Photo by Andre Rochon
For most musicians, gigging is an essential part of your profession. You record an album, you tour, tour some more, then repeat. And these days, with album sales continuing to plummet, touring is how most musicians make their living. However, we've all heard of burnout stories of musicians that gig and gig and gig and gig until they've gone crazy. Radiohead's Meeting People Is Easy documentary shows just that – a successful band that nearly toured themselves into the ground.
So, we know that you have to gig, and hopefully you love playing live, but when does it become too much? There are a few warning signs to watch out for in order to keep yourself from over-gigging – here are seven we recommend keeping a close eye on.
1. The crowd is losing interest
If you're playing night after night, especially in the same town, for too long, your fans will start to get bored. Who can blame them? Would you pay to see the same show over and over? You might be thinking, "If it were my favorite band, of course!" But eventually, no matter how great you are, you need to switch up your set. If you're always playing shows, there's a chance your crowd will lose interest. After the song they came to hear or have heard several times, they may decide to head out early or focus on the bar in the back. Make sure you don't overplay, and that you understand what your audience wants.
[5 Signs That You’re Losing Your Fans' Attention at a Show – and How to Reverse It]
2. Your turnout is shrinking
Again, no one wants to see the same show over and over. If you're always available, people will decide to skip your show for other opportunities, such as different bands, a night in, or a night out on the town. And even worse, if your most loyal fans – the ones always in the front row, always staying after to get pictures and autographs – are no longer showing up, that's when you really have to ask yourself what drew them away. It could be anything, of course, but chances are if you're playing too many gigs, they've just moved on. It's not because they don't enjoy your shows anymore or are no longer diehard fans, but even the most diehard fans can't be at every show. Give them (and yourself) some time to breathe. Take a step back and work on new material and your marketing. It's better to play a few full rooms than several empty ones.
3. You're exhausted
This is a red flag for any touring musician. It's inevitable – touring takes a toll on every artist. You're constantly on the road, not always eating healthy, likely not getting enough sleep, etc. Musicians are a lot like athletes – you can't perform at your best if you're exhausted. Listen to your body – scale back your tours or figure out how to be healthy on the road.
[3 Surefire Ways to Stay Healthy on Tour]
4. You're not writing or recording new material
This part of touring drains most bands. As artists, it's important to be creative. If you're always on the road, you're not in the studio. Sure, Lil Wayne has a recording studio in his tour bus, but even he takes time off the road to be still, write, and get new music recorded and released. Some bands tour albums into the ground. It's not always their choice either – they can be at the mercy of the record label keeping them alive. However, if you haven't put out any new music in a few years, it's probably time to cut the touring, stretch your creative legs, and get to making new music.
5. The band is fighting
Obviously, this is another red flag. No matter how good of friends you are, being in a cramped van (or tour bus if you're more accomplished) with the same people for months or years can drive you crazy. Everyone needs space. If the band is fighting just because of tour tensions, then consider taking some time off. It won't hurt anyone to recollect themselves on their own time – it will only help. Don't let your band fall apart just because you wanted to keep gigging. Finish out the tour and give each other some space!
[5 Things You Should Never Say to Your Bandmates]
6. Gear is breaking
If you're a band on a budget, which most bands are, you can't expect your gear to last forever. Sure, sometimes gear breaks on the very first show of a huge tour. That doesn't mean you should cancel the whole tour. But if you've been playing for what feels like forever and your guitar frets buzz more than they sing, you might need to take some time off. Just like a singer's voice can't go forever, neither can your gear. Amps blow out, electric circuits fry, drum stands collapse mid-show. It's not fun for anyone.
7. You're not having fun anymore
This is a sure sign that you've been gigging a little too much. The point of playing shows in the first place is to have a good time, blow off some steam, and feel the music live. If you're gigging just to get a paycheck or keep the band busy, you might want to take a break and re-evaluate your approach. The audience can tell when you're not having a good time, no matter how great you think you are at putting on a show. While your heart may not be in it every night, it's important to generally enjoy touring, if you're going to tour. It's a necessary evil for some musicians who dislike it, but try to find the fun in it. If you're straight up dreading each tour, that's probably a sign that you need to scale back!
Sam Friedman is an electronic music producer and singer-songwriter based in Brooklyn, NY. His music blends experimental ambience with indie-driven dance music. In addition to pursuing his own music, he is a New Music Editor for Unrecorded and is passionate about music journalism. Check out his music and follow him on Twitter @nerveleak.
