Dana Lawrence is shown here performing with Kettle of Fish at The Ticket turns 21 birthday party celebration at the Sarasota Herald-Tribune on April 25, 2013. Kettle of Fish headlines Main Street Live on Saturday in downtown Bradenton. (Herald-Tribune Staff Photo by Thomas Bender).
Ready to leave the cubicle farm behind and get paid to spend your days entertaining at beach bars, nightclubs and the occasional big stage? Then check out this advice column by Sarasota resident Dana Lawrence. He has been playing music in public for 20 years and making a full-time living at it for the past 10. He's best known as the lead singer, rhythm guitarist, chief songwriter and manager for Kettle of Fish.
The band is a rotating cast of first-rate area musicians playing roots rock covers (mostly deep tracks) and originals nearly nightly at various local venues and festivals across the state. For instance, season's over and Kettle of Fish can be seen Wednesdays at Siesta Key Oyster Bar, Thursdays at Marina Jack, this Friday at Cortez Kitchen and as the headlining act of Main Street Live on Saturday in downtown Bradenton. Lawrence offers some great advice, in the form of "10 commandments," for his fellow musicians working the highly competitive bar and club scene.
Ten commandments for musicians
1. Enjoy what you do. Nothing is worth doing if you don't enjoy it. Smile and act like you're enjoying yourself.
2. Be professional. Show up on time (or early). Dress appropriately.
3. Practice. 'Nuff said. That includes not reading songs on stage. Cheat sheets? Fine on a small stage. But looking down for the duration of a song makes the audience think you don't care about the song, so why should they?
4. Spend money to make money. Play pro gear, it pays for itself, especially if you lose a gig due to inoperable gear.
Kettle of Fish performing at Blue Marlin in Bradenton Beach. STAFF PHOTO / WADE TATANGELO
5. Keep breaks to a minimum, and limit the time. More importantly, play relevant music while gone. Dead air kills a vibe. So don't play Jay Z or Lady Gaga on the breaks if you're playing the blues.
6. Take requests. More importantly than taking requests, don't laugh at or humiliate people with unwanted song requests. You may know more about music, but putting someone down for a request is not going to win fans.
7. Don't take advantage of your bar tab. Or bring a cooler on stage. Or fall off the stage while playing. It's a job, the best one you'll ever have, but it is a job.
8. Market yourself. Support your band with a banner, bumper stickers, koozies. Make people want to know who you are. And people love free stuff.
9. Know yourself. Playing Lady Gaga then Blake Shelton then Rush might show your diversity, but it can lose an audience.
10. Know your venue. Johnny Cash is great, except when the crowd wants Bruno Mars.
Kettle of Fish's upcoming shows:
7 p.m. Wednesdays, Siesta Key Oyster Bar, 5238 Ocean Blvd., Sarasota; 346-5443; skob.com
6 p.m. Thursdays, Marina Jack, 2 Marina Plaza, Sarasota; 365-4232; marinajacks.com
6 p.m. this Friday, May 2, Cortez Kitchen, 4528 119th St. W., Cortez; 798-9404
6-10 p.m. this Saturday, May 3, during Main Street Live, Old Main Street in downtown Bradenton; free; 896-8860; facebook.com/OldMainStreetMerchantsAssociation
