Live shows are great. They help the fans to connect with the artist on a more personal level. They are also necessary for developing upcoming artists and exposing their music. Seeing a performance at a venue or a festival can turn anybody that is attending into a fan. Myself, I end up going to a gig at least once a week.
Who is involved in the live music scene?
No matter what kind of performance it is (for 1,000 people or 20,000 people,) to make a gig happen, you usually need the following:
Tour manager - They will make sure everything runs smoothly, manage the budgets and organise everything. From administration to schedule, they will guide you through the tour. They also get the payments in and deal with any problems the artist might come across.
Booking agent - Their job is to facilitate live performance, which mean they pitch the artists, arrange the performances, negotiate deals and arrange set ups. They work closely with event promoters too.
Promoter - Promoters host the event. They also promote it, make the flyers and posters to get the word out. In recent years, they have also started using various social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, which is a great way to advertise an event.
However, if there is more work to be put into a performance (visuals, special effects, light show,) more personnel is needed. In the creative direction, stage director, show director/manager, production manager, creative director/consultant join in.
The roadies also travel with artists on tours. They are technicians or support personnel and they consist of monitor engineers, sound engineers, lighting directors, lighting techs, guitar techs, drum techs, keyboard techs, bass techs and possibly pyrotechnic techs among others. Security guards, caterers and merchandise crew also get involved.
Of course, if it is a big show for a huge artist like Beyonce or Lady Gaga, they would also need choreographers, dancers, additional band members for the tour, stylists and makeup artists.
It is clear that many people are a part of the live scene and a lot of work has to be put into it and sometimes each person involved has an assistant as well.
How to book a gig?
The best way to book a gig is to e-mail the venue in advance. The artist pitch should be brief and a soundcloud link with a press kit can be attached, which can possibly increase the chances. Venues get many e-mails so it is good to follow up 2 weeks after the first e-mail. The payment should be negotiated before the show.
Marketing it
Online marketing is a great way to advertise an upcoming show of an artist. Facebook, Twitter and even Instagram are very essential tools to promote an event. It is an easy way to connect the artist to the audience. With Facebook's ability to create an event and invite people to it, it helps fans to keep track of all the important information.
Offline promotion is also good to get the word out. Aside from 'word of mouth,' posters and flyers can be made along with some merchandise.
How does a tour happen?
It is very different for an artist who is well known and highly demanded by the public and for an artist that is signed to an indie label with a specific type of audience (for example Beyonce vs. Flume)
Below, I will explain what needs to happen and general step by step guide on how to plan a tour for both of these artists that are completely different. Of course, each artist already has material out that they will be touring with.
Beyonce - Arena tour, 50,000 attendees per show (on average)
1. Since she is a worldwide sensation and signed to a well established label (Columbia Records, parent organisation is Sony,) she can afford to go 'all out.' So firstly, a budget is set (although it is a big one.)
2. Tour manager is hired, along with the whole team and departments, they decide when to go on tour, how many cities to visit, how many shows they will do, how much it will all cost. They will also plan the most convenient route.
3. After the general requirements are sorted out and planned, the marketing team along with art and promotion departments etc. work on the design and theme.
4. Once all that is planned, they announce times, dates and locations to the public and make tickets available for purchase (of course after deciding the ticket cost.)
5. The stage director/manager, production team and anybody in the creative department start working on the theme and what they are going to go for, what kind of set up they would want etc. or any other special effects. They also decide on the setlist.
6. They hire choreographers and hold auditions for backup dancers. Also get any other backup singers they may need and a band. Practice starts.
8. The creative team is working now with everyone else on visuals, special effects etc.
9. Sound, lighting technicians and engineers are hired.
10. Once everything is set up, rehearsals start happening. Along with the artist.
11. The whole styling team is hired and decide on the artist's look.
12. Once everything is set up and planned out, they also hire additional security, bus drivers, roadies (to help with equipment too), potentially a personal chef and masseuse/physiotherapist.
Flume - Smaller venues, 1,200 attendees per show (on average)
1. Tour manager is hired after a budget is set. They decide dates and locations and plan the route.
2. The marketing team along with art and promotion departments work on the theme and prepare the artwork for posters or any other promo.
3. The shows get announced, tickets go on sale (after ticket cost was decided.)
4. They hire some sound and lighting technicians and engineers to work on the creative aspect of the live set or visuals needed. They help with the whole vibe of the show based on the setlist.
5. The live show can be rehearsed, DJ sets - not really.
There can be only 2 people travelling with artists like Flume, usually managers.
It is very important for an artist to keep writing new music and go on tours frequently. If they don't, fans can lose interest. Live performances are also great to earn money, because most of the profit goes to the artist. This is very useful these days as records don't sell as much as they used to. With today's day and age, music streaming services or illegal downloads, artists have to come up with other ways to have some good income.
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