Forward Motion Band

[forwardmotionband]

Free Tip Monday – Part 5

Working with (and Surviving) Bad Sound Engineers

If you've played enough live shows, you've probably experienced it.

The sound engineer isn't paying attention. They disappear during sound check. They spend more time looking at their phone than listening to the band. Or they simply don't understand how your group is supposed to sound.

Before we go any further, let's be fair. There are thousands of excellent sound engineers who work incredibly hard and make us sound amazing. This tip isn't about them. This is about those occasions when you're faced with someone who simply isn't prepared, lacks the necessary experience, or simply isn't engaged.

So what do you do?

1. Stay Professional.

Getting angry during sound check rarely improves the situation. Raising your voice, making sarcastic comments, or embarrassing the engineer in front of the audience or venue staff only creates tension. Remain calm, respectful, and solution-oriented.

2. Communicate Clearly.

Be specific about what you need. Instead of saying, "I can't hear anything," try saying, "Could I have a little more lead vocal and a little less guitar in my monitor?" Clear communication almost always produces better results than vague complaints.

3. Recognize That Experience Levels Vary.

Not every venue employs a seasoned sound engineer. Sometimes, especially at smaller venues or private events, the person behind the mixer may have very little experience—or may have been assigned the job simply because they were available. They may not fully understand gain structure, monitor mixes, EQ, feedback control, or even how to operate the mixing console effectively. Once you recognize that, adjust your expectations. Rather than becoming confrontational, communicate clearly, be patient, and do your best to help them help you.

4. Control What You Can.

Bring reliable equipment. Have fresh batteries, quality cables, properly functioning in-ear monitors or wedges, and know your own gear. Don't make the engineer responsible for problems that originate with your equipment.

5. Help Your Bandmates.

Sometimes another musician may unknowingly be creating the problem. An amplifier may be far too loud, someone may keep changing their volume during the show, or an instrument may simply be overwhelming the mix. Work together as a team rather than pointing fingers.

6. Accept That Some Shows Won't Be Perfect.

Every performance won't have world-class production. Great musicians learn to adapt. Focus on delivering a great performance instead of becoming distracted by what isn't ideal. Remember, the audience usually notices your attitude long before they notice the technical shortcomings.

7. Don't Burn Bridges.

The music industry is much smaller than it appears. Today's inexperienced sound engineer could become tomorrow's production manager at a major venue. Likewise, the venue hired the sound engineer—not the band. If you publicly criticize or argue with them, it reflects poorly on you and your group. If there are serious concerns, discuss them privately with venue management after the performance. Always protect your reputation by remaining professional.

8. Learn from Every Experience.

After the show, ask yourself what could have been done differently. Could your stage volume have been lower? Were your requests clear? Did your band stay organized? Every challenging show is an opportunity to improve.

One final thought...

Sometimes the "bad" sound engineer isn't actually the problem. Poor stage volume, musicians who don't listen, cluttered stage plots, faulty equipment, or unrealistic expectations can make even an excellent engineer struggle. Before placing blame, take an honest look at your own performance, preparation, and professionalism.

At the end of the day, professionalism isn't measured by how you perform when everything is perfect. It's measured by how you respond when things aren't.

Remember: Every show is an opportunity to represent yourself, your band, and your reputation. Stay prepared, stay respectful, and let your professionalism speak louder than your frustration.

Until next Monday... keep learning, keep growing, and keep making great music.

[forwardmotionband]

Free Tip Monday – Part 4

How to Conduct a Proper Sound Check

A great performance begins long before the first song. One of the most overlooked parts of a successful show is the sound check.

Too many musicians treat sound check as a rehearsal or an opportunity to show off. That's not what it's for. A sound check exists for one reason: to make sure every musician can hear what they need, the audience hears a balanced mix, and the sound engineer has everything needed to make the band sound its best.

Here are a few simple rules:

1. Be Ready.

Have your instrument assembled, tuned, plugged in, and ready to play before your scheduled sound check begins. This is not the time to be changing strings, replacing batteries, or searching for cables.

2. Play at Performance Volume.

If you play softly during sound check but much louder during the show, you've defeated the purpose. Give the sound engineer an accurate representation of how you'll actually perform.

3. One Person at a Time.

When the engineer asks for the kick drum, only the kick drum should be playing. When they ask for vocals, everyone else should remain quiet. Talking or playing over another musician only slows the process.

4. Communicate Clearly.

If you need more keyboard, less guitar, or additional lead vocal in your monitor or in-ear mix, be specific and polite. "More me" isn't helpful. Tell the engineer exactly what you need.

5. Trust the Sound Engineer.

When you have a competent and engaged sound engineer, trust them. Their job is to create the best possible experience for the audience while helping the band perform comfortably on stage. That said, trusting the sound engineer becomes much more difficult when the sound engineer isn't actually doing the job. We've all experienced situations where the engineer is distracted, inattentive, or simply not engaged with the performance. That's an important discussion all by itself—and we'll save that topic for a future Free Tip Monday.

6. Save the Jamming for Later.

The audience didn't come to hear random licks during sound check. Stay focused, follow directions, and help the entire band get ready efficiently.

A smooth sound check creates confidence, reduces stress, and helps everyone perform at their highest level. Professional musicians understand that sounding great starts with being prepared and respecting the process.

Remember: A great sound check doesn't guarantee a great show—but a poor sound check can certainly ruin one.

Until next Monday... keep learning, keep growing, and keep making great music.

[forwardmotionband]

Free Tip Monday – Pt. 3

Bring the Right Gear for the Job

One of the fastest ways to gain—or lose—the respect of a bandleader or music director has nothing to do with how well you play. It has everything to do with whether you come prepared.

I've lost count of how many times we've performed on silent stages—productions where there are no amplifiers, no floor wedges, and no traditional stage monitors. Everything is run through in-ear monitors.

