling songs at the beginning, followed by the slower, more mellow songs. And then close your setlist with more energetic songs and leave a few bangers at the end. Always have back-up songs ready in case the crowd wants more. And if you don't have any more songs, here's a pro tip: just play the first song again. It works, trust me!
Maintaining energy and enthusiasm during a live performance is crucial for captivating audiences. Techniques such as proper hydration, adequate rest, and warming up effectively before the performance help sustain physical stamina. Mental preparation through visualization and positive affirmations instills confidence. Engaging with the audience, focusing on the music's emotional core, and staying present in the moment amplify enthusiasm. Finally, embracing mistakes as part of the process and enjoying the performance journey contribute to a vibrant and memorable show.
Before you hit the stage, make sure you warm up your voice and your body. This can help you avoid injury, improve your tone and range, and reduce your nerves. You can do some vocal exercises, stretches, breathing techniques, or even some light cardio to get your blood pumping. Also, drink plenty of water to keep your vocal cords hydrated and prevent dryness and fatigue. Avoid alcohol, caffeine, and dairy products, as they can dehydrate you and affect your voice.
Aside of caring for yourself basically as a human, connect strongly to your body. Take a deep breath and feel the temperature of the air as it fills your lungs. Feel your diaphragm lower. Notice the temperature of the air as it exits your nostrils. Notice your feet - every little toe (wiggle them if you need to find them!) and muscle down there is working to give you strength, balance, and connect you to the earth. You will be connected to your body and your heart, not just performing from your brain. Feel the vast difference this practice makes to your performance. ????
One of the best ways to maintain your energy and enthusiasm is to connect with your audience and make them feel part of your performance. You can do this by making eye contact, smiling, moving around the stage, asking questions, telling stories, or inviting them to sing along or clap. You can also use your body language, facial expressions, and gestures to convey your emotions and personality. Remember, your audience is there to support you and enjoy your music, so don't be afraid to show them some love and appreciation.
This is often crucial for a good show. The best thing you can do is to ask the crowd to sing along. Make sure you try this out only on popular songs. You can also try listening to the crowd, are they already singing along? Point the mic at them and ask them to be louder. Did I say ask? I meant demand. Tell them you need them to be the loudest they've ever been. Audiences love feeling powerful.
What will keep live performance vital into perpetuity (or even save it in relation to struggling orchestras) is connection to the audience. We are a tribal species and we still create peer groups. Music is a participatory sport. Humans have always spread music, dance, and story via participation. Our audience needs to be able to tap toes and clap, dance in the aisles, sing along, or at least be moved to hum a few bars later. People remember how the music made them feel! If we don’t make them feel, they’ll only remember the ticket price.
The most important thing to remember is that live performance is supposed to be fun and rewarding, not stressful and scary. Don't put too much pressure on yourself to be perfect or to please everyone. Instead, focus on expressing yourself, enjoying the moment, and sharing your passion and creativity with your audience. Don't worry about making mistakes or forgetting lyrics, just laugh it off and move on. Be yourself, be authentic, and be confident in your skills and your music.
Your personality is often the loudest thing on stage. You could be playing blazing hot riffs, but if you do it with a blank face, the crowd won't be feeling it. The most important thing is to have fun. Don't think too much about the imperfections in the music, the sound team doing a poor job, or anything else for that matter. Headbang, look at each other, smile, jump around, scream and have fun. Your energy on stage is insanely infectious and the audience will love it.
After your performance, take some time to reflect on what went well and what could be improved. You can ask for feedback from your fans, your peers, or your mentors, or watch a video of your performance. You can also write down your own impressions, feelings, and thoughts. This can help you identify your strengths and weaknesses, celebrate your achievements, and set goals for your next performance. Learning from feedback can help you grow as a musician and as a performer, and keep you motivated and inspired.