How to Write a Live Music Review
Concerts explode with storytelling opportunity. Live music can yield really great or really terrible experiences and as a reviewer you are tasked with providing an accurate reenactment through words. A live music review is not just about you and your perspective or opinion, but giving the reader information about the artists, the songs they played, the atmosphere, and the production. The review is also an important part of a band or artist's development, offering a constructive critique while potentially building hype and credibility that may land them more opportunities in the future.
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Instructions
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Acquire a press pass from the venue or promoter by contacting them and offering your credentials or work samples. This allows you to access areas in the venue that you may not be able to as a regular concert-goer. Where you stand in the venue during the show affects the sound and your ability to see the stage, so find a spot near the soundboard or center of the venue.
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Research the artist or band prior to attending the show and listen to their music. This gives you context for framing your experience and a reference for comparing the skill, sound and production quality of the live version of the music to the recorded version. Avoid reading recent live reviews from other writers covering the same tour or artist, as doing so can create bias or false expectations.
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Enjoy the show. Even if the music is not your cup of tea, your review will resonate more with fans if you approach the experience with as much objectivity as possible. Look for the positives in the experience and mentally catalog things the show excels at such as lighting, energy, performance or skill. Enter the mindset of a fan in order to capture aspects of the show that someone who missed it would love to know.
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Write the review about the band and not about you. While your experience fuels the review, how you word it needs to appeal to a wide range of readers including those who may have never heard the artist. How you describe the show should give the reader a clear mental image of the show while also providing information such as what songs were played, how long the show lasted, or how many tickets were sold.
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Build interest, even when the show was bad. Use a conversational tone and unique voice that is appropriate for the publication your review will appear in. Be specific and detailed. These are the elements of great live reviews seen throughout the years across a variety of publications. Studying the work of other writers you admire to establish their pattern or formula is not a bad idea.
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Pair your review with photos if your publication does not provide them. If you aren't confident in your photo skills, pair up with a photographer who would appreciate the exposure or outlet for extra shots. Many venues and promoters have photographers they work with often and will give you referrals or contact information if you ask.
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Apply a critical eye to your finished draft to edit out unnecessary commentary and improve the overall flow of the article. If you write reviews for your own website or blog, have a friend or loved one proofread your work when you are first starting out. An outside opinion will help you refine your style and reduce or increase your word count to an appropriate level.
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Tips & Warnings
Ask the sound-board operator for the set list at the end of the show and write down any deviations or additions before you forget them. Relying on information published on the web could lead to mistakes in your review since many artists will improvise based on the audience or location.
Bring ear plugs to the show. Not only do they protect your hearing, they allow you to better assess the sound quality.
Record the show with your cell phone, if allowed. Video clips or audio samples can provide valuable reference when you actually sit down to write the review.
Never review an artist with the intention or predisposition of writing a bad review. Your reputation as a music journalist is emphasized more by the friends you make than by the negative criticism you publish.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Thomas Northcut/Photodisc/Getty Images
