285: Bringing Your Music To The Live Stage: Click track? Backing Tracks? 100% Live And Free?

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Episode show notes:

How should you approach your live show? Should you go all in with backing tracks, click tracks, and a tightly structured set? Or should you keep things 100% live and raw, without backing tracks or even a click track?

In this episode, Manel dives deep into both worlds. He shares what it’s really like to play completely live versus using clicks and tracks, and talks about the pros, cons, and practical realities of each setup.

From spontaneous, free-flowing shows to perfectly synced festival sets, this episode breaks down everything you need to know to make the right choice for your band. Based on your style, goals, and budget.

In This Episode:

🎸 The pros and cons of playing with no click and no backing tracks

💻 The structure and consistency that come with click tracks and playback setups

🎚️ How to build a reliable backing track rig that actually works live

🎤 The psychological side - why some musicians love the click and others hate it

💡 How audience perception of “authenticity” might not be what you think

⚡ Hybrid setups and emergency plans: finding a middle ground between both worlds

💰 Budget and logistics - when backing tracks make a small lineup work

Why It Matters:

Your live setup affects everything: The energy, the sound, the consistency, and even your reputation. Understanding the tradeoffs will help you create shows that fit your music and feel right for you and your audience.

Key Quote:

“The key is finding what fits your music, your budget, and your audience - not what others say you should do.”

Join the Conversation:

How do you run your shows? Do you prefer the raw energy of playing fully live, or the precision of playing to a click and tracks? Let us know - we’d love to hear your take.

 

For links to everything we've mentioned in this episode, key takeaways, as well as full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/285

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