Succeeding in the Performing Arts

Links to Live Discussions Arriving Early Beginning & End, Make them Obvious Being There -- It's Showtime Dress for Success Flashlights Game Tapes Glow Tape Green Room, The Ground Your Liquids Hydration Introduction Larger than Life Less Is (often) More Make BIG Mistakes Packing Your Own Parachute Scouting the Venue Setting the Stage

Introduction

December 21, 2007

Ken-at-Bose

Hi Folks,

For the past few years, we've had discussions amongst the moderators and others about the idea of collecting our experiences in the performing arts (mostly live music) into some short essays that might help to disseminate the knowledge.

The time has come to begin this effort.

Each "lesson learned" will be a new thread, whose title will begin with "Succeeding in the Performing Arts" followed by a colon and few words about the topic.

We are completely comfortable, in fact we are hoping, that members of this community will start threads. If you do so, please use the format just given so that others will quickly know it is part of the series.

The threads are "open", meaning anyone from the community can reply and comment on the thread. We really encourage you to do this. This is an unbelievably strong community with an astonishing amount of experience in the performing arts. Let's put it to good use, okay?

Please try to stick the topic at hand. If you find yourself straying, perhaps that is an indication that you need to start another thread.

Eventually, we are hoping to copy the information over to the L1 Wiki.

We very much look forward to your participation.

Will you help us do this?

Ken Jacob
Director, Advanced Development
Bose Professional Systems

Arriving Early

Only rock stars can afford to arrive just before the gig, and many rock stars still arrive early to the gig.

The more complex the gig, the earlier we think you should arrive.

Surprises are less likely to hijack the performance because there's time to deal with them.

There's time to relax and get your head in the game.

There's time to practice a few things.

In the professional theater, crew call is usually 120 minutes before show time and 90 minutes for artists.

We believe this is a good rule of thumb with obvious allowances for extra time if you are both crew and performing artist.

Discussion: Arriving Early

Beginning & End, Make them Obvious

We endorse the idea of employing a little theatricality into the beginning and end of a show.

Audiences appreciate a formal start and end to a performance and conversely are less receptive to sloppy bookends.

For every single Bob Dylan show we've seen, for example, (and there have been many spanning at least three decades), the show has always begun with the announcement "Ladies and Gentleman, please welcome Columbia recording artist Bob Dylan!"

Careful use of lighting can also be effective in signaling the beginning and end of a performance.

At the end of a musical performance, use crisp body language to signal things are over. Lingering on stage attending to equipment can be confusing to the audience, or worse, appear gratuitous.

Discussion: Beginning & End, Make them Obvious

Being There — It's Showtime!

ST

What do you do to prepare in that time brief time just before setting foot on stage? I am talking about

• mentally
• emotionally
• physically
• spiritually
• musically

When I am disciplined about it I have a routine that I go through before the performance. It is basically about being deliberately, consciously, purposefully committed to the moment, the audience and the music. I used to have to do it out loud, but these days I am more likely to do it quietly. It generally works better for me to take a moment to be alone to do this. It used to involve a mental checklist but these days it is usually good enough to say to myself, "It's Showtime!".

If I am working with other players then depending on my relationship with them, I get them involved.

Some of the people I have played with seem to have a nonchalant, almost too casual approach. They hit the stage running while still fuming over the events of the day, or running late, or chewing a sandwich or finishing a sentence. It doesn't work for me. I need to pause for a moment to remember why I am there and direct my full attention to that.

There are so many things I cannot control it is a miracle when things work at all. But one thing I can usually control is my state of mind when it is time to perform.

How about you?

The discussion is ongoing in Succeeding in the Performing Arts: Being There -- It's Showtime!

Flashlights

We're amazed when we see a performer without a pocket flashlight. It's like a chef who forgets to bring a knife.

A good light is indispensable on any stage. Frankly, a good light is indispensable in life.

Although genuinely dorky looking, we cannot argue with the exceptional benefits of the new class of LED headlamps, marketed mainly to hikers and outdoors-people. Fundamentally, they do two things that a handheld light does not: 1) they free the hands and 2) they're easily aimed onto the work at hand. Some, delightfully, come with a red LED option, something that the truly professional stage professional knows is essential for working on the stage during a performance.

Discussion: Flashlights

Game Tapes

It is often horrible to listen to or watch a recording of one's performance.

And that is just the point. In the horror comes the insight on how to improve. As a result, we can not recommend this technique more strongly.

Why wait for a loved one or close friend to tell you what is so obvious to others? You unconsciously put "ums" in your speech when you're answering a question from the audience, for example, or have an annoying habit of flicking your hair or sniffing between songs.

Avoid conspicuous recording apparatuses. They can change audience reaction and obscure sight lines.

