I want to play out live, but first I have some questions

The Lounge General Discussion
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I’ve been thinking about trying to play a live gig. I’ve never done this before and I have some basic questions:

  1. What does one need to bring when playing live? I imagine it will probably be a small venue. Do you need to bring your own PA system? What would you include in a small rig (aside from instruments)?

  2. How does one find gig opportunities in a medium sized (university) town? Keep in mind that I’m not cool and my networking abilities are limited. I understand that this aspect will be a challenge.

  3. How long of a set should I plan for?

  4. Any advice for a slightly shy introvert on how to get through playing live for the first time without having a panic attack (aside from the obvious alcohol)?

  5. Are there already enough middling electronic music producers out there and I should just stay at home and watch Cake Boss?

Thanks in advance for any tips or nuggets of advice.

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Depending on where you are based, you could start with an EMOM.

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Cool you’re trying to get out there! Middle sized university town doesn’t sound too bad if you’re looking for places and opportunities.

Not speaking from experience, but this is how I would approach it:

Is there a location that you sometimes go to for concerts or clubbing that has the kind of vibe you’re going for? I‘d know a few nice places where I live that are rather small, nonprofit and DIY and are run by really nice and respectful people who want to build communities. I‘d feel comfortable approaching them. In your place, there might also be some students who organize low key stuff in dorms or woods. You could approach some places „cool but nice“ students are hanging out, let them know what you’re offering and see if somebody‘s interested. Might help to include a link to your Soundcloud or Bandcamp if you have that.

Similar direction: are there any smaller, local artists you‘ve seen perform that you liked? Maybe even someone doing something that’s a bit similar (like someone is using a synth, drum machine or groovebox on stage)? You could hit them up and ask if they know of any opportunities to play a small and first liveset.

Both things might be a nice opportunity for you to get in touch with the local scene, even if nothing comes from it.

If you’ve landed a gig, I‘d say it will make things easier for you if you know somebody who has some experience with live mixing / setups. They could handle things with the local sound person so you can concentrate on setting up your machines and making sure everything is working. If it’s a small venue that doesn’t do electronic stuff or concerts often, they might also lack some monitors, cables etc. Best to visit them before the gig so you can check if they have everything you need. This happened to me recently, where the guy running the place told us he had monitors. He did, but they were studio monitors for production, not monitors for a band on stage. Luckily, we knew someone who could lend us stage monitors and cables for them. This might not be necessary for you as I assume you’re not singing or playing guitar etc. on stage.

Good luck!

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I’d see what resources are available locally for artists in your area. Maybe I’m mistaken but I thought that you were a Portland guy so I’d look into Portland synth library (for example) and see if you can piggyback onto an existing EMOM type event, or if you aren’t Portland and I’m mistaken, see if there’s a similar resource in your area.

I think gearwise it’s best to use common sense: don’t bring anything you can’t pack up and set up on your own and don’t bring anything you can’t afford to lose. There’s a reason that some artists choose to perform with just a laptop. In the same respect, don’t leave gear unattended and have a plan for setup and teardown.

I wouldn’t personally take on anything where you need your own PA given what you’ve said in the original post.

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…at least point one on ur challenge/bucket list is of NO concern to u…
no worries here…any kind of at least half/smallest public venue won’t expect u to bring ur own soundsystem…

and to calm ur nerves, a little ritual of JUST ONE little shot of tequila, rum or whiskey, something that makes u squeeze ur face a little, 5 minutes before u get out there, is always a good thing…anything else beyond that won’t do u any good…

and most essential rule for a live act is…the stage is urs, urs only and TAKE UR TIME…!

have a little under 40 minutes of play time ready to go…with a clearly defined intro that makes room and distance to whatever happened in the slot before u…and have a clear ending to that little live sonic safari of urs…don’t be afraid of silence…and once u played that defined ending…have a little encore of another 10 minutes in ur “pocket” in case they ask for more…in most cases they do…