Before the show, every musician is told exactly what to bring: in-ear monitors or quality headphones so they can hear the mix, the talkback microphone, click tracks, guide vocals, and musical cues.

Yet someone inevitably arrives without them.

The result? They're lost for the entire performance, unable to hear important instructions, missing cues, and making the show more difficult for everyone else.

Preparation is part of professionalism.

Sometimes having the right gear also means bringing a different instrument than you normally use because it's better suited for that particular venue or production. Every show has different requirements, and successful musicians adapt.

Just as important, respect the production requirements.

If you're told to bring in-ear monitors but instead show up with a guitar amplifier, you're ignoring the wishes of both the venue and the music director.

If you're told there won't be live horns on stage but you bring two saxophone players anyway, that's the same thing—it shows a lack of respect for the production plan and for the people responsible for making the show run smoothly.

Professional musicians don't guess. They follow directions.

Finally, make sure your equipment is reliable.

Before every performance:

Install fresh batteries in any wireless packs, active pickups, pedals, or other battery-powered equipment.

Test every cable and always carry backups. Cables almost always fail at the worst possible moment—usually during a solo or another critical part of the show.

Guitarists and bass players should carry a complete spare set of strings. Don't rely on a single replacement string; Murphy's Law says a different string will be the one that breaks.

Drummers should carry a backup snare drum or at least a spare snare head, along with extra sticks.

Keyboard players should always have a spare sustain pedal and the necessary power supplies. Those pedals have an uncanny ability to quit without warning.

Vocalists should bring any specialty microphones, in-ear equipment, adapters, and extra batteries they depend on.

Everyone should pack extension cords, power strips, adapters, and anything else required to make their own setup work without borrowing from someone else.

The audience expects a great performance—not excuses.

Professional musicians understand that talent gets you hired, but preparation gets you hired again.

Success on stage begins long before the first note is played. Come prepared, respect the production, and always bring the right gear for the job.

Until next Monday... stay prepared, stay humble, and keep making great music.

[forwardmotionband]

Free Tip Monday for Musicians – Part 2

How Much Should You Practice?

One question I'm asked regularly is:

"How much should I practice each week?"

Before answering that, let's talk about what you should be practicing.

Most musicians performing at the professional or semi-professional level don't play with just one group. Many perform with:

A primary band

A secondary band where they regularly sub or perform

A church or other religious organization

Additional freelance opportunities as they arise

Over time, it's easy to become comfortable. You know the material. You've played the songs for years. You begin to think, "I've already learned this."

That mindset can quietly become your biggest obstacle.

As a bandleader, I've noticed something interesting. When I write a new arrangement or make changes to an existing song, I often teach it to my substitute musicians first. They learn it exactly as written because they have no preconceived ideas about how it's "always been done."

Only after the subs have successfully performed the arrangement do I introduce it to the regular band.

Why?

Because experienced musicians can sometimes become attached to old habits. They play well—and often that's enough for today's gig—but continual growth requires a willingness to change.

Great musicians never stop learning.

Practice isn't just about running scales or repeating songs you already know. It's about intentionally working on the things that challenge you.

That may mean:

Learning music outside your favorite genre.

Studying new concepts, scales, or music theory.

Asking another musician to teach you something you don't know.

Completely rethinking your approach to your instrument.

Growth only happens outside your comfort zone.

The musicians who embrace continual improvement become the first call.

Those who stop growing often become the third or fourth call—someone the bandleader reaches out to only after others aren't available.

So, how much should you practice?

As much as you reasonably can without neglecting your family, your health, or your career outside of music.

If music is your full-time profession, develop a weekly practice regimen. Spend dedicated time preparing the songs for upcoming performances, and then set aside an additional two to three hours each week devoted solely to improving your musicianship—not your repertoire.

The goal isn't simply to stay good enough.

The goal is to become better than you were last week.

Next Monday: We'll discuss another habit that separates dependable musicians from everyone else.

[forwardmotionband]

Free Tip Monday

Having a gig nearly every day last week kept us busy. Thankfully, 95% of those experiences were enjoyable. So what's the other 5%?

A guest musician who isn't fully prepared.

If you're ever hired as a guest musician or artist, here are a few things you can do to ensure a great experience—and increase your chances of getting called back.

1. Learn the Band's Material and Culture

Do your best to learn the music, arrangements, and overall vibe of the group. Watch the band's social media content, listen to recordings, and familiarize yourself with how they perform.

2. Ask Questions Early

If you're unsure about an arrangement, song version, transitions, or expectations, ask questions in advance. Most professional bands provide charts, recordings, set lists, and other resources well before the performance date.

3. Don't Bring Excuses to the Stage

If you've been given materials ahead of time, don't wait until rehearsal, soundcheck, or worse—while you're on stage—to announce that you don't know the material. Preparation is part of the job.

4. Treat the Gig Like You Care

If you don't care about the opportunity, don't take the gig.

At the very least, show up with a professional attitude and a positive outlook. Audiences, fellow musicians, and band leaders can all tell when someone is engaged—and when they're not.

5. Arrive Early

Arriving early is far less stressful than arriving "on time" or late.

Early arrival gives you time to:

- Set up properly

- Troubleshoot equipment issues

- Ask questions

- Relax before downbeat

People remember musicians who arrive early. They also remember musicians who arrive late. One earns trust; the other creates stress—especially for the bandleader.

6. Look Like a Professional

Invest in your wardrobe.

Whether the dress code is casual or formal, look intentional and polished. Never look like you grabbed the first thing you found in the closet.

Professional appearance matters. In fact, some venues take presentation so seriously that they've sent bands home because their appearance didn't match the venue's standards.

Your talent gets you hired. Your professionalism gets you called back.