by harlowmedia | Dec 22, 2020 | Pro Tips
By Sam Wilder
My band, the G.O.A.M.F.T. is, well, the greatest band of all MF time. We’re so awesome, in fact, that bands on the same bill as us never ask my group to play another show with them because they know they just can’t keep up. We just end up embarrassing them with our insanely badass songs and wild, passionate stage presence. If you want to get on our level (which honestly is impossible) here are some tips that will transform you into the band nobody wants to play with ever again.
1. Never Do Your Own Promotion
Most promoters who book G.O.A.M.F.T want us to spend weeks advertising the show online, inviting people, and doing all sorts of other lame BS. Why should musicians have to promote? I’m not a promoter. I’m the lead singer and lead guitarist of the sickest band in America right now, bro! If the venue can’t figure out a way to get people in the door, that’s on them! Musicians are musicians, and that’s all you need to succeed. Venues and bookers will ask us not to play shows in the area for a few weeks before the show, and we say we won’t. But here’s a little secret, we always do. They say it’s important to make sure to get the best crowd. They’re just looking after themselves. They can’t tell us what to do. Who cares if the other bands asked you to do the same? You have to get your music out there. Your band is way more important than any one gig, so you don’t really need to keep your word when bands ask you to block out a date. The real music fans out there, and the truly cool venues in biggest cities, don’t care about how many people you draw, it’s all about the music. Besides, caring about draw makes you a sellout.
2. Don’t Coordinate Marketing Efforts with Other Bands
I don’t want to have to reach out to the other bands either. What could I possibly talk to them about? Sure, we could share each other’s music over our respective social media accounts so the fans will be excited about the whole bill, and coordinating posts can be helpful, but that’s nerd stuff. My social followers only care about us, not someone else. I’m an artist anyway. I’m just above all that.
3. Load In Last Minute
Most venues will have a load-in time (a time when the lesser bands drop off their gear backstage and do their soundcheck). If your band is half as amazing as G.O.A.M.F.T the other bands probably aren’t going to mind if you load in after the show starts. They know they’re only there to warm up the crowd. We’re the main attraction. When the G.O.A.M.F.T set up, we take our sweet ass time. We have a very specific sound, and it takes time to dial it in. We don’t really think about the audience or the other bands when we’re doing this. When we’re onstage, it’s our stage.
4. Skip Soundcheck
The problem with soundcheck is that soundchecking is boring! Why should I have to show up hours before the show even starts? We just do ours before our set. Sure, it might interrupt the flow of the show, but it’s a small price to pay to see the G.O.A.M.F.T. Soundchecks are for chumps.
5. Miss the Other Bands’ Sets
First off, let me say that you’re under no obligation to watch the other bands. I’m sorry that I don’t want to watch your weak band. I didn’t agree to watch anyone, and I’m on a tour with new support acts every night. How could I possibly have enough interest in them all? I do, however, expect you to watch my band. You guys could learn a lot, and I’ll be upset if I don’t see you cheering for us in the crowd.
6. Drink… a Lot
Get drunk. It’s what rock stars do, and if you’re going to play a rock-star set, then it’s probably a great idea to do a bunch of shots while you’re hanging out backstage. I mean, Slash was constantly wasted, and he could really rip it! Your bandmates will understand that if you start making mistakes it’s because of the alcohol, not you, and they’ll be cool with it.
7. Hit on All the Women
If a girl is hanging out with the band, she’s probably just there to sell merch or is someone’s girlfriend. There’s really no need to talk to her unless you want to hit on her, which is why she’s really there. And if that woman is in the band, even if she’s the lead singer, she probably isn’t the band leader or the person who does the booking. Women aren’t real musicians anyway.
8. Ignore Sound Engineers
The people who run sound at shows are just musician wannabes. They don’t know what you want or need. Sure, they may get a clearer representation of what the audience is hearing, but they’re dumb, and you don’t need to listen to them. If they give you an attitude, don’t be afraid to get confrontational. They have no power, and you’ll probably never see them again. I’ve been told many so times that my 100-watt Marshall stack is “way too loud for this venue.” You wanna know what that makes me think? That if you don’t like a tinnitus-inducing rock show, you shouldn’t have come to see the G.O.A.M.F.T. Your show should be as loud as you can possibly make it. If your amp sounds good in your practice space, it’ll sound good anywhere!
