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In my last post, I talked about some ways I have successfully applied Tom’s Graph to long solo shows. Today I’ll continue with some ideas for variety and changing the pressure. Please add your own, let’s get a nice list started!
I talked about short breaks as an important part of structuring a long show. If you are worried about people leaving during a break, maybe you could find a volunteer to do something fun and engaging – a CD or other giveaway, or a mini-contest perhaps.
I’ve found that bringing up other musician friends to either play along with you or to take 2-3 songs of their own is also a great way to change pressure during a set or to fill in time during a break. I think we all do this from time to time.
As long as you know your friends are good and engaging – people whose style your fans will like as well – this is a great thing. My audiences in particular LOVE it when I bring my students up to play!