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Before the performance
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Get to the venue in time to set up the equipment carefully so the audience will hear the best sound possible.
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Do a sound check.
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Arrange equipment so the audience can see the whole band.
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Have some towels for wiping instruments and your hands.
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Allow instruments to warm up under stage lights. Tune them just before the audience arrives, then leave the stage.
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Turn house lights down to get people's attention. Then come on stage and start playing. Note that you probably will not be able to see your audience in the dark.
Performance tips
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Get people's attention by starting with a catchy tune with a strong beat.
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Keep introductions to songs short.
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Vary the pace, grouping songs of a similar style in twos or threes.
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If you want people to dance, play well-known dance tunes.
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If you are warming up for another band, work the audience up into a receptive mood. Make your last song really good so you, too, are remembered.
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Be ready to alter your set (programme) according to audience reaction.
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If you want an encore, play fast, exciting songs at the end to get the audience in the mood for applauding. Prepare a couple of songs for your encore or repeat your best ones.
Adjusting the sound
The sound you hear on stage will be different from what the audience hears. Place the mixer out in front of the stage and get the sound mixer to control the mix and adjust it to deal with feedback.
Do a sound check before the show. Play a song and adjust the volume and tone levels, marking the levels on the mixer. The audience will affect the acoustics, so adjust the sound level as you play.
Equipment for performance
If you are going to play in public, you need to
increase the sound you produce so that you can be clearly heard by your
audience. You will probably need some extra Recording
Gear
to do this, especially to play at large venue. The equipment described here is
what an electric or acoustic guitarist needs, from the minimum basics to a more
advanced system. In a band, the other instruments will also need amplification.
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Microphones If you play in a club or larger venue, you will need a microphone for each voice and acoustic instrument. You can hold a microphone but it is more convenient to put it on an adjustable stand. Place each microphone as close to its instrument as possible. A special stand called a boom can be put at any angle to bring the micro really close. |
Feedback
Sometimes the signal from the mic to the amp can get repeated back and forth getting louder each time, making a screaming sound called feedback. To avoid this from happening, stand the mics well away from the speakers.
PA System
To boost voices and acoustic instruments you need a (Public Address) of amps and speakers. It must be powerful enough to project the singer's voice to be heard above the band.
If you play large venues (big halls or open-air) you need a PA mixer/amp with enough input channels to connect up the amps from all the instruments.