9. Forget Your Filter Onstage
What I love to do onstage is tease the other bands a bit and point out what I didn’t like about their sets. It’s good for them because it shows them how they need to improve. It’s all in good fun, and they always understand. It’s a win-win because it not only improves their act, but it also makes us look great to the audience. If someone in your band (it’s always the bass player) messes up his or her part, feel free to yell at him or her onstage. If you don’t call that person out, how is he gonna learn, right?
10. Don’t Tip the Bartender
Everyone knows you’re a struggling musician, so if you decide you don’t want to tip your bartenders, I’m sure they’ll understand. They got to see your band for free, so they kind of owe you when you really think about it.
Alright, that’s all the knowledge I’m going to let you in on for now. You do all these things, and you won’t even need to practice to become an enormous international megastar. Oh, and you’re welcome
by harlowmedia | Oct 20, 2020 | Pro Tips
By Sam Wilder
At a live show, music lovers get to taste music in a whole different way. It is an epic experience for both the musicians and the fans which allow them to connect through the performance. Whether you are an amateur or you have done it so many times before, it is vital to learn how you can make your performance even more epic. Here are the top tips on how to give your fans a mind blowing show.
Keep Your Sound In Check
When it comes to a live performance, sound is everything. Doing sound checks is vital if you want everything to go smoothly. Try not to choke the microphone while performing. It may look cool but it will affect the quality of your sound. For the same reason, do not point it to the monitor either (feedback). Also, ensure that your sound is good by having a sound guy at the far back to let you know when you are not loud enough (or too loud).
Forget About The Small Mishaps
Your performance does not have to be perfect. At some point, someone in the band might hit the wrong note or go off beat for a second or two. The probability of your audience noticing the mistake is pretty slim unless you choose to make a big deal out of it. Avoid trying to fix it on stage or fussing over it.
Don’t Stop The Music
While the audience is having a good time at the performance, nothing kills the mood like getting confused between songs. Avoid the extended periods of silence by planning your performance before hand. This will definitely avoid the awkward pauses while you and your band members discuss which song to play next.
Tune silently
Tuning your instruments on stage with the volume up screams inexperienced or unprofessional. It’s annoying and completely takes all momentum out of the show while folks listen to various tones of dissonance coming from your instrument. Grab a tuner that allows you to mute your instrument and have the vocalist talk to the crowd while you tune silently.
Don’t Skip Rehearsals
Practice definitely makes perfect. Rehearsing enables you to create a good act. This then gives you the confidence to perform on stage. What’s more, going over your performance allows you to be ready for any surprises and ensures a well-coordinated concert with your band.
Engage With Your Audience
A live performance is a chance for your fans to connect with you. For this reason, when performing live, ensure that you make eye contact. This is as opposed to focusing too much on your music instrument. Some musicians will also choose to say a few words before a song which is also a good idea. Try smiling more at your audience as it will generate positive energy.
Be Unique
Give your audience a memorable performance by finding a way to be exclusive. Create an act in your performance that sets you aside from all the other live bands. Do not be afraid to go to the extreme as long as it makes your fans happy.
Always Aim To Give The Best Performance
Have someone record a video performance and analyze it. This will allow you to identify areas that will need an upgrade. You can also have a professional evaluate your performance and let you know what you can change. Take criticism from your fans and non-fans positively and use it to improve your live shows.
Be Confident And Let Loose
Let yourself go on stage and give your audience all you got. Your confidence and enthusiasm will be felt by the crowd, making your performance very lively. Also, keep in mind that every show is equally important. For this reason, be lively at every show, and you will definitely gain more followers. Confidence will get people to love your show whether or not you thought you were good enough.
Be Yourself
Do not be afraid to let everyone know who you are and how you feel through your music performance. Being honest on stage with yourself and with your audience and they will love you for it. Be proud of your work and deliver your message clearly to your audience through the music and you will get lost in the music.
