Sometimes you go to a show and the band floors you not only with their music, but with their stage presence as a whole. It’s a pretty amazing feeling, isn’t it? The whole package.

If you want to make an impression, regardless of what you define “impression” to mean, you have to actually put some thought and effort into it. I’m sure you already take your music seriously, but have you also thought about the other essential elements to the live show equation?

I’m not even talking about huge, drastic changes or having to spend a lot of money. The difference between a band that really grabs an audience and one that doesn’t could be as simple as having a banner with your logo hanging behind the drums. That $65 banner screams professionalism (especially if you have a great logo). Not only that, but every picture someone takes of your set will more than likely feature it. No matter how many times you tell the audience your band’s name there is a chance they will forget.

Another way to dress for the job you want is to literally dress for the job you want! When I see a band and they all look like they belong in the band, I am more drawn to them. Some may argue that this makes each member look the same and to those people I say, “Umm…no doi.” A band is not a solo project (unless it is and then it certainly does make sense for the head honcho to be wearing something more snazzy). A band is a group effort, a cohesive unit of people that got together to (hopefully) share a common vision. The band is a work of art in and of itself – even beyond the music.

Finally, the best way to prove to your potential, and even existing, fans that you belong up there is to have a good live show. I will not be telling you how to have a good live show because for all I know your fans want lots of interpretive dance coming from the stage or head banging and blood. That’s for you to know. What I’m saying is you need to give your audience what they want. On some levels even not giving a crap what your audience wants is exactly what your audience wants. Just look at Guns N’ Roses. It’s like an abusive relationship between them and their fans. “They don’t mean to hurt us, but they do again and again.” That’s a very rare scenario though and even more rare today.

We have made it home from a great trip to Tulsa, Oklahoma for DFest! Tulsa is a really great city full of awesome venues, hospitable people, and good food.

You can check out all of the lovely pictures we took on our Flickr.

We also want to spotlight some of the bands we had the pleasure of checking out.

Dignan


Photo: Taylor Pool

The City Lives

8Bit Cynics

The Boxing Lesson


Photo by: Manuel Nauta

Ali Harter