By Owen Davie
Now that we’re almost a year into this thing, fans and artists have mostly grown accustomed to the idea of live streaming concerts. Possibly even too accustomed. While the familiar thrills of an in-person show may feel new and exciting every time, a live stream is (unsurprisingly) a little different. Viewers are less committed, and more prone to distraction when viewing from home. After taking in a few songs, their attention might start to wander, unless you give them a compelling reason to stay tuned in. Here we look at a few tips and tricks for mixing up your live stream shows, and keeping them interesting for your audience (and, honestly, for you).
Set the scene: It might be a little classier to perform in your at-home studio or a sparse living room, but going all-out on your set design can be a fun way to increase the visual stimulation for viewers. Pick a campy theme, or get out some of your weirder costumes.
Bring on a special guest: Even if you’re not quarantining with your band mates, or if you traditionally perform solo, bringing in one of your musician friends (either virtually or from a safe distance) can be an interesting way to mix up your performance or introduce a unique flavor to the songs your fans know and love.
Pets: Sure, it may be a cheap shot, but people love to see a dog on camera. They might be more of a set piece, but a well placed animal can help give your performance a more intimate feel. Even if they start to misbehave a little, it will only increase the charm.
Don’t be afraid to take risks: Obviously we don’t want to do any damage to a carefully crafted personal brand, but if you’ve spent the past year experimenting with a new songwriting style or learning a new instrument, a live stream could be the perfect place to take it for a new test drive in a relatively safe environment, and maybe get some helpful feedback in the process.
Make it a ‘live’ strea:. Performing live is all well and good, but has its limitations. If your fans are forgiving on just how ‘live’ your stream is, pre-recording can open up a world of opportunities in post production, whether it’s further collaboration, fun special effects, or simply a more carefully edited video.
Regardless of the pandemic, live streams aren’t likely to go anywhere anytime soon, and mixing things up while you still have a captive audience is a great way to discover new things you and your fans enjoy in a virtual concert.