Top tips for outdoor music performances

With current COVID restrictions showing no signs of going away any time soon, many consumers looking to organise a small wedding or party are having to be creative with how they create the party vibe without contravening any government or venue enforced rules. One of the most common get-arounds used (especially when it comes to weddings) is to move as much of the event outdoors, both to appease restrictions and to make guests feel more at ease with social distancing. If you are fortunate enough to have been asked to perform music at one of these outdoor events, you may be unsure of the challenges that could be presented to you. After all, the majority of musicians will have spent much of their time playing indoors. So without further ado, here are the most important tips for making your alfresco gig run as smoothly as possible. 

1. Are you catered for?

Before agreeing to perform or signing any sort of formal contract to do so, you must have assurances that the necessary resources will be available to you in order to perform safely. Outdoor performances carry different, and sometimes significantly higher, risks; not only those associated with you and your fellow performers but other people who might gather to enjoy listening to you. It's a good idea to speak to both the event organiser and (if applicable) the person in charge of the venue. Of course, some of the equipment you will supply yourself as part of your services, but anything additional which will need to be outsourced needs to be agreed upon in advance with the relevant people.  

 

2. Location, location, location

Depending upon the type of music you are intending to play and the instruments involved, you will need to be careful when deciding where to set up and play. Acoustic ensembles, in particular, have limited volume, and so consider carefully how best to maximise your sound. Locating yourself in the far end of a garden, surrounded by rose bushes and overhanging trees might look idyllic, but much of the sound you create will be absorbed or lost. In most cases, and especially if you are relying on the natural resonance of acoustic instruments, playing in front of a hard, reflective wall or the side of a building should result in more of the volume being directed towards your audience. Similarly, bear in mind that your audience will also need space to stand, sit and enjoy the music. It is sometimes difficult to cater for both needs, so a compromise may need to be struck; again, this is why it is so vitally important to be in close dialogue with your venue or employer to ensure your needs are met. 

3. Think of your equipment

You don't need me to explain to you the need to keep water and electricity separate. And of course, we are all aware of the fact that the most obvious risk when playing outdoors is the threat of a sudden and torrential downpour with almost no warning – particularly if performing in the UK. There is often a misconception amongst those of a non-musical background that musicians are able to continue to perform regardless of the weather conditions. Just look at Glastonbury Festival, where come rain or shine, bands rock out on stages whilst being lambasted with sheets of sideways rain, in front of tens of thousands of similarly drenched crowds having a whale of a time. For your average working musician, however, this just isn't possible. Festival sound and stage equipment is specifically designed and set up to survive the worst possible conditions – ordinary PA systems, sound desks, microphones, guitar amplifiers… are not. For you to perform, it is important to make provisions for if the weather turns bad, and it can't just be packing equipment away temporarily in the hope of some sunshine later in the day. One solution (again, which would need to be agreed beforehand) would be to have a covering or marquee available which the band could play underneath, facing outwards. If the heavens did decide to open, it would simply be a case of turning the band inwards – a more time-saving solution which would allow the music and entertainment to continue.

4. Manage expectations

As mentioned previously, most working bands and musicians do not enjoy the luxury of a state-of-the-art, purpose-built sound system, designed for delivering optimum sound quality in an outdoor setting. Unless a band is performing outdoors regularly, it just doesn't make sense to invest in this sort of gear, when the majority of playing is done indoors. With this in mind, it is important to manage the expectations of your employer, but at the same time not undersell yourself. If you are not accustomed or experienced at playing outdoors, it's worth mentioning this and explaining that the quality of your sound may be compromised by the limitations of the environment. Most people will understand. After all, more than likely the reason for the event moving outdoors in the first place is due to external factors outside of everybody's control. Managing expectations then is a good way to exercise transparency, honesty and negating the possibility of friction on the day of the event. Often, clients appreciate bands and musicians all the more for making that extra bit of effort to accommodate them. 

5. Be prepared to stop 

There may come a point in your performance when conditions worsen to such an extent that difficult decisions have to be made; usually, it will be because of poor weather conditions, but it could also be because the venue or employer has not provided adequate equipment or resources. In a lot of these cases, it can be tempting just to muddle through and make the best of a bad situation. However, consider what would happen if yourself or a fellow musician were to injure themselves. Who would be to blame? Who would be culpable? What if a guest attending the wedding or party were to hurt themselves? Whilst ploughing on might be the easiest course of action and result in the least number of arguments, it could actually cause more harm than good. It could prove incredibly costly indeed if things were to really go wrong. In these situations, it is always good to exercise caution. Step back and assess the dilemma from a neutral's point of view and, if necessary, be prepared to stop. Having to do this is never easy, which is why having a purposely written contract for outdoor shows (which is agreed upon by all involved parties in advance) is always a good thing to have to back you up. Safety should always be your priority.