There is no doubt that while you play music in the studio, one is allowed to have several retakes whereas when playing live, there is absolutely no room for error when you are on stage. And one has to be well-prepared to not only keep the crowd entertained while also playing their music correctly as well.
And since several things do go wrong every now and then, one can only attribute this to a lack of preparation, and so here is a list of tips to remember before performing live:
Tip #1: Rehearsal, rehearsal and more rehearsals
If you rehearse with your band in the same manner that you will perform live, then you will find that you blend well and sound much better together than otherwise. It is also a very good idea to practice with equipment that you will use when performing live.
Tip #2: Agree to a Set List
In order to ensure that there is no confusion about the songs chosen for that night, ensure that everyone in the band knows the order of the songs before you go on stage, and in doing one can seamlessly move on to the next song without any errors.
Tip #3: The Sound Crew is very important
Making friends with the sound crew is vital as they will be able assist you with a sound check and even be able to give you the equipment you need, without leaving anything to chance.
Tip #4: Warm up
Never, never go on stage ‘cold’… play a short song together before going on stage in order to warm up.