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To reply to question 4 specifically:
Believe it or not, many of us were very nervous on our first couple gigs. Its like going to the gym, reps and more reps… Before you know it, your audience size has grown tenfold and you’re still not fussed. Becoming comfortable on stage comes more naturally to some people than others, but like most things, its something you can learn / get used to

You just have to come to grips with the fact that unless you can face your dread of being the centre of attention (or whatever your personal phobia is to you), you will never be able to really feel good playing a gig. And if you arent feeling good when performing, the audience can subconsciously feel it. They key is not to think about these things consciously, you identify the feelings as they enter your mind, and you let them pass, like they teach in asian philosophy/spirituality… we all learn to “let go” in our own way…

So start as small as you can (even performing to a couple friends at a get together is fine at first), and work your way up from there. It’s okay to feel a lil nervous, it can sometimes coax greatness from you, just dont let your nerves get the better of you.

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This varies from venue to venue. For example if you play in a non-traditional music venue, maybe they have nothing at all. If it’s a bar, they probably do have a PA.

What is good to do, when you do have a gig landed, is go check out the venue ahead of time and see if you can meet with a sound person there (they usually have one) and get them to explain a few things about the venue. You might be able to get on the stage ahead of time, understand their monitoring options, get a feel for what you need to bring - ie type of cables, whether or not the venue supplies DI’s or if you should bring power boards etc.

You should go to events that you like. Even if you don’t like it, start a social media presence and follow those in your area that you like, and post things you’re doing. When you’re out at shows, chat to folks and when it comes up mention you are a musician and that you’re interested in playing a show sometime - that alone may be enough to land you a gig next time.

For a first time, 3 songs or 15 to 20 minutes is fine. But there are no rules here. If you play for 5 minutes that’s fine. It could be your thing.

If you get good feedback, extend to 30 minutes next time, and so on.

Just pretend no one is there and that you’re in your bedroom. Just focus on doing your thing and don’t worry about the crowd at all, although it can be nice to look up and smile and give people a wave. When you’re in the dark you won’t really see them anyway.

The only other two things I would say is bring a small torch or desk lamp, battery powered is nice.

Turn up on time, or get there early so you know you are on time.

Also, lock down your set about 2 weeks out from the gig. Then just practice that set. Don’t change things - you can forget on stage things you changed last minute and this can throw you off. Unless changing things, improvisation and embracing happy accidents is your thing, of course :slight_smile:

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Also, here is an old PDF from my archives I’m riffing on above, which I gleaned some things from over the years.

Electronic Performance.pdf (54.3 KB)

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make a liveset which is not too dependend on heavy improvisation. and practice your set several times. don’t drink too much.

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Have you tried the less obvious alcohol?

Drambuie is a hell of a drug.

On a serious note though, most venues will have a PA (unless you’re organizing the whole thing yourself from the ground up, I’d say it’s a fair expectation that venues will have a PA of some sort). Most venues should have a DI for you to plug into, but having your own won’t hurt. As well as showing the sound tech you know what a DI is, it might come in handy if the venue’s ones are shit/break.

Other than that, just take your normal stuff, but with every combination of cables you can think of, just in case.

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Ask if you can go and practice at the venue, this way it’ll feel more familiar.

I’d plan for twice the intended time, good to have Plan B, C etc.

As for being shy, try to just not mind other people, after all they’ll be there curious to listen to your set. If you put an honest effort in this, the least you’ll likely get back is respect.

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This was also the case for my first show with an Elektron and I was really glad. It also helps to hang out at the place for some hours before you start, if that’s possible. You can get to know the people running it and make yourself feel comfortable in the setting. Ideally, by the time you’re on stage, you feel like you’re in a really friendly environment and that people will most likely be nice and just enjoy your set.

