
Getting ready for a performance…*sigh* is the most exciting and nerve shaking process in entertainment. This is all assuming that we want the show to go off without a hitch, (will smith is more than welcome to come though #movie reference.) The process is simple but there are many details that get over looked I know this from working with other artist. So let us go over some of the basic steps that get over looked when getting ready for a performance.
1. Self-promoting. When striving to get people to come to a show Eighth Republic (8R) is performing we tend to market at minimum a month and half in advance. Reason being when asking last minute there time might be occupied, the funds might not be there, or they could feel as if you’re asking last minute because there not important. I find when asking earlier you can receive the payment and hold the tickets until the week of the show, fans tend to make a day out of your show they get there hair done, go shopping, go out to eat, come to your performance then hit an after party. Lastly it’s professional, bigger company’s promote there artist shows months in advance and if we cannot give the courtesy to our fans by informing them in advance how can we expect a great turnout? How can we expect to compete with bigger companies in the future?
1. Self-promoting. When striving to get people to come to a show Eighth Republic (8R) is performing we tend to market at minimum a month and half in advance. Reason being when asking last minute there time might be occupied, the funds might not be there, or they could feel as if you’re asking last minute because there not important. I find when asking earlier you can receive the payment and hold the tickets until the week of the show, fans tend to make a day out of your show they get there hair done, go shopping, go out to eat, come to your performance then hit an after party. Lastly it’s professional, bigger company’s promote there artist shows months in advance and if we cannot give the courtesy to our fans by informing them in advance how can we expect a great turnout? How can we expect to compete with bigger companies in the future?
2. Rehearse! We rehearse excessively before a show we rehearse even if we don’t have a show coming up. We do this because fans don’t come to a performance just to hear the music they come to SEE the artist. So if were looking down at the floor, and were not putting on show then we can expect to SEE less people at the next performance.
3. Lastly is picking a track list. I understand wanting fans to hear the lyrics of a song and wanting them to feel and understand the artist better (that should be the goal with every song in my opinion). But what I do not understand is picking that song that is slow and all lyrics for a performance. Leave it for the CD fans come out to have a good time not to hear whatever problems are going on. So when we pick our track list we are very particular in the order of the songs not only to entertain and tell a story but also how the order of the songs appeals to the ear. Does it make sense to go from a party song to just a head bobber in the middle of our set? Does it make sense to start of slow then pick up the set, or just go blazing out the gate? These are some of the questions we ask over and over again before we set our track list.
3. Lastly is picking a track list. I understand wanting fans to hear the lyrics of a song and wanting them to feel and understand the artist better (that should be the goal with every song in my opinion). But what I do not understand is picking that song that is slow and all lyrics for a performance. Leave it for the CD fans come out to have a good time not to hear whatever problems are going on. So when we pick our track list we are very particular in the order of the songs not only to entertain and tell a story but also how the order of the songs appeals to the ear. Does it make sense to go from a party song to just a head bobber in the middle of our set? Does it make sense to start of slow then pick up the set, or just go blazing out the gate? These are some of the questions we ask over and over again before we set our track list.

These are just very basic things that seem to get overlooked. There are a million other details we go over before a performance but we wanted to share these basics. If you can do these correctly you will notice the performance is easier for you and most importantly your fans will have a great time. Now its 9am on Sunday September 16th 2012 I have a meeting and a rehearsal to attend in 1 hr. We have a show coming up on September 26th!