Tips for solo performers

[ericcoleman]

I talked with someone about this, it may have been Rob ... but I don't remember.

Tom Robinson's Tips for solo performers

Comments

[tarkrai.livejournal.com]

1) Playing solo, you can't rely on killer beats or sheer gut-thumping volume to convince the unconverted. Alone and exposed on an emotional tightrope (with no safety net) you have to win people over with guile, great tunes and sheer force of personality. That needs all the help you can get. You can learn loads by watching other performers, good or bad. Either steal their techniques or make sure you learn from their mistakes. And visuals, presentation, lighting - even the seating plan - all drastically affect the way your performance gets across: much more than with bands. Very few solo artists bother with this stuff, so if you put in enough thought, preparation and commitment, you'll wipe the floor with the opposition every time.

Aurgh! My secret is out!!! :) Seriously, this is how I've performed for all these years. It's always a two stage process- first you have to get their attention to be effective at all- and that requires you to *BE ENTERTAINING*. Which means thinking ahead a bit, and working....

Excellent article, Eric. Thanks.

[phillip2637.livejournal.com]

"you'll wipe the floor with the opposition"

Obviously I missed the whole point of getting involved in music. :)

(But, yes, interesting article. Thanks.)

[ericcoleman]

Do you play gigs?

[jcw-da-dmg.livejournal.com]

Point #9* is so vitally important to ANY performers (not just soloists) that I think it should be tattooed to the insides of their eyelids! We performed for ONE GUY - in a HAILSTORM - in Florida once, and he stayed and bought $50 worth of our stuff!

*"Don't write off your audience in advance, even if the venue's half empty - or stuffed with drunks. Perform with style and dignity for anybody who's interested and listening, even if you can't see them for the lights. if even one person claps, joins in, or laughs at something you say, acknowledge it - a little flicker of response needs nurturing, fanning, feeding. Glance in that general direction and give a quick nod or grin. In years to come, people will come up and say they first saw you playing at the Turd & Bogbrush in 2007. Even a gig that feels like a complete disaster can win you lifelong fans."

[ericcoleman]

I'm fairly certain it's how I got to be GOH at Archon. I was at Showmecon, played two shows, one to 6 people, the second to 3, and I put on as good of shows as I have given.

Never get revenge on the people who didn't show up by annoying those who did.

[giftedgear.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I can't wait to read this. I have so much to learn.

Gear

[jcw-da-dmg.livejournal.com]

It's amazing to me how many performers I see out there who ignore this seemingly obvious concept - not to mention those who don't even seem to take themselves seriously! Why is someone out there if even THEY don't think they're any good?

[tarkrai.livejournal.com]

Agreed on all points. :) If you're there to perform, one person gets the same show as 10. Or 30. Or 100.

It's *easier* to perform for 100 than for 1. But that 1 who has paid good money to be there (in one form or another) deserves your best.

And every now and then, it pays off bigtime.

[tarkrai.livejournal.com]

There's a distinct difference between 'getting involved in music' and 'getting involved in the music *business*'.

The first is fun, fulfilling, and can bring you many friends and community.

In the second, you are competing for a limited resource (available nights at places that do live music). Usually getting a first booking isn't *too* difficult... if you're prepared. Getting a second booking, however, can be murder depending upon the talents of the people doing *exactly the same thing you are*.

So, yeah. Wiping the floor with them is actually part of the point. Just do it nicely, and if they're good, toss them a spare date or two that come your way. It scratches your back, too. :)

[phillip2637.livejournal.com]

The next step up the ladder is usually a limited resource no matter what you're doing. Every business has its Type A personalities who view the people around them as opponents or tools or fodder. I don't think I'd like them any better because they were musicians than I have when they've been my cow-orkers.

[tarkrai.livejournal.com]

True enough. OTOH, I've had my clock cleaned. Was glad for it, for when it has happened I've learned a lot of technique. I've cleaned a few clocks of others, and they were able to start stealing stuff from me and implementing it in their own acts better than me, and I was in a position to be sponsoring them for dates that were offered to me, but I couldn't take.

To me, competition is energising, not negative. 'Fodder/tools' are terms that never occur to me. Learning and teaching new techniques to make everyone better is actually a pretty normal place for me to be.

[phillip2637.livejournal.com]

"competition is energising"

That's probably the key point. To me it's a distraction at best and usually much worse. I'm primarily driven to do something well (usually the conversation turns to computer programming here) because of its intrinsic attributes. I feel better for having done the best I can, or learned something new. My sin of choice is pride. :-)

I get, and to a fairly strong degree expect, rewards for that -- ones that others don't get -- but that's not the core of the motivation.

(I will now stop cluttering Eric's journal. Sorry!)

[tarkrai.livejournal.com]

(I will now stop cluttering Eric's journal. Sorry!)

Actually, knowing Eric, he's probably watching us with a fair bit of amusement. :)

[ericcoleman]

Well ...