Craft
Stagecraft guides
Four guides in the order most performers need them: first cut the set, then rehearse it, then fix the joins, then learn to land on time.
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How to tighten a five-minute set
Record every set, time each bit to the second, cut any setup that runs longer than its payoff earns, and rebuild the running order around your two strongest pieces. Aim to finish 15 to 30 seconds under the slot, not on it.
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Rehearse so it holds up on stage
Rehearse out loud, standing up, at performance volume, in short spaced sessions rather than one long cram. Practice starting from any point in the set and practice recovering from mistakes, because live conditions will interrupt you.
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Kill dead air: transitions and changeovers
Plan every transition as part of the set. Decide the exact words or musical bridge that links each piece, time it, keep tuning and gear changes under about 15 seconds or cover them, and rehearse transitions as often as the material.
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Working the light: how to end on time
The light is a signal from the host or booth, often a phone torch or lamp, that you have about a minute left. Plan an ending you can reach from anywhere in your set, know in advance what you will drop, and get to your closer instead of rushing the bit you are in.
Timing your own set? Use the set-time calculator.