It’s absolutely necessary for you to develop a vision for your live show. What do you want the end result to be?
Whether it’s a creative project, a business plan, or any endeavor – if it’s worth spending time doing, you need to develop a vision for how you want it to turn out.
A famous proverb says, “Where there is no vision, the people perish.” Let me paraphrase that for your live show: “Without a vision, your show dies!”
So here’s what I mean by a “vision” for your show: seeing in your mind’s eye how a song will be rearranged, how it will look onstage, how it will affect the audience, and how they’ll respond to the song BEFORE YOU EVEN PLAY IT LIVE!
Hi Tom,
You are answering so many questions. Thanks to you I have a clue. You have real things that shy people can grab onto and run with. I had an argument with a friend; is stage presence learned or are you born with it? I am learning. My band member told me it was time for me to grow up and quit acting like an amateur. I’m taking it to heart.
Cheers!
Hi Tom,
You are answering so many questions. Thanks to you I have a clue. You have real things that shy people can grab onto and run with. I had an argument with a friend; is stage presence learned or are you born with it? I am learning. My band member told me it was time for me to grow up and quit acting like and amateur. I’m taking it to heart.
Cheers!
Hi Tom and Team,
Just found this blog. Great stuff. I’m returning to music oerformance after some time off and welcoming every word of advice you are sharing. Live performance is something that I really want to be a WOW factor and you’ve inspired me.
Thanks!
You don’t have to be KISS on stage, but it’s true. a good presentation live leaves the audience with something more. Certainly, when this happens I feel more like I got my money’s worth and it’s almost tangible. It definitely makes me think when the act comes around again, that I will definitely consider seeing them again.
Hello Ger, Thanks so much for your comment! Glad you ‘get it’!
cool, thanks! I was never so aware of the need to create a “story” around the music on stage as since reading your material. The great artists just manage to make it look like magic how they connect with crowds and manage to get everyone to have a great time, but it’s now clear it’s a product of deliberate practice and preparation.
Hi Tendai, I’m glad my materials have made you aware of what’s needed in order to create a great show! You’re SO right…it’s in the preparation…So many artists want to skip this step!
Thanks, I agree, helpful for me. However, how do I get the rest of the band to agree when they speak only French?
Je ne sais pas. (just kidding!!!) Tom will be doing a webinar soon to answer specific questions. He probably has some ideas in regards to the rest of your band…If they read English…you might leave Tom’s book lying around! Sincerely, Susan
How much is too much personally to reveal? If anything? You say you listen to the artist talk and you find out who they are as people, then develop their show, can you give an example of what you mean here? Perhaps a before & after example? Or is this something you’d really have to “see” in lieu of writing about it?
Hi Linda, Thank you for your question. It’s not so much about how much to reveal personally, but about revealing the artist’s personality and developing them to be real with the audience. This will take on different forms depending on the artist. A before and after example would be difficult because there are so many elements that go into this….rearranging the songs for live, bringing out moments in numerous ways, developing elements such as story telling and transitions, finding and bringing out the artist’s fun side and their serious side, etc. It’s about the whole ‘package’..taking your audience on a journey and meeting their expectations. I hope this helps!