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Regarding question 4, I really struggled with this in the early days. My first gig (a long time ago now, feeling old) I was so nervous I was nearly sick. DON’T DRINK! ok, don’t get drunk but maybe have one beer beforehand but keep a clear head. The feeling of being drunk and not knowing what you’re doing in front of an audience is horrible. I got over my stage fright by wearing masks on stage (usually gas mask or a gimp mask). It freaked people out and make it more of a spectacle but also the mask was useful for nerves, because you’re kinda hiding. It’s a powerful feeling.

Remember, nerves are just excitement. It’s the same chemical whizzing inside your body. Keep telling yourself that and once you get past the initial fright and start to enjoy yourself you’ll feel absolutely amazing afterwards

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  1. Usually a PA is provided unless you’re running the show.

  2. Don’t over think it!

  3. No

Edit:

Forum automatically changed the numbers.

2 is supposed to be question 4 and 3 question 5!

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Limit the amount of people that you accept advice from and ask them regularly (apart from this thread ofc). Taking in too many opinions just makes a mess and you may lose track of your own reference points. This is especially important during live sets since many people think they are special enough to “give the DJ a request”. Decide beforehand which people from the venue personnel can take your attention during a set. It’s all too easy to get distracted and get out of the flow so staying aloof from verbal communication during the act both protects your mental state and contribute to your artist’s mystique.

Not everyone understands how to act respectfully around a performance and that’s not the right time to tell them how it works. Keeping continuity in the act is your most important responsibility as a performer in most cases. Few people even pick up on when you make small mistakes but major disruptions feel that much more jarring for the audience.

Speak with the venue and ask how long you should play for, prepare both long and short sets.

Never let exposure be used to pay you. It goes both ways for you and the venue so it’s a good litmus test to see if they want to abuse you. Tell them off to practice getting rid of your nervousness. I suggest asking them to clean your house as a benefit just because you’re so special ( :face_with_symbols_over_mouth:)

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This is a really great document, thanks for sharing! Good for performances involving electric instruments in general in my opinion, like I was considering some of these points in the context of me as a bassist in addition to an electronic musician.

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A story/statement and something to say.
Everything is easy after that.

:sunglasses::+1:

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hope any of my ramblings are helpful:

  1. bring as little as possible. helps set up time and less exhausting carrying things around. i usually ask the space/host of the event if a PA will be provided, DI’s required, etc. ive had to lug my PA to shows, it sucks but is what it is with some spaces.
  2. start attending the shows you’re interested in (easier said than done if you’re anxious like myself) and esp in more DIY spaces. i would show up to shows and be very awkward and not say a word to anyone then leave lol, but eventually i got to chatting and met ppl who changed my life.
  3. 15-20 minutes is golden. the shorter the better, everyone will like you.
  4. for peace of mind bring extra cables, extension cord, splitters for stereo. anything you can think of if something were to go wrong/missing.
  5. lmao
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the musicians that play at my venues bring their synths, their respective power connectors and in the very best case a multi plug connector because I never have enough of them for 26 synths at the same time :wink:
if you have to bring your own PA system, you probably should not go there, in our case I just built it myself.
XLR to TRS or symmetrical mono TRS cables are always nice to bring.

when its about live electronic music, you have to be kind of lucky or actively contact promoters and organisers and introduce yourself and your music. I am one of the very few people in germany (less than 5 for sure) that host live only venues in that niche and Im always happy when someone writes a mail, dm etc

in my case It has always been between an hour and four hours.
mostly 1-2 h. it always depends on what the idea of the organiser is, I intend to provide music that is on a technical level high enough to have a classic techno club feeling throughout the night…but live.

alcohol and making music is not a combination to strive for :smiley:
like I said, just take the first step by writing them. contact the university or their AStA (I dont know the english term, its that group of students that speak for their fellow students and organise events within the university itself, “allgemeiner Studienausschuss”), ask local clubs if they plan to have live venues/acts or if they could imagine you doing so together. clubs/associations that care for culture, music, art, small festivals, there are a lot of people to ask if you really want to :slight_smile:

/edit
oops, I answered a question you didnt ask. well I am an introvert myself, many musicians are, my advice would be: dont think about it that much, most people in the scene are nice and many are introverts themselves

there are plenty, most of them need to be found first. Ive been doing that for close to four years now, I have a solid pool of live musicians and – I also do non-live venues – DJs to chose from/ask if they want to play. talking about 30-40 people. so yes there are enough but no one knows about them yet.