And finally, don’t forget to relax before going out on stage. While some musicians will choose to have a drink before the show, it might help with the stage fright but not guaranteed to make you sound good. A lot of performers will experience fear before going on stages which is completely normal. Try to move past this and embrace whatever fear you have while on stage. In many cases despite being really nervous, musicians will still give a great show.
by harlowmedia | Oct 4, 2020 | Pro Tips
By Sam Wilder
Engaging with your audience while you are performing live will allow you to connect with them on a deeper level. It’s like giving them an open invitation to your world while performing on stage. The more engaged your audience is with your performance, the more energy there is from the crowd. You and your band can work off this energy to give an even more incredible performance. It can also make the environment less stressful, allowing you and your band to enjoy the overall performance while you’re on stage.
How to Engage with your Audience? Glad you asked! When performing live on stage, it’s easy to get lost in your music. When this happens, you might forget about the audience entirely. Here’s what you can do so that doesn’t happen:
1. Make Eye Contact with your Audience
Now I’m not saying that you have to make eye contact with every individual person in the crowd, which is practically impossible depending how big of an audience you have watching. What I’m trying to say is don’t forget to look away from your instrument and look at the crowd once in a while. To the people in the crowd, that would be enough engagement to reconnect them with your performance because you are acknowledging the fact that they are there. From their point of view, it may also look like you’re looking straight at them. Create the illusion that you can see every single person in the crowd even if you can’t.
2. Communicate with your Audience
Before you perform, introduce yourselves right in the beginning and start engaging with the crowd. When transitioning to your next songs, don’t just go straight in and start playing, conversate with the audience. I’ll talk about this more in the next section, but don’t forget to use those small breaks in between songs to engage with your audience and reconnect with them.
Find ways to allow your audience to perform with you. Maybe invite them to sing along if you are performing a song that everyone in the crowd knows. Even as simple as having your audience clapping along to the beat will make them feel like they are a part of the magic that is happening on stage. And the last thing you should never forget is to thank your audience for coming to your show at the end of your performance. They could’ve spent their time anywhere else, but they chose to watch you perform so the least you can do is thank them for their support. Now, this leads us to our next tip, the Art of Stage Banter.
Stage Banter is when you talk to your audience whether it be at the beginning of your performance, in between songs during transitions, or even at the closing of your performance. Having good stage banter when performing live can really set you apart from different performers. It helps establish a relationship with your audience while also building a level of trust with them. You will also show your audience that you care about them.
When you stage banter, here are some things you should keep in mind:
1. Have a Solid Introduction
Make sure you introduce yourself and your band right from the beginning so everyone in the crowd knows who you are.
Let them know where you’re from and give them some background information about you and your band. Try to talk about something that is relatable to everyone in the crowd. Maybe something about the city that you’re all in or something about the venue that you’re performing at.
Being able to relate to the crowd, in the beginning, can set your performance on the right track.
2. Be Confident
This will all come with experience, but try your best to sound confident. Whenever you stage banter, don’t be hesitant. The more hesitant you sound, the less natural you sound and you may find yourself in a very uncomfortable situation, for both your band and the audience. If appropriate, think about using big body movements to get the crowd’s attention.
Don’t forget to make eye contact with the crowd and have good posture while you speak. Remember that what you say while you’re on stage is just as important as the music you perform. Choose your words carefully and be confident when you talk.
And don’t forget to be yourself. Don’t try to be anyone else and learn how to be confident in the person you are. This will overall help you look more confident during your stage bantering while making you sound natural and unforced.
3. Keep it Nice and Short
Talking and engaging with the crowd can be very effective at making your performance more entertaining for everyone. However, it can be a problem if you let it go on for too long. Instead of telling the entire backstory of your band or songs in between transitions, just bring up important key details.
