Hello Mark,

I play Live and have done so for 4years.
I focus on playing live from machines and dont use a laptop because it is too demanding of my attention and tends to draw you in too much so that you cant focus on the people as much. It seems that it isnt very favourable and has a stigma attached that makes people think you may be copping out.

So, I play my stuff from machines and those machines are the same ones that i use to produce tracks from for release. Its a sort of system that i have developed over time. That way when I play live my tracks are open to improvisation to suit the gig. The tracks are similar to the ones I produce for release but can be played with Live to either ramp them up or minimalise them. They are similar because the machines have all the parts to the produced tracks.

As a punter (puts cap on), i expect to see someone using equipment as an instrument and play their personal style of music. I dont expect to hear the released version but i know it will be similar. I listen for the personality from the artists and the showmanship of them enjoying the Live delivery of their tracks. usually this means that they will enhance hook lines from their tracks and do stuff like break down tracks to show-off a bassline or a vocal. I like to see them knowing their stuff and the enjoyment of really driving it home for the punters. i guess its like how a band will get a break to do a solo etc.

I dont know much about your sound or your PA as I havent come across it yet, but i am sure you are good and will seek out some of your stuff.

I guess most of all Mark, you should let your personality come through and have a natural ability to connect to the punters and enjoy the art of showmanship. The rest will follow.

Enjoy :)