→ go for it!

I hope that somewhat helps, AMA if you want to :slight_smile:

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Proper venues like clubs and bars will almost certainly have their own sound system. Likewise, if there’s a one-time event outdoors or something, the organizer will generally be responsible for this. Sound system stuff is usually only your responsibility if it’s an event you’re organizing yourself.

However, you should probably bring your own mixer so that you only need a pair of stereo cables to hook in to the house mixer. Check with the organizers if your output needs to be RCA or 1/4" (or just bring both) and how long your output cables need to be. Bring your own power strip to plug everything in, and again, check with the organizer to see if you need to bring an extension cord.

If there are events or clubs in your area that play music similar to yours, go to them. Find out who the organizers or DJs/artists are and talk to them (when they’re not busy of course). Record some live sets on your own and upload them to SoundCloud or some other platform so you can send the links to event organizers as an example of your work. Organizers are unlikely to book you if they don’t know what your live sets sound like, because it’s a bit of a gamble if they don’t know that your music matches the vibe of the event.

If you’re shy and introverted, approaching strangers like that might feel intimidating; it definitely was and still is for me. At the very least, you should still try to go to events to get a feel for what they’re like, and maybe try messaging organizers and artists on social media to ask them how to get involved. Or if you have any friends who are already involved in the scene, ask them.

The event organizers will give you a time slot and probably ask you how long of a set you’re comfortable with playing. I think a one-hour set is a good target to get comfortable with, but really you need to be making live sets on your own and practicing them. If you only have enough material for 30 minutes, that’s totally fine, but you need to have a good idea of what duration you’re comfortable with/capable of.

Definitely don’t use alcohol as a crutch to overcome that feeling. I have pretty bad anxiety, so I totally understand where you’re coming from. Serious event organizers probably won’t be thrilled if they find out you’re getting drunk as a coping mechanism (although if it’s a college town and they’re all students they probably won’t give a shit because… college, but it’s still not a good idea).

Practice. Make live sets and practice them multiple times. Have a plan, know what you’re going to do. Make notes of what you think works and what doesn’t, and then iterate on that until you’re satisfied with it. You should be doing this even if you aren’t nervous about playing.

If you’ve recorded a live set or two, sent them to event organizers and they book you, it’s because they think your music is good enough for their event. Trust their trust in you. Have some confidence in your own music. You can’t completely get rid of that anxious feeling, but confidence and trust in yourself go a long way. Alcohol is only a temporary crutch that will increase the likelihood of you making mistakes while playing live. There’s nothing wrong with drinking, but absolutely don’t use it as a coping mechanism.

Of course not. Opportunities to play live sets are much less common than opportunities to DJ, so it can be hard to find them. It can be frustrating if you feel stuck. But if you truly enjoy making music, you should do it even if no one else will hear it. I’ve been trying to find opportunities to play live sets since early 2020 (obviously the pandemic didn’t help) and only played my first gig this past summer. But after playing that first gig, getting to know other artists, DJs, and organizers became so much easier, and I’ve now played three times in the past six months. It felt insanely difficult to find that first gig, because it’s a risk for event organizers to book someone who’s unproven, but after that, other organizers could see that I had already done this before and the people I played with could vouch for me, so it felt like they were less apprehensive to book me.

Above all, you should be making and playing music for fun, for yourself. You can have confidence and believe your music is good without being arrogant. Don’t worry about social media, play counts/streams, or an apparent lack of opportunities to play live, none of that shit is indicative of the quality of your music. You can always improve if you enjoy doing it.

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