Discussion: Game Tapes

Glow Tape

We believe glow tape may be the greatest thing since pop-up Kleenex.

There's almost nothing scarier (or tackier) than seeing a performer grope and stumble around a stage because they can't see where they're going. For a performer, tip-toeing around a dangerous stage can produce unwanted anxiety just when it's time to concentrate on the performance.

Glow tape is a wonderful invention used extensively in the professional performing arts. It's used to mark steps, the edges of audience sight lines (so that performers waiting in the wings are not seen by the audience), as "spike marks" for set pieces, and more.

We believe that every performer's "stage kit" should include a small roll of glow tape and a small set of scissors so that in a pinch he or she can "mark their territory" when necessary.

Discussion: Glow Tape

Green Room

Ken-at-Bose

The Green Room; A green room is a room in a theater, studio, or other public venue for the accommodation of performers or speakers when not required on the stage. -- Wikipedia Green Room

Here's a link to the full Wikipedia entry for Green Room which contains a fascinating discussion of the mysterious roots of the term.

We think performing artists need and deserve "a place of their own". In many venues this place must be improvised but we feel it is essential nevertheless.

Many times, the venue operators will say "oh, we don't have a dressing room". But often times, if you quietly scope the venue you can find a quiet place not far from the stage that if you ask can be used as a private place.

Discussion: Green Room

Hydration

The stage is a very de-hydrating environment.

We recommend that you keep hydrated all day before a performance.

Avoid sudden hydrating before the show unless you have breaks planned accordingly.

When we are dehydrated we are not at our best -- a fact proven in many studies. It is also not good for general heath.

If you must sip from plastic water bottles of water on stage do so discretely, for example during the initial applause after a song. Sipping from a bottle when the audience's full attention is on you -- for example when you are talking between tunes to them -- is often awkward for the audience.

Discussion: Hydration

Larger Than Life

Sometimes, when we see a performer backstage or in the wings, they look "larger than life" or even a little garish. The makeup may look overdone, or the clothing too, well, big.

But there's a long tradition in the performing arts of compensating for the emptiness of the stage and distance of the audience by exaggerating wardrobe, makeup, hair, etc.

We know a performer who has special shoes for playing. He's a frontman. And the shoes are BIG -- way too big for his feat. And yet, when you see him on stage, everything's in proportion. He takes the shoes off after the show and would never wear them to drinks or dinner. They'd stand out as odd.

Discussion: Larger Than Life

Less Is (often) More

We find it uncomfortable to keep audiences in their seats for more than about 45-60 minutes and we find performing artists often going over this limit.

Audiences need time to stretch their legs, get a drink, go to the restroom, and talk.

Artists too need the break.

We think intermissions should be brief and crisp. Audiences should know when the next set will start, either by a friendly flashing of the lights, or an announcement of some kind.

We are wary of the artist that has much more to say than the audience member can absorb.

We note certain infrequent exceptions: when the audience/artist is in rapture and you can hold them there, time does not matter.

Discussion: Less Is (often) More

Liquids on Stage: Ground Your Liquids

We cringe when we see performers and technicians place open containers of liquid above ground level when there are mission critical electronics below.

If you must have an open container with you, place it out of the way on the ground. Imagine what would happen if it were to spill and if you don't like the consequences, move it to a safer place.

Use a closed container whenever possible. However, if you are an entertainer, avoid "taking a swig" from a bottle with your face to the audience. It can appear uncouth to some. Turn your back, or keep your bottled refreshment upstage and out of the light. Cups are more dangerous in terms of spills but the body language of drinking is much more favorable.

Discussion: Ground Your Liquids

Making BIG Mistakes

Not unlike the "Game Tapes" Thread under this same topic, in order to be your best, you must always put it out there. Don't be timid. I believe that almost all of your success is dependent on confidence. From that stems "the rest".

This is especially true in rehearsal. Go for it! If you're not sure of a note, so what? Get it out there so you can actually hear it, then you can fix it. Maybe you don't know how. If nobody else can hear your mistake, then they can't help you either.

If you make a mistake during a gig, don't linger on it. GO ON! You'll screw up something else to be sure if you think about the last mistake. Of course, if you are confident in what you are doing, you'll no doubt sell it, and your audience won't know anything was wrong.

Get in the habit of making big mistakes. They'll be much more noticeable to you and more quickly fixed.

Discussion: Making BIG Mistakes

Packing Your Own Parachute

We've learned that it's always worth the extra effort to quickly set up your rig before you leave for the gig, then pack it yourself so that you are almost guaranteed that you won't have left anything and that things will work on the gig end.

We call this "packing your own parachute" -- an old term from the military used in the literal sense. If your parachute doesn't open, whom do you have to blame?

Discussion: Packing Your Own Parachute

Scouting the Venue

Ken-at-Bose

Whenever possible, I try to scout a venue before the day of show. I've seen so many train wrecks because problems are discovered without enough time to deal with them.

