You too can be a rock star

Of course, the term “rock star” is subjective and the level of fame you achieve depends on you and your work ethic. If you’re not in this business to be a musician, but simply to get drugs and groupies, you may want to reevaluate your entire life. These standard guidelines will provide you with the basic information you can use to further your music career. Your goal should be to generate as much fan support as possible to make it marketable to the promoters of the venue. More fans = more followers = more income for the bar owner when you play. If your band attracts more people, you can start charging more and you can choose which venues to play. So the first rule is to generate interest in your band.

Ruffles have been worn by gangs since before you were even born, and they’re not going away anytime soon. That being said, social media is so pervasive in our culture that nowadays you can get more looks by looking at your event information faster. So I can’t stress enough the use of Facebook and Twitter to publicize your events. Flyers are great for college campus concerts along with social media. The main key is to use what is called ‘contextual marketing’, in other words, to target your product (your show) to the people who would be interested in seeing your band. A flyer inside or outside a cool record store is always a great way to get more fans. Marketing is a subject in itself, so I won’t delve further into the subject. But the key is getting new fans to join what you’re selling.

Once you’ve organized a concert, you need to prepare for the publicity you’re doing on stage. A large banner with your band’s name on it will do wonders for fan retention. Have you ever walked into a random bar where a band was playing and you had no idea of ​​the band’s name? No sign, no name on the kick drum, and you were subliminally bored with the music this nameless band was playing. You left thinking that the band was a bit bad, but you didn’t know why. Give your band a chance to win over random passersby with some form of identification so they can put a name to the music they heard. If you can get a banner emblazoned with your name/logo on it and place it behind your drummer, it will get you extra publicity and it’s the easiest way to get your name on people’s lips. We also have signs made with QR codes for our website and Facebook site, for those with smartphones to take advantage of this technology.

Always be on time to shows, including sound checks. A band that does not respect the venue enough to be punctual will not be able to be hired again. You have to remember that a happy place is the best way to get future business. Of course, you are being paid for this; act like a professional and keep your promises (which include your time commitments). Axl Rose isn’t reading this article and he doesn’t need to be. You’re not Axl Rose. You have to be on time… always.

Tuning your instruments seems like a no-brainer, but there are plenty of cases of bands neglecting this vital advice and sounding like a bunch of dog bonds. Soundchecks are often a good time to tune your favorite instrument, as there tends to be a lot of down time. And while you’re holding your precious axe, give it some shine. I have dozens of photos of me playing a guitar full of smudges and fingerprints. That could have been easily prevented with a few swipes of the rag a couple of hours in advance. I learned the hard way: you don’t have to.

Now we come to the part where I talk about your performance. No, I am not going to discuss the benefits of soloing using a Phrygian mode. Much simpler than all that. Apart from your music, people are going to remember what you looked like. Their goal is to look like MUSICIANS, not some random surfer who wandered down the street and picked up a sweet Les Paul and started playing. You usually don’t have to dress in a sequined tuxedo, but you should try to look like you really care if people come to see you. Subtlety will work wonders. I get that you don’t want to look like you spent two hours choosing your wardrobe, but a simple scarf can usually do more than a pair of spandex pants. And guys; do not rule out the value of guyliner. Do you want to stand out or not?

Whether you play originals or covers, playing a weird cover or a cover of a popular song can make the audience remember you. For example, if you have the ability to play in different styles, that can really impress people quickly. Most of the time when I see bands, I don’t remember much. Most cover bands play the same songs, and they usually play them the same. Bored. If you take a Metallica song and play it in a reggae style, it would be memorable for both Metallica fans and reggae fans alike. They’d tell their friends about this great moment at last night’s show and maybe give your band a gig. The objective is to differentiate yourself from the rest of the groups that play on the same circuit as you. In the mid 80’s, there was a band in Austin, TX called Ed Asner Gay who wore rubber masks (trying to look like Ed Asner) and frequently bumped into each other on stage and made strange noises. They were nice guys, but their music sucked. If you haven’t noticed, I’m referring to a band from 30 years ago that I saw once. Based solely on your name and stage presence. Keep it in mind.

Beyond the advice given here, make sure your audience thinks they’re having fun on stage. If it seems like just a job to people in the crowd, they’ll tend to feel like they’re watching someone prepare their Happy Meal. No one wants to see anyone at work, with a few exceptions. Far be it from me to compare musical performance to exotic dancing, but that’s what it may seem like at times. Smile when you can, show that you enjoy performing for them, and give them a reason to envy you. After all, you’re doing something most of them can’t do and that’s why they’re sitting there in the first place.