Best Apps for Musicians to Help with Stage Performing

As they say: fail to prepare, prepare to fail. Your preparation is critical as a stage performer. Casually playing music in your own home when no one is listening is one thing, but to do it in front of others is much more challenging. Don’t discount the value of mental strength here. It takes a lot of courage to go out in front of a crowd, whether it numbers 10 or 10,000. Consider some form of meditation before you go on stage – many famous performers have some ritual, and it seems to work for them. Next, the last thing you should do is fail to warm up your vocals, if you’re a singer, that is, or practice whatever instrument you play. Warm Me Up is an excellent app in this space. To be successful at your job, you need to go out onto that stage as though on auto-pilot, and everything has been prepared for. 

Next, you need to think about how you're going to make an impact. Without wanting to dilute anyone's ability, there are so many musicians out there – from the college guitarist to the church organist and everything in between. How are you going to stand out? What is your niche? Consider the sort of audiences you want to play for and what music genre you think gives you the best chance of standing out from the crowd. Remember to be creative – you're more likely to be remembered and secure more gigs if you're a bit different from the others. An app like Setlist Helper and Song Book can help here. It'll let you organize your songs into a setlist that works for you, meaning you won't have to worry about a thing when you're up on stage. 

It’s hard making it as a musician. This much you probably know already. If you’re comfortable playing here and there, maybe picking up a few bucks on the side, then that’s fine. If you’re looking to increase your bookings and perhaps make it as an artist, then you’ll need to grow your network. ReverbNation can put you in touch with a music agent who can act on your behalf, securing your next gig or potentially signing you up to a record label when you’ve built up a reputation. To achieve great results, you need to be prepared to put in the hours, dedicate yourself to your craft and be brave – only you can hold yourself back!