Live performance is one of the most fulfilling aspects of being a musician. You not only get to play in front of a live audience, but you also get to engage with them through your performances.

This appears to be a lot of fun, but remember that live performances are a completely different experience than creating music at your own convenience. 

A live event allows not only you but also your fans to experience your music in a whole new way. It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for both performers and audience members to bond through the performance.

It is vital to constantly upgrade your performance, whether you are a newbie or have done it plenty of times before. Here are some pointers for putting on a mind-blowing show for your audience.

Make Practising a Priority

The first step toward delivering an outstanding performance is ensuring that you and your band are adequately prepared.

As they say, "practice makes perfect." The more you practice, the better prepared you will be to perform on stage.

So each day is a great day to practice, and if you're in a band or group, you should meet together with them as often as possible to practice your set for your next performance.

If getting together with your band frequently is tough due to different schedules, you should try to do something together at least once a week for a practice or rehearsal session.

Ensure that you also get your individual practice in on the other days of the week so you can focus on putting your performance together when you meet with the rest of your group. You should have no trouble on performance day if you practice the songs for your next performance until they become second nature to you.

Remember, there is a difference between practice sessions and rehearsals. During practice sessions, your main focus should be on having everyone in your band ready to play the songs on your setlist.

During rehearsals, on the other hand, you and your band should put together the actual performance and begin planning how you would like your show to look on the big day. Consider your rehearsals to be "mock performances," where you and your band can experience what it's like to play your set live.

Create a Powerful Setlist

Failure to adequately flesh out the setlist for your show in advance is a recipe for unsatisfactory performance.

Determine how much time you have for your set. If the show is 30 minutes long, you might have time for 4-5 songs. If it's a 60-minute performance, you could then plan 9-10 songs.

Next, talk on the flow of the performance. Many artists/ bands choose to begin with the faster, more energetic songs and end with calmer music or vice versa.

It's also a good idea to save your best song or your hit song for last. If you have more than one "hit," spread them out evenly throughout the set, leaving at least one for the end.

Things to Take Into Consideration When choosing your setlist

• What kind of audience will you have during your performance?

• Where will the performance be held? (Indoors or outdoors)

• What kind of atmosphere do you want to create?

• Do you have a certain theme in mind for your setlist?

• How long will your entire show run?

• What is the length of each song you select?

• What is the most effective way for you to use the stage to perform each song?

Engage Your Audience.

You will be able to connect with your audience on a deeper level if you interact with them while playing live. Make it as if you're inviting people into your universe when performing on stage.

The more enthralled your audience is with your presentation, the more active they become. This excitement can be channeled into an even stronger performance by you and your band. It can also alleviate anxiety in the setting, allowing you and your band to concentrate on the entire performance while on stage.

When playing live on stage, it's easy to get lost in your music and when this happens, you may lose sight of the audience. Always engage your audience. Do a nice introduction of yourself and talk with the audience before you start performing.

Engage the audience in conversation also before jumping onto the next song when transitioning from one song to another.

Look for ways to include your audience in your performances. You can invite the audience to sing along if you're singing a song that everyone knows or make them clap along to the beat this will create a sense of belonging for them.

Last but not least, remember to thank your audience for coming to your performance at the end.

Ensure that your Mistakes are not Obvious.

Your performance doesn't need to be flawless. Man is to error and perfection shouldn't be your end goal, so mistakes are allowed.  

At some point, the guitarist may hit the wrong note or you may fall offbeat for a moment or two - it's okay.  Unless you make a big deal out of it, the chances of your audience spotting the error are slim. Avoid worrying about it or attempting to fix it onstage.

It's natural for everyone to make mistakes while performing live music, it's all part of the experience. Never make your mistake obvious to everybody in the room, no matter how big or small it is.

Keep your cool and keep playing.

Arrive on Time

This is as straight as it is. Keep time!

Punctuality is what will keep you in good standing with a promoter or venue officials. Being late for a show causes headaches for almost everyone responsible for putting on a live show.

Confirm the time and details for the event and aim to arrive earlier than the set time to put yourself in order. Depending on the event organizers, you may be assigned a separate sound check slot. If you bring all of your gear in on time, you can make the most of your soundcheck and do a better setup.

Be certain that you and the rest of the band are on the same page regarding when and where you should meet for you to make it to the venue on time together

To Wrap Up…

The life of a musician is not easy, particularly when it comes to live performances. Accept the ups and downs and learn to manoeuvre through them.

Keep your dream. Rome was not built overnight. To be an excellent live performer, you must put in a lot of effort, tenacity, and dedication.

Simply remember the tips above, and you'll have a fantastic time no matter what or when your next gig is. 

Now get out there and break a leg!