You’re the opener. You’re there to play 30 distracting minutes of music everyone has to sit through while they wait to hear the band they actually paid to see. The room isn’t even half full yet, and you can hear every word coming from the people at the bar.
The chances that anyone in the room actually knows your band’s name are slim. You don’t mind, though, because you know that the thrill of posting on social media about how it was “so crazy to open for so-and-so” will be worth it.
Performing as an opening band is far from glamorous. But if you approach it the right way, these shows can be some of the most valuable and formative experiences for your growing band.
As the lead singer of the band San Fermin, I’ve had the chance to open for a variety of acts in venues ranging from all-but-empty clubs to sold out arenas. Each show is always different, but there are certain facets of opening that always ring true.
Opening allows your band to brush shoulders with bigger acts and broaden your fan base with very little at stake. Since the success of the show is almost entirely dependent upon the main act, openers in the right mindset have nothing to lose and everything to gain.
You Get Discovered
Everyone has that band that they love because they knew about them “before they were cool,” or at least before most of their friends started listening. Each show you play as an opener is a chance to be that band for someone. Even if your band has been around for years, these fans found you first.
If you can manage to grab the attention of those people you hear talking at the bar by putting on a memorable show, the act of changing their minds alone will make you all but indelible.
One of the first shows that San Fermin ever played was opening for the Irish band called Villagers in Washington, D.C. the summer before our first record came out. We played for no more than 40 people in a venue that holds around 200.
When we came back to D.C. later that year to play, a number of those original 40 people came to the show — and they brought friends. After the show, they found us to say that they had seen our original performance and had told all of their friends about how much they enjoyed our set.
It sounds simple, but these fans are some of the most important to have as a young band. They discovered you and because they feel like the satisfaction of their discovery hinges on you becoming the next big thing, they have to tell people about you so that they can capitalize on the bragging rights later.
These fans have the power to drag all of their friends to your shows using only a wild-eyed look and a persuasive, “Trust me. You have to see them.”
You Learn From the Pros
In most cases, the headlining band is more established or further along in their careers than the opening act. Getting to work side-by-side with a more seasoned band presents endless learning opportunities for younger bands. You to see the headliners gear, hear their sound check and watch them play their show.
You could get a fresh idea about where to put a fuzz in your pedal chain, learn a DIY quick fix for a buzzy amp or even just pick up new moves to try with a mic on stage. You should always leave an opening gig feeling like you picked up something that you didn’t know before or having learned something you now want to try.
Last year, San Fermin got to open about 30 shows for British band alt-J during their North American tour. Each day, I would find a spot near their guitar tech and watch him prep their guitars for the show. Seeing how a professional gets a guitar ready on the daily helped me take better care of mine. I even learned how to fix a loose strap button using match sticks – a trick I have already used twice since.
Opening can also give you the opportunity to play a bigger stage than you might be used to, and you learn fast how to hone your performance skills. Even paying attention to the way that headliners conduct themselves can make for valuable lessons about how to treat your crew and how to interact with your fans. Good relationships with the people who support you are critical to the whole band’s wellbeing and success.
San Fermin Live
And When You’re Ready to Open...
Get the most out of your set with these tried and tested tips:
Save Your Best for Last
Always close your set with your strongest song. Not only does this leave the audience with a strong final impression but, as an opener, there will almost always be more people in the room the closer you get to the end of your set.
Many fans will show up just in time to get a good spot for the headliner and might only end up hearing your last tune. You want as many people as possible to hear the song you think is your best shot at making your band their new favorite, so save it for last.
Be Prepared and Maximize Your Time
Opening sets are often very short – sometimes only 15 or 20 minutes long. Make sure your gear is ready to go, so you’re ready to start playing as soon as you get on stage.
It’s easy to overlook, but a technical mishap can be the difference between getting to play four songs and getting to play five. Or worse, it can be the difference between looking cool and looking like amateurs.
Play Like a Headliner
Own it. You have the opportunity to make lifelong fans tonight and you might just become someone's new favorite band, so play your set like you’re the main attraction. The last thing you want to do is look like you feel pressured. The most compelling thing an opener can do on stage is to let loose and look like they're having fun. If you play like it’s your show full of your fans, they just might be when your last song ends.
And if it still ends up being a mess, just remember: you’re only the opener — they probably don’t even know your name anyway.