When you’re first getting your start doing live gigs, you’re probably happy to get anything you can get. You’re playing small venues, and there’s something to be said for the intimate atmosphere of a small club. Still, if you’re trying to build fans and make a name for yourself, you need to find a way to carry the energy of your live shows to people beyond the local venue!

The solution? Live streaming of your concerts!

Video production is now available for musicians of nearly all levels. Chances are, you’ve got the most basic tools you need on your laptop, tablet, or smartphone. Inexpensive professional-grade options are also available, usually for a few hundred dollars.

Here’s the basics of what you need.

Creating a Live Stream Of Your Music Performances

How it all works is relatively simple. It starts at:

1 – A Camera. Obviously, you need something to capture the performance. Many smartphones can now capture and stream live video, and there are plenty of standalone cameras on the market as well. Devices supporting HDMI are best, as they’ll give you the highest-resolution video. Then, it gets beamed to:

2 – A Computer. You need a pretty decent computer or laptop hooked up to a fast Internet connection to stream video. If there’s no way of bringing high-speed Internet to your venue, this may be a barrier. Besides being a gateway to the Internet, the computer takes the raw video and encodes it for faster downloads. Its processor can do this much more quickly than those on most handheld devices.

Optionally, you may also have software on your computer for inserting graphics, text overlays, or advertisements. Then, it gets uploaded to:

3 – A Central Server. You’ll need a partner for live steaming, and we’ll talk about that more in a bit. This central server is what takes the one stream you’re providing and then broadcasts it to everyone who tunes in. This is also the web address you’ll be sending people to.

Get those in place before the show, and you’ll be set to show off to the world!

Picking a Partner For Your Live Broadcasts

A few years ago, video streaming was difficult, but there are plenty of sites today that make it easy. YouTube recently added a live service which looks good for those on a budget, with plenty of full-featured options including overlays and pre- and post-roll advertisements. Of course, as a (mostly) free service, it relies on you having the hardware to get the video to them.

For musicians looking for a paid service with more options, Livesteam is the preferred option. They’re a professional service and offer pay-per-view options, as well as a range of hardware to make video transmission easy. For example, they have a $500 box that will allow any HDMI camera to broadcast, as well as simple options for integrating smartphone video.

Tips For Live Streaming Success

• Do your homework early on, and have a decent idea how many people you expect to be viewing.
• Utilize social media to promote your live show ahead of time. Make sure there’s plenty of opportunity for the URL to spread.
• Do a dry run beforehand to ensure everything’s working.
• Collect feedback! Find out what fans thought who were viewing online.
• Look to tie in other merchandising opportunities, like CDs, along with the live streams.

The Internet is helping bands everywhere connect with more fans. By streaming your concerts, you’ll be able to take the energy of your live shows and bring it to a whole new audience who can’t be there in person!