Planning Your Live Set
So, you want to step out onto the stage and the world what you’ve got. You’re an artist and you’re gonna be on tour in venues small and large singing for the masses. EXCELLENT! As much as its important for you to pen songs people want to sing along to, part of your journey is to figure out how to be compelling figure on stage. So, let’s discuss a few ways that you can make your onstage experience one that an audience walks away from talking about for days.
Your biggest consideration needs to be the way your voice is going to sound throughout your set. Most sets early on in your career are going to be in the 45 minute to 1 hour range. That’s a lot of singing whether you’ve got the vocal stamina or not. That said, there’s a few ways to ensure that your voice can handle the marathon of a performance. Chief among those methods is ensuring that your set list flows in a way that prioritizes vocal health. Start your set with songs that are mid-range so that your voice can warm up. In the middle of your set, place your more vocally challenging pieces sing your voice is sufficiently pliant. End again with easy material so as not to overburden your voice. Another consideration, of course, is how many songs to place in a set of this length. I advise 9-10. Really use time in between songs to drink water and banter with the audience as a volume that does not put strain on your voice. If you can lengthen these down times then your set can reach an appropriate length without vocal strain from singing too many songs.
Most audience members are coming to your show not just to hear you sing but to get the experience of being in a room with the artist. They want to hear your stories about the songs you write. Give the people what they want with planned out banter. Write scripts for what you’re going to say in between songs so that you’re not flying completely off the cuff. Rehearse what you’re going to say when you rehearse your set at home and you will feel more comfortable on stage when it’s time to put the music down and talk.
Diversify your set list. Your set list should never be one note - rhythmically, tempo-wise, or vocally. Choose some songs that are uptempo and some that are down tempo. Mix songs that are vocally challenging and those that are easy as hell. Add in a cover or two at odd junctures when an audience might start tuning out so as to keep them captivated. If you’re doing a set with a full band or tracks, add in a moment in which you play an acoustic song or two. Keep the audience guessing about what’s coming next.
Get the audience singing along if you can. Finding moments to teach the audience a portion of your songs and getting them to sing along is one way to make the audience feel like they’re a part of event that they couldn’t get at home. There’s nothing like singing along to a song with a giant chorus. Its a pleasure for the artist as much as its a joy for the audience.
Putting together a show obviously involves so much more than what was discussed here. But, hopefully this blog has provided you with a few ways to prep your set and make it interesting for your loyal and adoring fans.
