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Bandsintown for Artists Blog

The latest news, updates, tools and tips for Bandsintown Artists

Five Things We’ve Learned About Live Streaming: Heather St. Marie of Dauzat St. Marie

Heather St. Marie of the Los Angeles based duo Dauzat St. Marie is no stranger to writing, recording and touring, but her conversion to live music streaming aficionado came only after a fair amount of planning, practice, and trial and error.

Here are her 5 things she’s learned about live streaming:

1. You may be in your living room alone as you are streaming, but you mustn’t lose sight of the fact that your living room is now the stage and there is an audience tuned in. Though maybe not the conventional show environment, this is a legitimate show nevertheless and should be respected as such. Take pride in your show.

2. Experiment beforehand in getting the sound right. You may say, “My sound is just one acoustic guitar and one vocal... how hard can it be?” Well, when you hear the majority of “one guitar and one vocal” live streams, what do you mostly hear? The vocal.... and very little guitar. That can easily be remedied by use of technology or simply better mic placement. If you choose to go down the rabbit hole of technology, you can gain complete control of your mix by isolating sonic elements and dialing in the mix to taste. Or, if you prefer the “one mic” route, experiment with the placement of that mic. Try raising or lowering the mic to get the vocal/guitar mix exactly where you want it. It can make a world of difference. Same goes for an iPhone, by the way.... it IS the mic, and placement is key.

3. The sound of your livestream may be absolutely stellar, but the overall delivery can still fall flat if the visual is lackluster. Try to find an interesting space for your performance. We personally aren’t fans of visually “busy” spaces in real life, but in video... the busier, the BETTER! Check out the set of NPR’s “Tiny Desk Concerts.” It doesn’t get much more visually “busy” than that. Clutter everywhere... but it is INTERESTING clutter that works quite well on camera. It gives the viewer plenty to keep the eye occupied and engaged in the video throughout the whole performance. Depth-of-field is also a plus, if possible. Try not to be positioned against a wall if you can (unless it is a very INTERESTING wall!). Experiment with as many spaces as possible.

4. Good lighting can absolve a litany of sins. Watch some YouTube videos on lighting to learn what good lighting can do for your overall production. Buy some LED panel lights and experiment with placements. It is a relatively inexpensive investment that can account for a HUGE increase in production value.

5. Engage with the audience. Interaction is important for both the fans and for the performer to feel the intimate connection we normally make during in-person analog performances. You obviously won’t hear the normal audience applause after songs that you may be used to hearing during in-person performances, but don’t forget that the audience is still there. Engage! Ask questions! Take this time to get to know your fans more. And, always HAVE FUN!

Follow Dauzat St. Marie on Bandsintown to learn about future live streams and concerts.

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