Taking Your Band and Career to the Next Level

There are many bands out there looking to be heard and discovered. They will play in bars, at festivals, for private functions, and for any other opening available, all hoping to be noticed and make it in the music industry. There is a lot of talent out there, but what is it that sets some bands and musicians apart from all of the others? Is it being at the right place at the right time? Is it who you know? While these two things may help a situation, they are not what ultimately make a band successful. Here are some of the true reasons behind success.

by NowSourcing.
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1. Talent – The main reason behind any success is raw talent. It begins and ends here, but it takes a lot of work in between. People who are discovered don’t normally just fall into success. Their voice and musical ability speaks for itself. Consider the number of talent seekers out there, looking only for the best. Those who are most successful stand out as being different from the norm and possessing something extra special that appeals to others.

2. Determination – Talent alone doesn’t get you where you need to go. It takes a lot of work, dedication, and determination to succeed. Finding the right venues, advertising, practicing, and appealing to the right crowd is all a part of a successful campaign. Along the way, you will be seen by many, and possibly discovered for greater opportunities by one of them. Effort is recognized and typically rewarded, so stick with it and you will reap the rewards of your hard work. Also, be reasonable about your definition of success. Not everyone can be the winner of The Voice and American Idol, but you can book shows most weekends out of the year and consider yourself a success.

3. Preparation – This is critical for any success, no matter what the career. Preparation does not refer just to practicing regularly, although this is important in leaving a good impression with your listeners. Anyone looking for talent can tell very quickly if time hasn’t been spent preparing. In addition, you need to put on a show. Prepping for a show involves all of the extras that will catch the attention of a professional. A stage, special effects, excellent sound, and special lighting all play a role in how you will be perceived. Taking the time and care to add these details shows that you too are a professional and you take your music and presentation seriously. Don’t underestimate the importance of working equipment and the special added touches. Work with a supplier that offers a good selection and has everything you need in stock and ready to ship.

4. Surround yourself with the best – Whether you work alone or with a band, you want to surround yourself with the best musical talent. Team up with other successful musicians and work with them to network and reach out to other musical talents. This will increase your fan base and increase the number of venues that you will be invited to perform at. Ask for additional performance opportunities, and take advantage of local festivals, as you will have an advantage with local fans.

5. Offer additional items for sale – At every performance, make sure to have CD’s, t-shirts, hats, and other items for sale, advertising yourself and your band. This not only brings in cash to help support your musical career, but it also helps to build your fan base. Taking your music home with them allows them to listen anytime. In addition, there is a greater possibility of new fans to hear your music or ask about the t-shirt that another fan is wearing. This is all a part of marketing yourself, and building on your career.

 

It is not easy to make it in the music industry. There is a great deal of competition, all of whom want to quit their day job and play music for a living. Discover your strengths and build off of them. If you find that you are weak in certain areas, ask for help. There are many opportunities to play at the local level, but if you want to grow past that, it will take a concentrated effort to find additional fans. Don’t underestimate the power of showmanship, and create a show that will be unforgettable. Find a supplier that is consistent and will always make you look good by being prepared.

Preparing a Theatric Production: Having the Necessary Tools

If you are a designer, you know that there are certain tools that you need to do your job. This applies to all designers. If you are a scene designer, the same holds true, but instead of being the only creative force, you have to be able to incorporate several visions into the scene. Sometimes it takes a lot to get everyone on the same page and create one cohesive set. There are a number of steps that a scene designer takes in order to ensure a solid presentation, and a number of purchases that need to be made so that everyone has the tools they need. Here are some considerations for a scene designer and all other critical staff to complete their tasks and create an amazing production.

1. Meet with the director. The director is key in creating a scene that matches the original vision. The director needs his or her director’s chair, as it is a traditional part of the process. No matter who orders it, look for embroidery to make it more of a classic feel. Add a script bag so that the director can have everything he or she needs within reach. As you the designer meet with the director, you will review ideas, get a picture of the original concept, and discuss possibilities for the design. Here the designer is taking plenty of notes and is beginning the design process, but it can also be collaborative, sharing ideas and building off of the original thoughts.

2. Work directly with the shop foreman. Once there is agreement between the director and the scene designer, you have the final plans for building the scene. A number of people then get involved and build their own pieces. The shop foreman is critical in completing the vision and making the drawings a reality, as he is supervises the process. The set and all of the props need to be built to the specifications, and you will see a number of tools being used. You will see the setup of a regular workshop. If you are responsible for placing orders for materials and equipment, you will want to work with a company that can accommodate all of your tool and equipment needs. You will see them using everything from power tools to safety supplies.

