Quick tip 43 Playing in a new venue

I have a check list I go through every time I play in a new venue. First impressions are very important and especially when you are trying to build a new working relationship. This list is especially relevant to Dublin music scene, but also all around Europe. So here is my list:

1. Check out in advance what equipment the venue have. It is not the venues job to provide you instruments. Unless we are talking about pro venue, the chances are that some of the channels on the house desk are not in the best possible shape, microphones stands (if there are any working ones) will probably not tighten up, or even stay up. And I hope you don’t even think about using those house microphones that every band for the past ten years have used and left on the floor at the end of the show. What ever is missing, bring your own.
2. Find out what time you are expected to start, how long is your set and if there is a break in the set and for how long. Stick to the times! This is a deal breaker.

3. Make friends with the staff, but don’t be too pushy.

4. Don’t leave a mess behind

5. Be respectful to the other bands.

6. If there is a sound engineer, thank them. And if possible, buy them a beer.

7. Promote the gig online, and make sure the venue notices this as well. You can do this by tagging the venues Facebook page or Twitter in any posts and pictures you post. And always thank the venue online after the show.

There you go. The list can go on for much longer, but these are the mistakes I see over and over again. What would you add to the list?

J.P.

The author J.P. Kallio is a singer songwriter
To get EIGHT of his songs for free go HERE