A stressed out artist is unlikely to perform his or her best.

Scouting allows you to meet the people with whom you'll be working. It allows you to do obvious things like scope out the stage and the AC power. To look at the lighting.

And it allows you to get the gestalt of the place. As an artist, you can begin to think about what things you might do in the performance to take advantage of the venue.

If you can not scout the venue in person, scout it on the phone. If you're the organized type, use a list of questions to be sure you get as much valuable information as possible. If the venue has a website, scout that, but we feel this is not a substitute for a live conversation with someone who works at the venue.

If you know other artists that have played the venue, ask them about it.

Questions for the Venue

See: Scouting the Venue for a separate page suitable for printing or if you want to add to the questions that appear below.

Questions to Ask When Scouting the Venue

General Questions

Most of these have been incorporated into the Who, What, When... model below.

• What volume is acceptable in this place?
• What external noise factors are there?
• Does the type of crowd change throughout the night? How quickly?
• Are there sound issues you weren't aware of?
• How far ahead of time can I set up? Is the stage area being used for something else before I play?
• I have my own PA.
  • Am I allowed to use it, or
  • do you insist on my using the one you have set up?
  • Is there a house sound-man?
• Which entrance do you prefer I bring my equipment through, and how far is it to the stage?
• If you won't be at the venue when I'm playing, who is my contact person, for pay and instructions?
• And of course:
  • How big is the stage?
  • IS there a stage?
  • Is it raised at all?
  • Do you have lighting of any kind?
  • How far away is the power?

Topical Break Down

You might use a different model based on a time line through the event, or centered around the physical layout. This is far from complete, but food for thought.

Who

• Who is in the audience?
  • Does the type of crowd change throughout the night? How quickly?
• Who do we talk to if there are issues?
• Who do we talk to to get paid?
• Who is running the sound system?
• Who else will need to access the stage?
  • Special events may have talkers, announcements, auctions, guest performers.

What

• What volume is acceptable in this place?
• What external noise factors are there?
• What kind of music are you expecting?
• What kind of sound system do you have?
• What kind of music do you play in the background?
• What kind of stage do you have?
  • How big is it?
  • Where is it?
  • Is it elevated?
• What is the dress code?
• What is your policy about food and drink for the performers?
• What is your policy about having non-paid performers on the stage?
• What is your policy about original music?
  • Are you paying a Performing Rights Organization to allow us to play copyrighted material? See: Why are they pickin' on us little guy venues?

When

• When can we gain access to the premises?
• When can we access the stage area?
• When will the audience arrive?

This can be important if this is a special event.

• When do we start playing?
• When do we take breaks?
• When will the announcements, events or speeches happen? (Special Events)
• When do we shut down?
  • Are encores okay?

Where

• Where do we park?
  • Is there a loading zone or loading bay?
• Where do we load in?
• Where do we store gear, bags, cases, anything that should not be visible on the stage?
• Where do you want us to go during the breaks? (the bar, the lounge, a "band" table).
• Where is the stage?
• Where are the electrical outlets?
  • What else is on the same circuits?
  • Are there any outlets that we should not use?
• Where does the sound have to be heard?
  • Is there any place where the sound will not be reachable from the stage? (outside, separate rooms, balconies)

Why

• Why does this venue have live music?
• Why are the people in the audience there?
• Why are you holding this event? (Wedding, Funeral, Concert, Party, ...)
  • Will there be photographers, video, recording?

How

• How big is the room?
• How big is the stage?
• How do we get paid?
• How do you want us to handle requests? (Happy Birthday?)
• How is the stage lit?
• How do you want us to access the stage?
  • Is there a set route through the venue.

Setting the Stage

Discussion: Setting the StageWhat you do to 'set the stage' for your performance?

I am asking about anything that you do to prepare the audience for your show.

I am careful about the visual impression. In smaller places there can be artwork, kitschy decorations, light streaming through a door to a storage space, and the occasional mop handle intruding on the scene on stage. I try to clear all of that out of the way, or at least be aware of what might be peeking out from behind my head. I've played in front of some pretty strange artwork and the visual impression of some goth creature glaring down at me from behind was completely incongruous with the music.

Taking control of the aural experience (playing your tracks through the L1™ before you start) seems like a great idea. It certainly beats gesticulating wildly and mouthing a plea to turn down the stereo at someone behind the bar. But it also seems like a good way to set the tone of the room. It is so clearly different when the music is coming from one direction or another. Having the music come from your L1™ just makes so much sense. So does choosing the music that you will follow.

In places with small stages, there may not be any controllable lighting. Do you bring any with you? I've noticed that LED lights looking relatively inexpensive, cool, and lightweight. Anybody using something like this?

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