 

3. Consult with the lighting designer and electricians. Once the set is built and in place, the responsibility then falls on the lighting specialist to create the perfect ambiance within the theater. Lighting is critical for the stage and all of the characters to be visible. There are a number of lights, dimmers, stage markers, rope lights, and accessories that will be needed to do the job. It is important to work with experienced electricians to ensure that everything is in order for the big night.

4. Don’t forget sound! Just as important as being able to see the actors is being able to hear them. In addition to hearing them, it is especially important for the crew to be able to communicate with each other throughout the days and nights of the show. From headsets to radios and microphones, these are critical pieces of equipment for the show to go on. If the audience can’t hear what is going on up on the stage, then you will have a serious problem in leaving them satisfied and wanting more.

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Creating a theatrical production is completely a team effort. From the inception of the idea, there is a regular collaboration of ideas and legwork. For the final product to be a success, everyone must be on the same page throughout the process, be willing to share and hear other ideas, and possess the talent to put it all together.

Aside from raw talent, the staff also needs the proper equipment and materials to create a quality product. Having a supplier who understands the needs of the stage is key. It is important to work with a supplier who is able to provide what you need, when you need it. Waiting for equipment pushes an already hectic schedule even further behind, ultimately putting the production at risk. Work with someone who understands your needs and can deliver.

Stagecraft Over Millennia

Behind every great story is the author, moving, voicing, and describing the characters, the scenery, and the action of the tale. When it comes to telling a story orally or through the written word, this is often all you need – just an author and their word, with some ink and paper thrown into the mix. As a species, however, we’re never satisfied with what we have, and the same goes for storytelling. It wasn’t long before we stopped merely telling stories around campfires and started acting out those stories – and so, the play was born.

With time, plays became far more complex, and required more people to tell them. Multiple actors, a director… and as the stage and scenery grew, so too did the role of the people working behind the scenes – practitioners of the art of stagecraft. The practice of stagecraft and the tools of the trade have grown alongside the writing, acting, and directing that it supports. Indeed, the story of stagecraft’s tools is the story of the stage itself.

The Birth of Tragedy 

When we talk about ancient theater, we’re inevitably talking about the Greeks, whom history records as the earliest practitioners of stagecraft. Scenes were originally changed through the use of “flats” – large, two-sided wood panels that were painted with scenery and which could be simultaneously flipped using a rotating pin and rope for a scene change.

Other tools the ancient Greeks employed include the oft-mentioned deus ex machina – the god from the machine. Used to denote a character’s status as a god, the deus ex machina was a lift that, using a hand-crank, could lift a character or even scenery over the stage.

Stagecraft saw few changes for centuries, up until the middle ages and the advent of traveling troupes. These troupes would set up shop on the streets of towns and cities, as well as in monasteries. Due to the ever-changing nature of these settings, the flats of the Greeks and other large, more stationary tools of stagecraft could not be used.

The Age of Shakespeare 

The 16th century saw several advancements in stagecraft technology thanks to the increasing popularity of drama and the rise of wealthy patrons who could afford to support troupes, allowing them to settle down and build truly impressive theaters to perform within. In the public, private, and court playhouses that developed at this time, rigging on the roof was used to raise and lower scenery and actors, a definite improvement over the flats and deus ex machina of the Greeks. The addition of raised stages in these theaters allowed for the new use of trap doors.

Even during this time, the lighting used for drama had not changed much since the days of the ancient Greeks. Sunlight was typically the only source of light, and so with the setting of the sun, plays had to necessarily end. It was around this time that the use of candles and chandeliers hung high above the audience came into vogue, however, allowing for both lower and higher areas of the stage to be lit well into the night. Indeed, the development of early spotlights occurred during this time – the techniques used to triangulate cliff locations using flames from burning limestone were brought into the theater. This is why we call it the limelight! Gas lighting soon followed, and with the 20th century came modern, electrically powered lights used today.

The Here and Now

Since the earliest days of stagecraft, the tools available to the dramatist have grown and evolved into a variety of disciplines. Lighting tops the list as one of the most deep and complex fields of stagecraft available; the kind of light used on stage and on film has quite a bit to do with the feeling and action communicated to the viewer, and the improving technologies that lighting specialists have available to them has rendered the field ever more challenging and essential.

Within the same vein as lighting is sound design. This can have everything to do from the creation and management of music as well as the sound effects, the projection of voices, and anything having to do with what is going on in the audience’s ears.

The production and mechanics of scenery is, of course, quite important as well. Depending on the scene, the supplies, scenery, and the mechanics of the scene may need to be flown in or manufactured on the spot. Knowing when and how to do so involves a whole team of professionals with their own specializations, training, and knowledge.

The list goes on and on, but what’s important to understand is that there are hundreds of people that go into a successful production today. They need a variety of tools and supplies to do their jobs successfully, but with Tools for Stagecraft behind them, they can get the job done right – and affordably, as well. That’s why producers love us!