gig

I’m the first person to confess that I’m certainly not the master at performing solo, and I’m not selling out crowded stadiums. However, I’ve learned a lot from gigging and continue to do so! There are a lot of pitfalls that ensnare new solo gig performers – many unfortunately are learned the hard way, but if you’re savvy and just starting your gigging career, I hope that you can read on and avoid some of these mistakes that I had to overcome! Contact us if you have specific questions or are looking for some gig advice!

There is a lot of crossover with this information in regard to performing with any group and at any type of venue. For the sake of this article, we’ll assume that you’re a solo gig musician (singer/songwriter type) performing cover tunes at a public place like a restaurant, bar, or cruise ship.

Don’t Test Drive a Song at a Performance

This is the most important one, and the mistake that every performer makes at least once. Always, always, always, practice your songs at home before giving them a spin in public. It’s challenging to pull and keep a crowd that is engaged with your music, and it only takes one lackluster song for the mood to shift and for people to start closing out their tabs. It’s the call of the siren on the hidden rocks – I KNOW that you really want to play that song that shaped your teenage years that you only thought of in the moment because someone walked past wearing that specific band tee, but DON’T DO IT. Go home and practice. Do it at the next solo gig. Trust me.

*Small caveat: I have been known to “wing” requests as a bit of a schtick. If someone comes up, gives a tip, and requests a song that I kind of know, I’ll often do part of it or give it a try. Note that I only do this if the mood at the venue is right and if I am at least ninety percent confident that I can pull off the gist of the song. If it’s a tune that I don’t know, I won’t do it period. The trick here is to feign reluctance and give in to make the other person happy, all the while being in control of the situation and knowing your own musical limitations. Attempt with caution.

Prevent Request Monopolies

Speaking of requests, remember that YOU are the performer and that YOU have the most experience building a solid solo gig set and keeping a crowd. Taking requests is super fun and rewarding, but it’s your responsibility to tailor what you get to fit the venue. For example, playing a request for a slow Elvis tune smack dab in the middle of a fast, dancy set is a surefire way to clear the floor. Fit requests into the pace of your already existing set layout.

It’s also important to prevent request monopolies, or when one person makes several requests back to back. Even if all of the requests are good choices, doing them in a row kills the mood and energy of the set. To be blunt, energy drops mean less engagement, which means less people stay, which means less people tip, which means less money is in your pocket, which means your mood also loses steam and the solo gig slogs on.

Avoid Self Indulgence

When you’re building your set, only include “keeper” songs that you know most people like to hear. Ask a trusted friend or family member to help you weed out your B-tier tunes. You’re there to be an entertainer, so you only want to keep songs that will grow a crowd, generate tips, and fit the atmosphere of the venue. Top 40s (pretty much anything that has been on the radio for a while) are safe bets as well as classic rock and pop tunes. This isn’t the time to play your favorite K-pop deep cut as very likely most people won’t know it. If the crowd can sing along, you’re on the right track. I never particularly want to play “Margaritaville” ever again, but I live in Florida and play bar gigs. So, I do it because it’s what the people want to hear.

Up Tempo is Where It’s At

On the topic of singing along, almost all of your songs should be fast or mid-tempo choices. Of course, you can throw in a couple of slow bangers, but keep them sporadic and make sure that they’re generally well received. Any tune that leans to the slow side is a risk for clearing the floor and the crowd. A song like “Can’t Help Falling in Love with You” is a nice choice because it’s a great slow dance tune, it can be dedicated to someone at the venue who might have just tipped you or might be celebrating something special, and it gives you a vocal break. If you pick a slow song, it’s your job to sell it as an event – a reason for changing the pace – not just a random song in the set list.

Be Personable / Have a Schtick

This one happens as you gain experience and confidence with gigging, but it’s super important. Talk and joke with your audience, build rapport over time, and don’t be afraid to show a little of your authentic personality or the persona of your performer. Be willing to be silly – it goes a long way. For example, I just had a solo gig where I played “Roxanne” by the Police, and a woman ran up to say hello because her name is Roxanne – a serendipitous occurrence that has never happened before! Extending the song and making a big deal of dedicating it to her was definitely worth it. Try not to be a robot and jump from song to song. Talk in between tunes, announce who wrote it, tell small anecdotes, etc. Anything that you can do to show your friendly side helps, and it’s necessary to create a following of fans from gig to gig.

Have Thirty-Seven Backup Plans

There’s no debating it: things always go wrong at a gig. Whether it’s a bad cable, a forgotten piece of gear, a broken string, or a random source of hum, something will fail at the worst possible time. I have a rugged backpack that I use to carry all of my small gear like cables, and I always pack it with at least two extras of everything that I need. My guitar case has a million extra picks and several full sets of strings. Even though I only use one microphone, I have three with me. If you have extra supplies, you’ll be good to go when something breaks.

The other side of this coin is that you should know your gear inside and out. If your guitar pedals stop passing signal, for example, you have to know what to unplug to quickly troubleshoot on the fly. The more intricate your rig becomes, the more points of failure are introduced. Try to limit your solo gig setup to only the bare essentials.

Commit For the Gig

This is challenging to maintain, especially when very few people are at your gig. It’s critical to perform with high energy and give the gig everything that you have even when no one is watching. The audience is smart and will know if you are phoning it in. Solo gig energy is contagious and builds on itself – if you’re not putting out the energy that you want to receive in return, the gig will slow and people will leave.

Know Thyself

Knowing your own limitations, strengths, and weaknesses as a performing musician comes with time and perseverance through setbacks. However, it’s crucial to understand details like your vocal range, endurance, artists that you can cover comfortably, artists that you should probably avoid for now, how you react under pressure, when flustered, and more. Every little bit of groundwork that you can lay in knowing your skills before you perform will help tighten your set and result in a more polished performance that has fewer moments of potential derailment.

Self Promote

No one will promote your business better than you, so don’t be afraid to advocate for yourself! Be sure to announce your name, your upcoming solo gig performance dates, and any other important information like a website or social media. I put small business cards out by the tip jar so that fans can get in contact if they’re interested. If you have an album or original music, you can make a QR code, sign, or even have some select merch with you. Don’t overdo it, of course, but ensuring that your fans know you by name is a great first step in building brand recognition and people who can follow your musical journey.

Be a Good Partner

In most cases, you are performing at a venue that you don’t own. It’s vital to be a good partner with the administration of the venue and be easy to work with – that’s how you get hired back! My bandmate always says that the true talent of the evening is the “bar / wait staff”. Always announce them, give them shoutouts, and be social with them. Be professional but friendly with the management and whoever is your point of contact with the establishment. At the end of the day, everyone who works at the venue will have something to say about you which will have a direct impact on your chances of getting hired back – always put your best foot forward and be yourself!