Live-Streaming Tips for the Stay-at-Home World

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As cities and states closed down for all but essential workers during the COVID-19 pandemic, the first response from many creative types was a sigh of relief. Here was a time to work without distraction, with untold hours to focus on writing lyrics and perfecting chord progressions. But as the days of the quarantine dragged on, concerts were cancelled and festivals postponed. The all-important venues for connecting with fans and reaching out to new ones were eliminated.

Luckily, we live in an age of technology where there are still ways to connect. Lots of artists are logging into YouTube, Facebook and Instagram to livestream performances. You can find everything performances from a single song to entire albums and even concerts by bands, not to mention the televised extravaganzas such as the Disney singalong and the One World Together concerts.

If you’re ready to jump on the bandwagon and put yourself out there on streaming media, here are a few tips to make the time and effort work for you.

Get the Word Out. There’s no point in going to all the trouble to livestream if the only person watching is your mother. Set a specific time and place (for instance, your YouTube channel or Facebook page) and let people know. Post it on all of your social media platforms. Don’t be shy about asking people to share the posts, you want to try to reach as many people as possible. You can even reach out to local radio and television stations to let the know you’re planning an online concert.

Be Smart about your Space. When you put together a concert you naturally think about production as well as the music. Choosing what to wear, thinking about your lighting and bringing along any props are all part of your image. The same is true even when you’re performing live from home. Take time to do your makeup and dress according to your established brand. Pay attention to what’s behind you, what the viewer will see on their screen. Setting up a stool in front of a clean wall or next to a nicely hung piece of art is much better than sitting in front of your unmade bed or other distracting background.

Don’t Neglect the Technical Aspect. It’s easy enough to livestream straight from your smartphone, and if that’s all you have available, don’t let it stop you. But it pays to invest in equipment that will help your sound come through at a high quality, including a good microphone and camera along with a Mac or PC.

Plan your Format. A concert streamed from your living room is more intimate than playing on stage in a bar, so you might as well take advantage of that intimacy and use this opportunity to connect with your fans. Before streaming, make a plan of the songs you want to play and in what order, but don’t make your set just music. Use this time to tell some stories about yourself, such as adventures from the road or inspiration for your music. You can also share tips for aspiring musicians, or take some questions from viewers.

Go with the Flow. Planning out your performance, from your clothes to the format, is great, but the best advice is to be prepared for the unexpected. You have control over a lot of things in your

environment, but there’s always something you can’t control, whether it’s your dogs barking their heads off at the UPS delivery person or a sudden storm interrupting your set with thunder. Take these as an added benefit. If there’s anything we long for in this time of isolation, it’s to feel connected with other people. Nothing makes you seem more relatable than having the mundane tasks of daily life show up in your performance like they do for your viewers.

Include a Call to Action. Don’t feel shy about asking fans for their support. Send them to your website to purchase merchandise and music, or set up a Paypal account to accept tips during your performance.

It’s time to make the most of a bad situation. Take advantage of the technology, reach out to your fans, and get online. You’ll be glad you did, and the lessons learned might continue to help even after the quarantine is over.

Tanner Hendon