If you’re a gigging musician, you need to make sure that you’re maximising every gig opportunity.  If you’re unprepared, you’re probably going to run into roadblocks regularly and stress will easily get the better of you, meaning you’re not able to give your all on stage.

Set list

Writing down you set list before the show is crucial. It will help your gig to run smoothly and help you to be prepared for the next song no matter what. You should also tailor your set list to the particular audience and venue, by learning which songs work best in different situations. For example, a busy pub where you need to grab everyone’s attention will need a different approach to an intimate gig where everybody has come just for you.

Write everything down

Your set list isn’t the only thing you should write down. Create a checklist you can run through before every gig, containing everything you need to take with you and do before the show, saving the last minute rush.

Backup Equipment

Things go wrong, equipment breaks. Make sure you’re bringing spares of everything to your gig. Think guitar strings, cables, batteries, earplugs, tuners, drum sticks etc. Whenever something new goes wrong and you don’t have a backup, learn from it and get a spare to take with you next time!

Sound check

Sound checks are crucial for every gig, but if you’re running the show yourself it can be easy to overlook. If your sound isn’t on point when you’re playing your first song, you will fail to grab the attention of everyone in the room and they may write you off before you’ve really got started. Make sure you do it in advance.

Rehearse

This should go without saying, but many musicians simply don’t rehearse enough. The more you practice your songs, changeovers and set lists, the more you can concentrate on putting on a good show and engaging with your audience.

With this tips in mind, you should able to enjoy every gig more and make the most out of every opportunity.