Posted on: April 24, 2018 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 0

There was a time a few years ago when it seemed as though live music was going to decline to the point where it wasn’t worth performing in front of an audience. It used to be that you had to be able to play live to sign a record deal, but with advances in technology enabling anyone to record music in a studio or even their own home, being able to perform live was no longer an essential requirement. Added to that was the cost of playing stadium gigs, with performers all trying to outdo each other in the spectacle of their show and running up massive bills in the process. All that has changed again and live performances are the hot ticket once more.

Why music changed

Rather than the electronic age signaling the end of live music, it kicked off a completely different form of commerce that has changed how people listened to and paid for their music. For decades, you had to go out and buy a physical recording of the music you wanted to listen to, first on vinyl, then cassettes, then CDs and their variants. CDs are still made and sold, but the big increase in sales is from digital downloads. Instead of having to buy a whole album you can pick and choose which tracks you want to download, or pay a fee and listen to anything you want. This has, in turn, created a big change for the business side of the industry, as record companies are no longer so dominant because anyone can put their music out there without having to make a massive financial investment.

Playing live now

Shifts within the music industry have almost come full circle in some respects, with bands and singers using live performances as a marketing tool, and when they have a large enough following, as a major money-spinner as well. That means that new musicians have to take to the road and get out in front of people if they are to make a name for themselves. If you are trying to promote your music this way, approach it in exactly the same way as you would a business, with a plan, a marketing strategy and plenty of networking. Opportunities for new artists include the traditional route of pubs and clubs, but anywhere that has room for you to perform and a captive audience is a fair game. Some artists find a niche such as playing at weddings or private parties. It’s the best way to improve as a performer because you will have to play in a wide variety of different venues and cope with the differences in acoustics and audience reaction every time. For instance, you could be playing banquet halls with vaulted ceilings one day, then an innovative indoor space or club the next.

It’s all about taking the opportunities that are there and finding where you want to place yourself on the music scene. But one thing is for sure, in most cases your ability to play live will once again be the making of you.

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