5 Things to Keep in Mind When Playing a Gig

1. Promotion is your job, don't rely on others

Yes, the promoter said he would do the promo, but let's face it – who knows best who your fans are? You. Promotion is not just about one social media post. Do a proper marketing campaign, share the event, spam your friends and don't be afraid of physical flyers too.

It's great to have an awesome setlist and perfect sound, but if no one knows about the gig, you can only play for the bartender and his sad tap. Ask yourself: "Does my grandmother know about this? No? Then I guess I didn't promote it enough!"

2. The gig starts with arriving on time, in good spirits and good shape

Arrive on time and be fit. No wild partying the night before the show unless you want to turn into a walking zombie on stage. Get your instruments ready and make sure everything works. Audiences don't like waiting, and you want to be professional.

And most importantly, have a plan. Knowing what will happen and when will save you a lot of nerves. If you think you can just show up, plug in your guitar and "it'll work out", you should know that this attitude typically results in a three-hour sound check and an angry sound engineer.

3. The sound check has rules: if it's in front of an audience, make sure it's fast

Soundcheck is not a time for solo show-offs. Everyone has their own space and needs to respect others. The faster and more efficiently you can handle it, the better impression you will make. And if you're sound-checking in front of an audience, try to get it over with as quickly as possible – no one wants to listen to a snare tuning for twenty minutes.

Also remember: "The best soundcheck is the one nobody remembers." If the evening turns into an endless cymbal tweaking session, your fans will have disappeared to the bar by the time the show actually starts and miss your epic intro.

4. Communicate with the audience and band members, don't look at your fretboard

People don't come to watch you hypnotize the fretboard of your guitar. Maintain eye contact, talk to the audience and get them involved. Likewise, pay attention to your bandmates and make the band feel in sync. Music is a dialogue – and a concert is the best time to have one.

Try not to act too introverted. If no one in the band makes a single movement between songs and the only sound is the clinking of bottles at the bar, you've got a problem. Tell a joke, talk about the band, or at least introduce the members. The silence between songs is deadly.

5. All's well that ends well – try to hang out with people after the show

Don't disappear like a ghost after the last song. Fans will appreciate if you stay with them, chat, sign merch or have a drink with them. This is the moment when you create a loyal audience that will come back next time – and bring more friends.

And if you feel like running away because the gig didn't go as you hoped, remember that the last impression is just as important as the first. People will remember your behaviour, not the notes that didn't quite fit. Real fans will forgive you for an occasional mistake, but not for disappearing after the show without a word.

Staying with the audience for a while is the easiest investment in your band's future. A friendly gesture, a few photos and a genuine interest in the people who came to support your music will do more than a thousand advertising campaigns. Build relationships, not just setlists!

Follow these five rules and your concert will not only be great, but memorable. And if not? At least you'll have stories to tell over a beer.

What else do you think is important for a smooth gig? Let us know in the comments below this article on Facebook!