More Writing For Performance

Well, since we went over why one doesn't need to perform one's own work, this week I thought I'd give equal time to the performer/songwriters. If you are one of those, it is always a challenge to pull off the stuff you just wrote. Here are a few things you might try to make sure you don't have to stand on stage with music sheets in front of you, or miming along to a tape machine.

PRACTICE UNDER DURESS

Most of us understand the more you rehearse anything, the faster you will have it memorized. Practicing while other noises are occurring, though, can really help you focus, and can let the mind remember it a lot better. If you were ever in school band, you know what a cacophony it was before the teacher showed up, with everyone working on different numbers all at the same time-why not practice that way, too? Turn on the radio, or put on an album of totally different music, and then take your lead sheet and try to play your piece several times over until you get it right. Sadly, if you are used to playing in a restaurant, this isn't much different than playing while a party is going on, or someone has just decided they have to be heard over you. Do this enough, and no heckler will be able to penetrate your concentration or make you blow your riffs, even if they are complex, because you can literally do them no matter what goes on. Want to up the ante-do this with the volume of the competing sound up even higher, and make sure you can still hear yourself. As always, make sure you do this either in a soundproofed place or somewhere you won't be disturbing others, or you may have some totally unwanted noises and heckling to overcome, or perhaps even find yourself in legal or housing trouble-you don't need to, so don't get yourself into hot water.

CREATE YOUR DREAM STAGE

If at all possible, try setting your practice area up like a favorite venue's stage. Put boxes where monitors would be, some sort of obstacle if there is a pole somewhere, borders where the edge of the stage would be and so forth. If possible, put mirrors, and other things that can reflect back even a goofy-looking image of you so you can get a vague idea of what you look like, and a video camera or so if you can swing that. Put dummies where other band members might be if you can't get them over to join you or you want to try this yourself at home a few times, first. Now get your instrument, microphone, stands and cords, and work on moving around the stage like you would for a gig, complete with instrument spins, dancing if you do that, crossing near other band member's amps and so forth until you can move about comfortably without tripping over things, taking teammates out with your flailing mic stand, or getting feedback from someone's monitor because you got too close, unless you want to somehow work that into the song. Now see if you can do all that with each song, playing it the best you can while jumping around. The more you leap about while performing in rehearsal, the easier it will be when you have the adrenaline pumping from the crowd energy of doing your thing live. Once you can do this all well, invite the rest of the band around and let them have fun with your new playground. Once they are comfy, let loose on them, and see how tough playing your parts are with moving bodies on stage. Doing this enough can really help you get a good stage act going, and know what zones work and don't work for each member to prevent things like sound cutting out, feedback, cords getting tangled, or getting a cymbal so loud in your ear you can't hear the monitor and get sour notes. If you get really comfy with this, you can even try inviting over people to act as audience members. Even if they are loudly critical, you can just think of this as heckler practice, and make sure you stay focused and give your very best, even if you have a hostile crowd to work with.

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