Before you can drop the Mic, you've got to turn the Mic on....

The Performer’s Guide to Successful Concert Streaming from Home

All gigs, concert bookings and concert series have gone away for now and for who knows how long. These are difficult times for artists – even surreal, but the stress and struggle are real.

Part 1: Technical Best Practices

There are now hundreds, maybe more, live-streamed concerts or recitals being staged in someone’s home or apartment each week – probably more than a hundred.

How do you stand out and stand apart from the 50 - 100 streaming events heard each week?

There are technical best practices and program content best practices. The latter is meaningless if the former is not (best) practiced.

It’s tricky, and we’re all learning. Try to avoid learning it on the fly.

1. When you play, we hear you just fine. When you speak, we often can’t hear you, likely because you are too far away from the Mic.

Having to strain to hear is aggravating, and could move people to leave your streaming event.

Have two chairs: one from where you play. Have a second chair closer to the Mic; that’s where you will always speak. See the next point.

2. Dress rehearsals are not just for the concert or recital hall.

Have as many tech rehearsals as necessary to avoid having to say and ask any of the following during the first 5 minutes of your show:

“Ok, I think we’re live.”  “Are we live? I can’t tell.” “Is anybody out there? Could you post something on the chat page to let me know you’re there?”

Often, we can see you before the stream actually begins.  Sometimes, we see deeply furrowed brows and looks of concern and bewilderment before the steam officially begins.

(P.S. please keep your hand area away from your nose.)

Try to make the start of the stream the formal start of the program.

Again -- it’s tricky, and we’re all learning. Rehearsals help.

Maybe someone can help you produce the event, especially the set up and troubleshooting along the way? They can also make sure you are heard when you play and when you speak.

Your producer can also monitor the chat page.  They can grab the best questions and comments, so you don’t have to do the picking and choosing – and so you don’t need to read each and every one live.

Coming Next: Part 2 Program Content Best Practices