What’s next?…Literally, What’s Next??…
So, you’ve got your players, you’ve rehearsed the songs and are ready to go to rock them out. Here are some of the most overlooked areas that can make a band look professional or resemble amateurs: intro’s, endings, and what happens between songs.
We tend to play songs over and over in rehearsal, and then stop and talk about how they sounded, and things like “don’t forget the bridge comes here” and all that sort of thing, but we rarely spend time looking at song transitions. And this is the simplest place to tell if a band has done it’s homework. Awkward transitions are…awkward…..for everybody! We’ve all been to a show where there is too much time in between songs and everyone is standing, looking around and all the while momentum is lost. Don’t give the audience a chance to turn their focus from you, because you may not get it back! Control your show from before the first note is played to your exit from the stage. An audience can be like a herd of sheep that are looking to be led. Lead them thru your show.
So, with this in mind, one of the single most important things you can do before a show is to focus together as a band on 1) How each song starts, (who is gonna start it, who is gonna signal that it is ready to start, if the drummer is just playing a groove, when will everyone else come in together?); 2) How each song ends, (is it a trash-can ending, does it end on the “and of 3”?…or whatever); and 3) What happens between songs (i.e., lead singer needs to grab an acoustic and a stool, there will be talking in between this song, drummer will start a groove underneath talking..etc). There should always be room for improvisation in a show, but always make sure that you are directing the audience’s attention someplace. Once they start talking to each other, the band then just becomes an annoyance, especially if they find the conversation more interesting than your performance…and unfortunately that happens…quite often…even to the best. Don’t give them that chance.
A quick word on talking to the audience. Have a plan and do your homework. Prepare things that you want to say and practice them, there is nothing wrong with that. A lead singer that stammers a lot, loses peoples attention. If you don’t have some sort of idea what you want to say and some sort of banter down, it is easy for you as the performer to get distracted. You may be thinking more about the fact that you can’t hear your vocal, or wondering if your guitar is out of tune, instead of thinking up a clever new set-up for the next song. This will help develop confidence and eye contact with your audience.
I have seen shows, and been on multi-city tours where the performers say the same basic set ups night after night. It is still fresh to the audience, as well as security blanket and a resting point for the performer, as they mentally prepare for the next song.
Remember, most times the crowd is pulling for you and wanting to be led and entertained by you..Lead them.
