Standing out from the crowd
As mentioned, it was crucial to TS7 that he made a statement with his new live setup – the statement being ‘this is a genuine live performance’. Something extra was needed other than pressing the space bar, or launching scenes one after the other. Thomas had his existing musical skills to call into play – as a trained pianist, he could use a MIDI keyboard, and use the MalletKat MIDI tuned percussion instrument. For most of us, the computer is at the heart of our setup, but it’s always a good idea to explore the possibilities of adding something different, ideally something that reflects your sound and your personality. If you can sing, do it, because it’s the classic way to engage with an audience. If you can’t (or won’t) go near a microphone on stage, play a keyboard, or pads, or a real instrument such as a guitar or bass. Not only do these add a human element to your set, they are all of course fabulous sound sources for live looping, sampling, and effect processing. If none of these appeal to you, try adding some projected visuals, either your own, or in collaboration with a VJ.