Make Your First Festival Show Rock!
Are you playing your first green-field music festival or outdoor show soon? Not sure how it all works on the other side of the 'Artists Only' sign? Don't worry; help is at hand.
My name is Andy Reynolds, a concert tour manager & live sound engineer, and I have written this mini-guide to give you my tips on making the most of your first festival slot. I have toured with music artists for over 25 years, and work on open-air, 'green-field' type festivals, such as Glastonbury, Roskilde, Coachella, and Bonnaroo, each summer. I know how music artists can have a good show at a festival - and how they can mess up their chances by not being prepared for that all -important music festival slot.
It is important to your musical career that your music festival appearances happen with no hitches, dramas or technical problems. Audiences go to music festivals to hear great music. If they happen to catch you, playing a great set and full of confidence, they are more likely to become fans of you and your music. You should remember there is so much competition at each festival, and every band has that one chance to ignite the crowd. No musicican can afford to be ill-prepared or leave things to chance, But you need not worry about any of that - you will hit the stage looking like a pro after reading this book!
After reading, 'Playing Your First Music Festival', you will know about:
- The differences between a venue show and your performance at a festival
- Preparing your live set for ultimate impact
- How to use your guest tickets to attract industry taste-makers
- The don'ts and dos of selling merchandise at festivals
- Make sure you get booked for next year's festivals
...and much more.
This is a short guide which will give you the low down on how a modern, open-air festival works, what you need to do to prepare for your slot, and how to make the most of it while you are at the festival.
Andy Reynolds has worked as an international concert tour manager and audio engineer for over 20 years. He has toured continuously during this time, working on an average of 200 shows per year. Andy has worked for such bands as George Fitzgerald, Maribou State, The Pierces, Maverick Sabre, All-American Rejects, House of Pain, Machine Head, Nightmares On Wax, Pavement, Roots Manuva, Super Furry Animals, Skunk Anansie, Squarepusher, and The White Stripes. He has worked with bands on tours by such acts as U2, Whitney Houston, Manic Street Preachers, and Foo Fighters. His touring experience encompasses stadiums, arenas, theatres, pubs, bars, clubs, outdoor festivals, rooftops, subway stations, cruise ships, mountainsides, and very, very muddy fields.
Andy is also the author of 'The Tour Book - How to get Your Music on the Road', the musicians definitive guide to gigging and touring, and 'Playing Your First Music Festival', a gudie to performing at green-field, open-air, music festivals.
Andy lectures to students of music management and live audio engineering at the University of West London/London College of Music, Buckinghamshire New University, Cato Academy, and Access To Music.
