The
average audience will notice more than your music
alone. People will first notice your presence on
stage. Then they'll notice what you look like and
first appearances are very important. Finally, people
will notice your music and what you sound like.
Knowing your audience is a very important concept to
understand and easier to explain with an example.
Imagine your band playing two separate shows on the
same weekend. The first night is at a University
night club filled with students in their twenties.
The second night is band night at a local night club.
Now the students want alternative rock, classic rock,
a little metal and hard rock, music that you may
think brings a band much credibility. Now, back at
the local night club, the audience will want fun,
fun, fun! Never mind anything alternative or remotely
heavy because it won't work. So adjust your set list
and include nothing but standard rock and roll and
classic rock that everybody knows and remembers and
can sing along with. You won't lose credibility and
you'll gain respect from your audience.
The audience will love the band on both nights,
whether you play credible music or not. So as a band
do you choose to have a great night every night and
get to play more often by knowing your audience a
little better or are you limiting yourself and your
band otherwise? Now, on the other hand, you don’t
take your top 40 set list to a punk rock show or
you'll 'DIE!' And if you're strictly a metal band
would there have been any doubt about the kind of
music you were going to play? Would you have been
invited to both gigs? Think about it, your band is
only limited by your knowledge of the audience,
presence on stage, appearances and music.
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