You’ve spent hours together as a band, writing tracks that you believe are truly special and unique. Now it’s time to show them off, and the best way to do that is to perform them. Luckily, London has some fantastic music venues for small and new acts, including The Lexington, The Shacklewell Arms, and The Fiddler. Hundreds of legends cut their teeth on these stages.

Chances to play in these iconic locations don’t come every day. Read on to learn how to make the most of your first gig opportunity and how we can help at All Nighter Studios.

Perfect Your Set List

All great sets at a London gig need songs that flow well together. Otherwise, your audience will suffer a jarring experience. Take your time to discuss things with your bandmates, and choose a set to keep the energy going. All great set lists include the following:

– A mixture of vibes that make sure your audience is always energised. 

– Keep it tight. Running over might make promoters and venues think twice about booking you again. 

– Start strong to capture your audience’s attention, and finish with something to remember you by. 

– Leave room to adapt. If something isn’t working, you need to be ready to try something else.

Set listing can sometimes be tense if you are in a band. You will always have creative disagreements about which tracks are your best. Make sure that you learn to communicate openly and always seek compromise.

Embrace Mistakes

Even the best artists in London make mistakes. Audiences don’t care about one-off errors as long as you handle them well. Whatever happens, don’t dwell on your mistakes, and keep going. If you are in a London band, you might get frustrated if one of your bandmates makes mistakes, but save any arguments for after you have finished. 

Sometimes, mistakes are impossible to ignore, and you might have to stop. Remember that everyone is there to have a good time, and because of that, they want you to do well. A sense of humour is a great tool to endear the audience at your London gig to you.

Settle Your Nerves

Eminem throwing up in a bathroom is an iconic opening scene to 8 Mile. But it doesn’t have to be like that. 

There are plenty of ways to settle your nerves before your performance so you are ready to be the best you can be. Breathe deeply beforehand and visualise what a successful performance will be like. Bring family and friends along so that you feel supported. 

Lots of London artists also use alcohol to settle their nerves. A small drink can be a great way to calm down, but make sure you don’t drink enough to impact your performance.

Hone Your Set with Practice

Finally, the best way to make an impact at all London gigs is to deliver a finely honed and tight performance. The only way to make this possible is to practice, practice, practice. However, many London musicians struggle to find the space to rehearse enough to get their performances to the level they need. 

All Nighter Studios, located on North Woolwich Road, has helped dozens of new musicians to practice. At our studios, open 24/7 365, you can book a room for just £1. This means you can use your budget to access more rehearsal time and make the best impression possible at your first gig. Use our online booking tool to book your self-service rehearsal space today.