For your Band:
Where your band is from
How long you’ve been together
A “short” funny story
Other “short” stories that are relatable
For your Songs (Transitioning in between songs)
A “short” description of what your song is about
Who or what the song is dedicated to
The reason why you wrote the song
If covering a song, talk about the reasons why you like the song
Try to not to let it drag on for too long. If you can get your message across in fewer words, then go for it. people want to know about your entire backstory, you can save it for after the performance when you mingle.
by harlowmedia | Sep 10, 2020 | Pro Tips
By Sam Wilder
Practicing and rehearsing are not at all the same thing. When a rehearsal doesn’t go well or when it seems to drag on with very little being accomplished, it’s usually because someone went to the rehearsal expecting to practice…
So what’s the difference? Practice is what you do at home on your own time, by yourself. Practicing is not only studying things like theory, scales, fingerings, technique, etc., but also learning the material for a gig. Practicing songs involves a lot of starting and stopping and a ton of repetition; it’s a very individual, solitary task and when done correctly it’s typically not very entertaining to hear someone practice.
Rehearsal on the other hand is not individual, it’s a group exercise. It’s important to emphasize that rehearsals are not social gatherings, they’re work first, play later. Noodling around on your instrument or having side conversations between songs has no place in a rehearsal. A rehearsal is for focusing on things that will benefit the group as a whole.
You don’t go to a rehearsal to sight-read charts or to use other people’s time to learn your parts. You go to a rehearsal with your parts learned, ready to play as if it was the day of the show. At a rehearsal, the band runs through all the songs one after another, ideally never having to stop mid-way through a song because everyone has already caught anything strange or especially difficult while working on the material at home. There is nothing more frustrating and infuriating than having to stop every ten seconds to allow someone to learn their parts.
Apart from individual practice and group rehearsals, a band may also choose or need to have occasional sectionals in addition to full-band rehearsals. Going prepared to a sectional is just as important. Like rehearsals, sectionals are not for learning individual parts, they’re for hearing parts together and working on details that benefit the whole section. Running a percussion sectional during a full-band rehearsal is disrespectful to rhythm section players’ time and working out rhythm-section-specific aspects of a show during a full-band rehearsal is a very poor use of percussionists time.
Besides working through the set list and putting all the parts together, full-band rehearsals are also for working on transitions, minimizing downtime, polishing intros and endings as a group and collaborating on all the creative details and improvements that the band wants to make. When someone shows up to a rehearsal unprepared not only do they waste everyone’s time while the rest of the band waits for them to learn what they should have practiced at home, but they completely sabotage the creative potential of the rehearsal. The most productive rehearsals happen when someone is clearly in charge and the rest of the band can rely on that person to make good decisions. A strong leader is therefore vital to having a productive rehearsal.
A good bandleader keeps everyone positive and engaged while running things as efficiently as possible and without coming across as a militant jerk. It can be challenging to set an orderly pace when band members show up to a rehearsal as if it was a social gathering and forget that they’re there to work. It can be uncomfortable to have to call people out when they’re making mistakes or habitually showing up under-prepared. Consequently, the experience and preparation of the leader can make or break a rehearsal, and a rehearsal can make or break a show.
As I mentioned, when a rehearsal doesn’t go well or when musicians leave feeling less than stellar about it, it’s often because someone went to the rehearsal intending to practice. That can be an indication that everyone wasn’t on the same page concerning expectations. Sometimes people just need a gentle reminder, even if it feels like you’re only stating the obvious. Either way, be constructive, not critical.
To sum it all up practice is what you do on your own time including learning the material for a gig and it involves a lot of repetition. Once you’ve learned the material well enough to play it with confidence as if it was the day of the show, then and only then are you ready for a sectional. At the sectional, you work as a small group to make the section as tight and great as it can be. When all the various sectionals are complete, you then proceed with a full-band rehearsal to run through all the songs and focus on things that benefit the group as a whole.
by harlowmedia | Aug 18, 2020 | Pro Tips
By Sam Wilder
I was asked, “How do I get my musical passion back? I know what I want but it’s always being put on hold because of reality.” This is a really hard question to answer because it’s a struggle that musicians face everyday. I’m going to try to answer that question so here it goes…
So, where did your drive go?
Lost drive or passion can be caused by many things and it can affect both full-time and part-time musicians. Since I think both of these musician types have different reasons for feeling “burnt out”, I’ll tackle each separately.
