Hey Headbangers,

A lot of you are emailing me asking for more live performance tips. I heard ya! So, I consulted a couple of my colleagues who see a lot of live music or who are in bands themselves. As per your request, I compiled a list of the most common errors that bands make while performing. These mistakes occur at all levels – from beginner bands to professional acts. Here you go, a “What NOT to-do List” for your next Ball:

1. Apologizing

Don’t apologize to the audience for ANYTHING (unless you accidentally hit someone in the head with a mic stand or your steel-toed boot).

Don’t put down your own band before you even play a song!!!  What’s wrong with you!? I don’t care if you’ve never played live before, I don’t care if you don’t like the song you’re about to play….I don’t want you to apologize because you’re sick or your guitarist broke strings and had a bad day…

Your typical audience member probably has 6 rugrats at home and gets one night a year out. They’ve decided to go to a bar that you happen to be playing at….they got their own problems mmmk? They don’t want to hear yours. So unless you’re going to apologize for their entire sad existence, the least you can do is ROCK! Don’t apologize. I just want you to rock. Even if you don’t rock, don’t apologize because you suck. You feel me?

2. Being Unprepared

Show the people around you that you know what you’re doing by being prepared. Show up on time for load-in and have your gear ready. Email a stage plot and input list ahead of time to the stage manager or booker and bring an extra copy with you. If you don’t know what a stage plot or input list is, it’s time to figure it out. A full sound check might not be realistic, but at least get a line check (psssttt… if you’re on time, professional and ready, the likelihood is your band is going to get the sound check). Guitarists should always have backup strings, singers should have backup batteries and even an extra (muted) wired mic.

 I know that showing up early and making sure you have all your gear can mean a lot of time and a lot waiting around. However, such is the game of Rockstar… and you wanna be a Rockstar right!?

3. Playing Too Loud

Unbeknownst to most musicians, people’s ears are sensitive and delicate.  I know that some of you like to sit in your lo’ riders with your bass turned way up high. To be frank, that hurts my ears.. and I swear I ain’t no grandma… (ok, sometimes i’m a grandma).

Point is, industry people listen to a lot of music and probably blew their ears out long ago at a Billy Idol concert 3 inches from the loud speaker (and o m g, it was so worth it!). As such, out of courtesy to your audience and to the other musicians in your band, don’t play too loud. I’ve seen industry peeps walk straight out of a venue because the band was too loud. Plus, do you really want to have the rest of your band turn up because you insist on ripping it up to eleven??

4. Being Too Drunk (or High) to ROCK!

Everything in moderation kids. Your next live gig is probably not the best time to try those wonderful new ‘shrooms or take 5 shots. Do you want to be THAT stumbling drunk singer or THAT band that’s always late to go on?

NO! Because eventually, no one is going to want to book you!

Do you really want to forget the name of the chick that wrote her number on your hand? Or lose the card of the industry rep you just met?

NO! That’s not going to be you because you read this!

Keep at it, and you’re not going to be in a band…you’re going to be drunk at home singing “ALL BY MYSSSELLLFFFF” like Noel Gallagher because you got into a big drunk fight with your booker or your bandmate.  The key is to know your limits.

5. Good God, for your own sake – DON’T BE A DICK TO ANYONE!

The venue owner or sound(wo)man’s mother-in-law’s sister is probably Lady GaGa’s masseuse mmmmmkkkk?! They don’t need another little punk givin ‘em rockstar attitude…or maybe they’re totally wacked out and live at home with 10 cats. Whatever the case may be, don’t be a dick to anyone.

Seriously, there is no need. Even if everyone else’s ego trippin’ you don’t need to act like that. When you walk into a new club you have no idea who anyone is, who they’ve worked with or who their friends/family are.

I’m not saying you need to get pushed around, but there is absolutely no harm in being nice. The soundperson has a lot of control over how good you sound on stage. You don’t want your sound to cut out right before a badass solo do you?… Do you?! Plus, you can learn a lot from soundpersons and venue staff like how to mic your own instruments, how to properly roll cables (yes, there is a proper way) and how to bake one mean vegan pumpkin loaf.

Don’t get me wrong, their are A LOT of really mean, ego trippin’ and unprofessional venue owners, staff, event coordinators, producers and sound people out there.. Good people are hard to find in any profession. Just remember, music is a profession. Professional courtesy is key.

I’m not telling you to be disingenuous or tolerate BS, just do what you need to do to put on one hell of a gig. If you’re nice, the only bad thing people can say about you is “Gez, that band rocks AND is full of nice people.” You’ll get re-booked. I promise ya.

Finally, don’t forget to be courteous to other bands. If you’re gigging in the same area, you’ll see that band again. Even if you don’t want to see them again… you will. If you’re nice, at least it’ll be a tolerable experience.

Share your kit, have a beer with them after the gig – maybe sometime soon after you’ll be gig swapping in another city, speaking on the same radio show (if radio still exists) or sharing a set on the same festival.

The music community is a small tight-knit world. You don’t want to be kicked out before you even get in.

and last, but not least…………

ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS, turn off your cordless microphone before taking a bump backstage with your new girlfriend.

“SNORT!! Aww, Oh God Baby I Love You, I Got To Bring You On Tour With Me.” Yes, we all heard you.

(True story).

For more tips on how to improve your live performance, click here

Cheers and Happy New Year,

Executive Producer, Toronto Independent Music Awards
Daniela Oliva

A HUGE Thank You to the wonderful: Todd Pinnell, Joe Oliva, Dave Borins, Nikki Teen, and Alana Leprich for your time and comments on this blog.

Hey all,

TIMA’s have a new TUMBLR page, check it out: http://torontoima.tumblr.com

Updates will be music tracks, mostly Canadian independent artists or anything awesome. You can submit your music or updates to be featured on the blog!

Thanks,

-TIMA TEAM

New interview!! Check it out here.

Read our September press release for more details! CLICK!.

Multi-Platinum Selling Recording Artist

Bif Naked is a Juno nominated Artist, active in the entertainment business for over 20 years. She has released five original studio albums and a a greatest hits album. Bif has performed alongside some of the world’s biggest artists, including The Foo Fighters, Smashing Pumpkins, Kid Rock, Green Day, Nickleback, The Cult, Sheryl Crow, Dido, Billy Idol, and Snoop Dogg to name a few.

Her 1998 album, “I Bificus”, hit the mainstream hard with four singles. “Spaceman, ”“Chotee,” “Lucky,” and “Moment of Weakness” achieved certified Platinum status. Her next album, 2001’s “Purge,” achieved certified Gold status, and saw the release of “I Love Myself Today,” “Tango Shoes,” “Leader,” and “Choking on the Truth.” Many songs from Bif’s expansive library have been featured on hit television shows and films such as Darla, The West Wing, Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Roswell, Charmed, Better Than Chocolate and Anywhere But Here.

Bif’s bold talents are not only limited to her musical prowess; she has had numerous acting roles in major television shows and films. She has appeared on the popular television shows Buffy the Vampire Slayer and The L Word, and movies such as Crossing and The House of the Dead. As well she has co-hosted & been interviewed on shows such as Jay Leno, MTV, Bill Marr, and American talent contest Bodog Battle (Fuse Network) Bif has proved that she is not only talented behind the microphone, but also in front of the camera.

Bif’s years of expertise and multifaceted talents have inspired the next generation of performers, and make her an excellent addition to the TIMA Grand Jury.

Genre Categories: TBA