Getting and keeping gigs is harder now than ever with venues closing down on a regular basis. Those that are still open being ever more careful about how they spend their money.

This means we all have to sharpen up our acts if we want to survive and thrive during the downturn.

As far as the gigging musician is concerned, it’s more important than ever now to make sure the gigs you play move beyond being just another band or solo artists strumming through a selection of songs. Every night needs to really involve the audience and become an event for both the venue and crowd concerned.

The good news is that developing the stage presence needed to really interact with any crowd doesn’t need to be a big deal in terms of what you say and do onstage. Nor do you have to spend extra money to make an impact and ensure your gigs are events no crowd wont easily forget.

There are some simple but highly effective changes you can make to your approach each time you play anywhere – no matter how small (or large) the venue or crowd.

Here are some important points about developing stage presence and interacting with any audience in a way that will make your gigs unforgettable;

1. Make sure you know your material so well that you hardly have to think about your singing or playing on stage.

By rehearsing until you know your songs back to front you’ll free yourself up to get some focus where it belongs – on the crowd.

2. Plan in advance for the key interaction moments in any gig

Start with your set list and think about and look for obvious points you could interact with he crowd. These may include “dead spots” from down-tunes or guitar changes etc. Turn these to your advantage instead of letting them be pregnant pauses.

3. At least LOOK like you’re into the music

It always amazes me how many bands and musicians stand there staring down at their fret boards or trying to look cool. If you don’t look like you’re enjoying yourself how can you expect any audience to really get into it? Although stage banter is important to warm a crowd, bare in mind most of the impression you create on an audience will, after your music, come from what they see rather than any chat you might get into.

4. Smile and make eye contact.

Performing these two actions from time to time while you’re onstage will do more for your stage presence and how your crowds respond to you then trying to look mean and moody ever will

5 Remember not all crowd members are created equal

Look for those in every audience who seem to most into the music early on and who can therefore be used (via direct interaction with them) to help you build the gig into a night to remember for everyone

6. Arm yourself with a handful of one-liners you can use in case you “dry up”.

Some musicians will try and tell you it’s wrong to prepare things to say before hand and that every crowd is different. This is fine, but if you’re giving your audiences awkward silences as part of their evenings' entertainment or if nerves have a habit of making your mind go blank there’s a lot to be said for a little preparation before you get out onto the stage.

Adapted from Rouse the Crowd: How to interact with audiences for gigs they can't forget Order here

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