How To Start Performing At Live Gigs, Concerts, And Festivals

Explore the journey from street performances to the grand stage in our comprehensive guide to live performances. Discover tips, insights, and inspiring stories in this captivating read

It's almost every artist’s dream to perform their music in front of millions of people. It’s a feeling unlike any other when the crowd is bobbing their heads, dancing, and singing along to your work. Without any doubt, getting to that level is not as easy as it sounds and we gotta start somewhere. 

First is online presence because when any promoter notices you firstly, he checks your social and Spotify stats. So, pay attention to your Spotify profile and buy Spotify streams when it's needed.

The most straightforward way to start performing in public is to simply get out there and perform on the streets! (Some places do not allow it so just be a little careful). Artists such as Ed Sheeran, B.B. King, and Justin Bieber started off their careers right this way, and look how they turned out.

In any case, say if you’re looking and are ready to get on to a proper stage and perform at live gigs, there are a few things you can do to go about it and ensure that things go smoothly. 

Step One: Secure Bookings At Venues - What Is A Booking?

First of all (and probably the most difficult part in your early career), you want to get “booked” at a venue. The job of searching for and securing bookings is typically done by an artist's booking agent. You could do it by yourself for a start, no worries. The idea of securing a booking is by getting into an agreement with a venue’s promoter.

The promoter’s job on the other hand is to ensure that they are able to pull in as many people as they can to come to the venue and generate revenue from related in-house products and services including bar and ticket sales. When choosing who to perform, the promoter will likely book artists that would attract the biggest crowd. Imagine a famous artist performing at an average bar, that bar would be packed!

Get To Know The Community: Networking Your Way Through

In the scenario where you don’t already have a strong online presence or a historical record of performing at many events, there are a few things you could try out to get that booking ticket in.

You could start by networking. Head on to other events and befriend other artists, the working staff, promoters, organizers, or even participants. Get friendly and be ready to share your social media platforms and music with them. Not only will this contribute to growing your online presence, but you’ll also have a genuine connection with people in the industry.

By having these connections, you somewhat have a higher chance of getting booked as compared to someone who hasn’t done so. You could get referred to a venue by another artist or a promoter might just be able to do you a favor and just have you onboard.

From then on, it’s only up to you to perform your best and leave a good impression. Good gigs will lead to more gigs, so you should strive to do your best here and get rid of any stage frights.

Step Into The Spotlight By Getting Involved In Competitions

Another way to just get on a stage and develop a reputation is to enter competitions. By participating, you get valuable, free exposure and have a chance to meet industry experts. Additionally, it helps you prepare for the real thing. You may just notice a few mistakes as you’re on stage.

(Devdiscourse's journalists were not involved in the production of this article. The facts and opinions appearing in the article do not reflect the views of Devdiscourse and Devdiscourse does not claim any responsibility for the same.)