You too can be a rock star

Of course, the term “rock star” is subjective and the level of fame you achieve is up to you and your work ethic. If you’re not in this business to be a musician, but simply to get drugs and groupies, you may want to reevaluate your whole life. These standard guidelines will give you the basic information you can use to further your music career. Your goal should be to generate as much fan support as possible to make it marketable to the promoters of the venue. More fans = more followers = more income for the bar owner when you play. If your band attracts more people, you can start charging more and you can choose which venues to play. So the first rule is to generate interest in your band.

Ruffles have been worn by gangs since before you were born, and they aren’t going away any time soon. That said, social media is so pervasive in our culture that nowadays you can get more eyes looking at your event information faster. So I can’t stress enough using Facebook and Twitter to advertise your events. Flyers are great for college campus concerts along with social media. The main key is to use what is called ‘contextual marketing’, in other words, to target your product (your show) to people who would be interested in seeing your band. A flyer inside or outside a cool record store is always a great way to get more fans. Marketing is a topic in itself, so I will not delve further into the topic. But the key is getting new fans to join what you’re selling.

Once you’ve organized a concert, you need to prepare for the publicity you’re doing on stage. A large banner with your band’s name will do wonders for fan retention. Have you ever walked into a random bar where a band was playing and had no idea what the name of the band was? No sign, no name on the bass drum, and you were subliminally bored with the music this band with no name was playing. You left thinking the band was a bit bad, but you didn’t know why. Give your band a chance to win over those random passersby with some sort of ID so they can name the music they heard. If you can get a banner emblazoned with your name/logo and place it behind your drummer, you’ll get extra publicity and it’s the easiest way to get your name on people’s lips. We also have QR code signs for our website and Facebook site for those with smartphones to take advantage of this technology.

Always be on time for shows, including sound checks. A band that does not respect the venue enough to be punctual will not be able to be hired again. You have to remember that a happy place is the best way to get future business. Of course, you are getting paid for this; Act like a professional and keep your promises (including your time commitments). Axl Rose is not reading this article and he doesn’t need to. You are not Axl Rose. You have to be on time… always.

Tuning your instruments seems like a no-brainer, but there are plenty of cases of bands neglecting this vital tip and sounding like a bunch of dog links. Sound checks are often a good time to tune up your favorite instrument, as there tends to be a lot of downtime. And while you’re holding your precious axe, give it a little shine. I have dozens of photos of me playing a guitar covered in smudges and fingerprints. That could have been easily avoided with a few swipes of the rag a couple of hours in advance. I learned the hard way: you don’t have to.

Now we come to the part where I talk about your acting. No, I’m not going to discuss the benefits of soloing using a Phrygian mode. Much simpler than all that. Aside from your music, people are going to remember what you looked like. Their goal is to look like MUSICIANS, not some random surfer who wandered down the street and picked up a sweet Les Paul and started jamming. You generally don’t need to dress in a sequined tuxedo, but you should try to look like you really care that people come to see you. Subtlety will work wonders. I understand that you don’t want to look like you’ve spent two hours choosing your wardrobe, but a simple scarf can usually do more than a pair of spandex pants. And guys; don’t discount the value of guyliner. Do you want to stand out or not?

Whether you’re playing originals or covers, playing a weird version or cover of a popular song can make your audience remember you. For example, if you have the ability to play in different styles, that can really impress people quickly. Most of the time when I watch bands, I don’t remember much. Most cover bands play the same songs and usually play them the same. Bored. If you took a Metallica song and played it reggae style, it would be memorable for both Metallica fans and reggae fans. They would tell their friends about this great moment at last night’s show and maybe give your band a touch. The objective is to differentiate yourself from the rest of the groups that play on the same circuit as you. In the mid 80’s, there was a band in Austin, TX called Ed Asner Gay who wore rubber masks (trying to look like Ed Asner) and would frequently bump into each other on stage and make weird noises. They were good guys, but their music sucked. If you didn’t notice, I’m referring to a band from 30 years ago that I saw once. Based solely on your name and stage presence. Keep that in mind.

Beyond the advice given here, make sure your audience thinks you’re having fun on stage. If it looks like just a job to people in the crowd, they’ll tend to feel like they’re watching someone make their Happy Meal. No one wants to see anyone at work, with a few exceptions. Far be it from me to compare musical performance to exotic dancing, but that’s what it can seem like sometimes. Smile when you can, show that you enjoy performing for them, and give them a reason to envy you. After all, you’re doing something most of them can’t do and that’s why they’re sitting there in the first place.