2 Things That Can Ruin Your Concert

I went to a free outdoor concert in Austin recently. We saw a band I’d never heard of who made music I don’t normally listen to.

But I had a great experience, all because of two main things the band did (or didn’t do).

 Two things that all of us can learn from.

Don’t Suck
The first rule of creating an experience at a concert is being great. Entertaining, musically talented, engaging.

The band I saw was all of these things. The musicianship was top-notch.

So basically, don’t suck. But also be very good.

People came to listen to enjoyable music and if it’s not enjoyable, they will leave. And they will probably hate your band forever.

So, in order to be as good as possible at your next show, practice a ton beforehand.

Make the most of every single practice session by:

Planning out every little thing you’ll be playing or singing (literally every single thing)
Practicing with the exact instruments you’ll be using
Figuring out what you’ll be saying in between songs
Working out your general stage presence

Just don’t stink it up. Be good and people will have a good time.

Don’t Be A Jerk
I got to meet the band leader at the end of the night. He stepped forward, initiated a handshake, and used my name as he thanked me for coming.

Clearly, he wasn’t a jerk. He was super cool.

These types of interactions go a long way. It’s all about that person-to-person interaction.

This type of thing can turn casual listeners into super fans.

 I had a fun night out listening to good music. I’ve since checked out the band on Spotify.

All because they didn’t suck and they weren’t jerks. They were talented and friendly.

Every one of us musicians should take note of these things. 

 Caleb J. Murphy is a singer-songwriter and founder of Musician With A Day Job, a blog that helps part-time and DIY musicians succeed.