Isn't it great when your on stage, and the audience are throwing their own pants and gestures of love and adoration in your direction! It's the ultimate artist fantasy of course, which is why working the live circuit is so important for an indie career.

Consider artists that merely rely on their online music career to take off, wouldn't they reach farther and wider if they occassionally got up from behind their desks and brought their music to a live audience?

Many musicians ask Melodrift how hard it is to get rocking live. We say, not hard, but not exactly easy! Go for it and take it at your pace, If your unsigned and not used to working a large crowd, opt for a small venue which can do wonders for your confidence, you'd be surprised how quickly you don;t mind the crowd gathering to hear. It;ll only boost your confidence.

Remember - If you can sing to one stranger you can sing to them all!

Rehearsals are important to get your act ready and vital to your confidence on the night. One thing that is awful, is listening to a new band or artist who really cant remember his words, verses or choruses, and whilst this can be deemed as amusing,  they won't be encouraging anyone to get out there chequebooks! If rehearsing at an actual venue is difficult do it at home.

Collect all your old stuffed teddies, (Yes, shut the curtains for that one maybe)! Line them up on the sofa with suitable promotional t-shirts bearing your bands name, and give them a concert that will make the stuffing blow out of their ears! Before you know  it those bears will turn into an amicable crowd ,chanting and shouting your name. It may seem like a dream, but dreams only become the reality when you make some effort to create them.

One of the reasons many people are afraid to bring themselves to the public is the fear of giggin to an empty room, or the act going terribly wrong. Remember, it's very easy to be put off your dreams by concentrating on negative fears, and yes, things can go wrong. Almost every live performer can recant a bad experience or two, but would they say that it put them off permanently? Never. Things can only get better and every step of the way gets easier too.

Visit as many local cafes/bars restaurants and speak to the manager. If they have an entertainment licence, you can offer a free couple of nights with a view to a paid contract if they like you. Don't see it as an audition, see it as you bringing something worthwhile and lively to a dull four walls! There's no time like the present so what are you waiting for? Grab your guitar or keyboard and start exposing your craft to the world!

Learn to please the crowd and ultimately please  yourself. Here's to great gigging!

(c) Melodrift Productions - This article is copyright material of Melodrift Productions and cannot be duplicated or reproduced without express permission from the company.