Long long time….

Wow…I’m bummed how long I’ve gone without posting.  Needless to say I’ve been pretty swamped…which I’m incredibly grateful for.  I’ve recently engaged myself with a company set out to provide more and better tools for indie artists!  The model is broken and there are no rules…why do we continue to do things like wait for 10 songs before recording 1…put them on plastic when they’ll just be burned to iTunes anyways, sit on myspace and hope people gravitate towards us, waste money on services and/or manufacturing that is useless…and so on.  We have some very exciting tools coming online that revisit the fundamentals of discovery, development, distribution, and marketing of artists.  So hang tight!

I want to address a question I received just before the end of last year from Joe.  I’m stoked for Joe…his band has been grinding it out and developed themselves to performing in front of 300 on average locally, started the buzz, and is now invited to be THE local band to perform at the summer outdoor concert series with 5000 plus people!  Well done…the question is preparation.  It’s undoubtedly a different environment than what you’re used to and how do you prepare for that.

PRACTICE!

I know that sounds so elementary…but in all sincerity from now to then practice, practice, practice.  You’ll be opening up for national acts who perform about 5 nights every week for weeks on end.  How do you compete and show you’re ready?  Practice.  Play every show you can leading up and hit the rehearsal room.  Come up with your set list now (if you haven’t already) and jam it non-stop in rotation…over and over about 5 times through.  Take a 15 minute break…then do it all over again..but this time with the lights off.  Muscle memory and instinct..you need to show up owning that stage!  There’s no other way.

Logistically, make sure you have back ups for everything.  Back up guitar, back up bass, back up snare, back up peddle, and back up mics.  I know this may seem overboard to some…but if this is your one shot to impress the masses of your local scene….be prepared for anything.  Prior to check all the tubes in your head…your patch cords…replace the pedal batteries…make sure the fuses are all good.  Know your equipment!

Also, be sure to create a stage plot and provide it to the sound guys.  just open up word and create a stage design with simple objects that show how many guys, where they position themselves, how many drums, vocals, amps, etc…this will help the sounds guys know what to anticipate.

Remember…most people at the event will have no idea who you are…so focus more on the music/performance and less on the “stage presence”…a lot of young bands make this mistake and come out acting like everyone is there to see them…no, no, no…just so what you do…be the band and kill ‘em with you music and chops!

There’s a book out everyone show read called “The Outliers” by Malcom Gladwell.  It states that for anyone to be GREAT..really great, as in the best…at any one thing they must have a minimum of 10,000 hours of practice under their belt…he supports this with examples like The Beatles, Bill Gates, athletes, and so on…how many hours you got under your belt?!

Have a great show…
Ben