Part-Time Musicians: The majority of musicians in the world have “day jobs”. There’s a few reasons for this. The music industry is very competitive, many musicians prefer the financial security of a day job, many musicians support families or have other financial obligations, etc. The reason many part-time musicians feel “burnt out” is because they deal with other things that take priority over music in their lives. They feel frustrated by their busy schedules and wish they had more time to devote to music. Also, some part-time musicians find it difficult to “turn-off” the stresses of their daily lives. This can be extremely frustrating since they may not have time to devote to music on a daily basis. The funny thing is, there are also many part-time musicians who are more “fulfilled” and “passionate” than full-time musicians. This is because they treat every gig or practice session like a sacred event. Since they are not affected by the pressures of paying the bills from music and daily gigging, they are truly grateful for the chance to practice and perform. They feel lucky to be able to support themselves and make music, so they are grateful for both their day-job and their music career. This is the perspective you need have in order avoid bringing your day-job frustration and resentment into your musical life. This can be hard to do especially when dealing with work pressures, sick or ailing family, etc. Basically you have to figure out how to mentally separate your daily stresses and your music career.
Full-Time Musicians: If you think that full-time musicians don’t get as “burnt out”, you’re wrong. It might seem like “the grass is greener” from a part timer’s perspective but full-time musicians have their own set of problems they deal with in order to keep their drive and passion alive. The biggest stresses that can affect full-time musicians are lack of money/job security and having to play mundane gigs in order to pay bills. Let’s talk about money first. Being a full-time freelancer is difficult work and it’s mentally challenging to deal with the stress of not having job security. If you stop hustling, you will lose work. If you get sick or injured, you will lose work. This is a lot of pressure and it can stifle your drive and passion. Also, this correlates with the other issue I mentioned, playing uninspiring gigs. In order to create some financial security, many musicians will play gigs that they don’t really like (but they pay the bills). If the majority of your schedule is filled with this type of work, you are in danger of burning out. These are very difficult problems to deal with, but perspective is still the key to keeping your drive and passion alive. Full-time musicians with tons of drive and passion don’t allow themselves to get creatively stagnant. They find the time to continually develop new skills in their music and they evolve. Just because you may have some regular uninspiring paying gigs, doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t do “creatively pleasing” work on the side. The bottom line is that you must find a way to stay fresh.
So, how do I get my drive and passion back?
OK, so here’s the part where you have to do all the work lol! Once again, finding creative energy and drive is really all about perspective. It’s in your head. Again, I’m going to break this up between part-time and full-time musicians because I feel that each group has slightly different problems (even though we’re all completely nuts).
Part-Time Musicians: First things first, don’t be jealous of full-time musicians because you must remember, “the grass always seems greener”. Be happy with what you have and try not to get frustrated with your daily non-musical life. Also, don’t blame anyone or anything for the state of your music career. This includes blaming your kids or wife for hampering your dreams or your boss for stressing you out. Once you learn to take all of the responsibility for the state of your music and lose the excuses, you’ll have a better chance at getting your drive back. Did you ever take notice of what you feel like when something good happens in your life? You feel positive, driven and motivated to take on the world. This is because you’re happy and you’re feeling empowered. But when you’re stressed and upset its the opposite. Your Mood = Your Drive. Adapt your mindset. There are many ways to do this but you have to find your form of healthy coping and stick to it to get your mojo back. If that doesn’t work, don’t feel weird about talking to someone. No man is an island.
