Performing, The Next Step
Friday, July 27, 2007 at 03:32PM Performing, The next step
After going thru the steps I outlined yesterday (see performing, the beginning), you now want to get to the next step. You’ve performed at open mics, but now you want to get to the next level. And then again, maybe you don’t and that’s all right too. If you are just doing this for the sheer joy and anxiety of doing it, then go for it, but if you want to get to the next level, where do you go? What to you do?
One idea to consider is if you have been regularly going to some of the clubs and you have been developing as a performer and/or a writer, then go and ask the manager or booker if they can catch your set.
Secondly, see if you can bring some friends in to bolster the attendance whenever you are goping to be on stage. From their point of view, what a club wants is buns in the seats. If they have that then they are going to sell food and drinks and that’s going to enable them to continue to be there. No one is in the restaurant business for the sake of altruism, so an audience helps. Time to lean on those family connections or any other connections you have that will bring some folks in to hear you in the venue. Secret videos, letters, blackmail, threats of physical harm, bribery…whatever it takes.
Another place that you might consider is the songwriting community. In every city in the world that I have performed in, there are songwriter workshops, songwriter in the round shows and songwriter shoiwcases, so if songwriting is your interest, you can find a fertile place to present your songs by googling songwriter groups. And another place to play.
There are also showcase rooms that just present acts. The acts don’t get paid but the are presented to an audience and you never know. The clubs do it because it provides free entertainment for their patrons, who are frequently other folks who want to showcase. Google showcase rooms and see what happens.
Speaking of showcases, there are performance and songwriting seminars, conferences and camps (www.summersongs.com comes to mind). These places afford not only an opportunity to hone your craft in a nurturing climate, but will also allow you to hear constructive criticism in a nearly painless way. I have both attended and taught at these types of classes and they have always proved invaluable.
For me, I play everywhere I can, barring rooms where the sound is so bad there is no point. You never know who is going to be there and you never know when some connection you make with someone may turn into something that will benefit both of you.
Also I suggest sticking around. There is nothing that turns a club owner off like having some act roll in with their entourage in time for their showcase and leave with the entourage as soon as the performance is over. Show a little class, a little social grace…hang.
And you do need to hang there, as this really is a “who do you know” buisiness, not to mention the fact that you learn from every performer, regardless of their expertise. And you find out about other clubs, venues, opportunities and the fact of this particular matter is that all opportunites are temporary. You’ve got to jump on them when you hear about them and you must be prepared in advance. (That’s the practicing thing I was talking about.)
This is an important networking time for the nascent performer and learning these networking skills in an arena where you can’t harm yourself too much is a good idea.
For myself, I never give anyone a false compliment. I examine what they are doing and whatever it is that resonated for me is the thing I mention to them. Insincerety is always discernable. It rings false and serves no one. If you can’t think of anything positive to say then say nothing. A nod and a smile will do. But I always learn something and I always notice something that I enjoy, respect or sympathize with… at least most of the time.
If any of you out there have some other ideas for this crucial second step, then please comment. The interchange is what we will all learn from.
Reader Comments (2)
Hi,
I am REALLY enjoying your blog. The information is SOOO helpful, and it's wonderful that you're sharing it. I've been a musician all my life, but have just started preparing to perform my own material (much scarier for me than performing other people's!). Thanks for taking the time to share your experiences.--Sylvia Cumming
sylvia, thank you for your post. as you have been performing other peoples material til now, i'd be interested in how you choose the material you do, how you structure a set and what you've learned from doing other peoples material. how has it impacted what you are now creating? when you get the chance, please share this and anything else that you think might be pertinent with us.
thanks again,
james lee stanley