This document discusses planning for live music performances. It covers choosing a venue, themes and design, staging, lighting, sound, and other logistical elements. Effective planning is important to coordinate all aspects of a live performance. The document provides an agenda and overview for a course on planning live music events. It emphasizes that a good plan will help ensure all participants understand their objectives and roles to achieve a successful performance.

1. Music Performance
Planning for Live Music Performance 1
Chris Baker
www.musicstudentinfo.com
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2. Planning & Staging
• Planning : a detailed proposal for doing or achieving
something
• Staging : raised floor or platform, typically in a theater, on
which actors, entertainers, or speakers perform
• The term ‘staging’ originates from the presentation of plays at
the theatre
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3. Learning Outcomes
• Know the different roles in the live music industry
• Be able to work and prepare as a member of a team
towards a successful live event
• Be able to prepare individually towards the delivery
of a successful live event undertaking appropriate
responsibilities throughout the event
• Know how to prepare a budget for a live musical
event
• Be able to contribute to a performance to a
technically acceptable level appropriate to context
• Understand the complete process in preparing for
and delivering alive music event
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4. Agenda
• Introduction Overview Week 1
• Module Format & Structure Week 1
• Theming & Event Design Week 2
• Choice of venue Week 2
• Audience & Guests Week 3
• Stage Week 3
• Power lights & sound Week 4
• Audiovisuals & special effects Week 4
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5. Agenda
• Catering Week 5
• Performers crew Week 5
• Hospitality Week 6
• The production schedule Week 6
• Recording the show Week 7
• Contingencies Week 7
• Budget Week 8
• Evaluation Week 8
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6. Overview General
• PRS report UK music industry = 3.9bn 2009
• Live music revenues increased 9.4% to 1.5bn but slowed
from 2008 outstanding growth of 13%
• Positive for the industry, also leveling-off of a five year
sustained decline in recorded sales
• Widening gap between "grass roots acts and superstars"
smaller acts and musicians find less venues as pubs close
• UK live scene by postcode Midlands 14% cent of live
music revenue North West 15% South East 19% London
21%
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7. Overview Segmentation
Mintel Live Music Concerts Study
• Number of people attending concerts has rocketed
• Youth market no longer the biggest market for live music
• 45-54 years olds 62% ,18-24 year olds 50% , 25-34 year old
58%
• Cash & time-rich music fans 55 +, free of children, grew up
with live music increasingly enjoying seeing peer -group bands
perform
• By 2012 the family market will be in decline & 65 + age group
will be at 11m mark, the teen market will only be at 4m!
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8. Emerging Markets
• By 2012 same time the AB economic group of 14m adults
will grow by 7.5% = huge scope for private boxes, VIP
tickets and pay-for after shows
• Burgeoning under-age live music scene is emerging, with
own festivals, venues & promoters joining live music
industry
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9. Reasons given for going to gigs?
• 3/4 said “Atmosphere”
• 1/2 because they have bought the artists music
• Social networking sites and downloading have
promoted, rather than damaged live music market
• Regular internet users more likely to go to gigs
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10. What Genres?
• Rock fans most devoted live music goers half
attending a music concert in last three years & 18%
going to a festival in the same time period
• Pop fans close second, 45% going to a concert and
9% attending a festival in the same period
• Dance music far behind, 7% of dance music fans go
to live dance concerts and the same amount attend
festivals
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11. Planning for Performance
• What is Planning? In its simplest form, the planning
process is concerned with the ends and means to achieve
those ends
• The performance plan must be comprehensive and
flexible
• It must accommodate a variety of conditions;
meteorological, cultural, economic, political, competitive
& demographic
• With a good plan team members are aware of their
objectives and a means to measure their success in
achieving them
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12. Vision/Mission
• Every show should have a mission/vision
• It is used to focus all of the participants and is
expressed in concise terms
A mission should answer the following questions:
1. Who are our participants (customers)?
2. Which participants needs are we satisfying?
3. What are the organizers trying to achieve?
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13. Introduction to Staging
The main concerns of staging are:
• Theming and design
• Choice of venue
• Audience & guests
• Stage
• Power, lights & sound
• Audiovisuals & special effects
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14. Introduction to Staging
• Catering
• Performers
• Crew
• Hospitality
• The production schedule
• Recording the event
• Contingencies
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15. Theming & Design
• The theme of a show differentiates it from others
• Once the theme is decided the elements of the show must fit
the theme
• Staging elements that evolve around the theme: venue,
catering, artists, speakers, props/scenery, sound & lights,
audio-visual & special effects
• Examples of theme artists: 80's Tribute Band, Barbershop
Quartet, Steel Band, String Quartet, A Bavarian Style Oomph
Show Band, Ceilidh Band
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16. Choice of Venue
Factors in venue selection
• Matching the venue with the theme of the event
• Matching the size of the venue to the size of the event
• Venue configuration, including sight lines and seating
configuration
• History of events at that venue, including the venues
reputation
• Availability
• What the venue can provide
• Transport to and from the venue parking
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17. Choice of Venue cont.
• Access for audience, equipment, performers, VIP’s, staff and
the disabled
• Toilets and amenities
• Catering equipment and preferred caterers
• Power and lights
• Communication, including telephone
• Climate, including microclimate and ventilation
• Emergency plans and exits
Crucial decision that will determine many elements of staging
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18. The End
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