Full-Time Musicians: The most important piece of advice I can give full-time musicians is to always remember why you got into music to begin with. If you forget about the passion that got you started as a musician, you’re finished. So why are some full-time musicians so burnt out? Well, like I said before, the pressure to pay your bills will often lead to “mundane” paying gigs. Another cause is jealousy and resentment towards “more successful” musicians. Musicians that have been doing it for a long time sometimes feel that they have paid their dues and deserve success more than others. They can also start to get bitter due to losing out on gigs. All of these things can easily destroy your drive and passion, making your music career a very boring routine. Again, the way around this is to be mentally strong and to change your perspective. Instead of being threatened by successful musicians, use their talent and passion to help spark yours. Also, embrace the changes in the industry and find a new niche for yourself. In the case that you’re playing too many gigs you dislike, make sure you also find time to play gigs that make you happy (regardless of the pay). Or start doing something that will help you in the future like learning how to mix or produce your own tracks. Learning a new musical skill or bettering yourself will give your uninspiring gigs a purpose. Think of it like mowing lawns in order to pay for college. You need to make money, but you shouldn’t be stagnant in your job. You should always think of these gigs as a way to help support yourself while you’re pursuing something better. It’s also important to note that you have to find a way to have fun and enjoy your “mundane” gigs. If you’re going through the motions, people will smell it a mile away and nobody wants to play with an uninspired musician. Change your perspective and enjoy what you already have. If you’re currently making your living playing music life isn’t so bad right? Now, be grateful, happy and driven.
All Musicians: The most important thing that both full-time and part-time musicians can do to avoid burnout is to continue evolving. This means practicing new things on your instrument, writing or learning new songs, learning music software, practicing your mixing skills, learning about licensing and the industry, etc. If you are actively taking time each day to further your craft your drive and passion will be fresh and intact. This is also where your discipline will come into play. You need to get into a routine of working on your craft every day, even if it’s only for a ½ hour. Depending on your daily grind this may mean waking up a little earlier or shifting around your schedule a little. You have to figure out how to make this sacrifice or you will get stale. Also, this needs to be dedicated music time; no phones, no TV, no web surfing, Facespace etc. The more uninterrupted music time you schedule daily, the more drive and passion you have.
by harlowmedia | Mar 31, 2020 | Pro Tips
From Ken Kirkland
COVID-19 is infecting our health and our wealth. That might not be too big of a deal to Wall Street and large corporations but for us normal working-class musicians and venue owners it definitely is.
Musicians who put all their work and money into touring and playing shows have had to cancel gigs and don’t get that money back. Small venues, new and old, which give these working bands a home have also had to close their doors. It’s starting to feel like the coronavirus is more likely to kill the music scene than the people in it.
It’s our duty as fans to help out as much as we can to save our beloved music scenes. Whether that’s here in the wiregrass or in the Florida panhandle, there’s still ways to keep the scene from going broke.
Streaming music on Spotify is an easy way to throw your favorite band/artist a few extra bucks. They don’t make very much but if you hit your mute button and play their album on repeat every night, that’s still a little something that can help them out.
Another obvious way to help is to buy their merch. Selling merch is where a lot of bands make most of their money, so buy their shirts, vinyl, pins, whatever. And if you can, leave them a little tip as well. You can also just straight-up Venmo or cashapp your favorite band/artist a donation to help keep them afloat. If they haven’t already provided a Venmo/cashapp account for fans to reach out and help, I’m sure no one would be opposed if you reached out via Twitter, Instagram/Facebook messenger, or email about it.
Many venues also have their own merch, as well as Venmo/cashapp accounts you can donate to. Also buying advance tickets could be vital to small venues currently taking a huge hit in profits due to this outbreak. Who knows, maybe that ticket you buy for that show in September is the one that helps them make their rent this month?
Because of self-quarantining, live shows had to adapt. It’s irresponsible right now for obvious reasons to attend a live show but that doesn’t mean you can’t see one. Musicians are throwing “virtual” events on their social media outlets like Instagram or Facebook live and providing a Venmo/cashapp account for you to donate instead of paying the door or dropping cash in the ole tip jar.
New ideas on how to keep our local scene alive during quarantine are still popping up. It’s awesome to see our music community come together whole heartedly during this crisis. If you have any ideas don’t be afraid to make it happen. And don’t forget, posting about and giving exposure to your fellow bands and artists is always helpful. Share their stuff.
That’s all I got. I will say this though, our wiregrass area community of musicians is strong. We’re a bunch of badass’s who will survive this. I 100% can not wait to see all you guys and gals again. I love y’all, stay safe and don’t forget to wash your freakin’ hands!
