Live Performance Preparation Checklist

What this is

A phased, printable checklist that covers everything an independent rapper needs to handle for a live show — from confirming the set length three weeks out to logging takeaways the morning after. It is broken into six phases: 3 weeks out, 1–2 weeks out, day-of, soundcheck, the hour before the set, on stage, and post-show.

The checklist is deliberately practical. It is not about stagecraft or how to write a set. It is about the boring, forgettable, high-consequence pieces — the USB with backup vocal stems, the sharpie, the fact that dairy before a set will fog your throat, the name of the sound engineer that you should thank on the mic.

Print it. Bring it. Cross things off. Nobody has ever regretted being over-prepared for a show.

When to use it

Use it any time you are booked to perform live. Start three weeks out. Return to it the week of, the day of, and the hour of the show. Whether the slot is your first opener at a fifty-cap room, a showcase in front of industry, a festival side stage, or your own headline, the checklist scales — you just add or subtract items from each phase based on scope.

Common mistakes

• Treating rehearsal as "running the songs" instead of running the full set standing, moving, and out of breath
• Rehearsing to studio vocals instead of to the actual backing tracks you will perform to
• Bringing only one copy of the backing tracks — one drive, one format, no backup
• Skipping soundcheck vocal-level tests because "it sounds fine in the monitors"
• Talking too long between songs, killing the room's energy
• Forgetting to name-thank the sound engineer, promoter, and other artists on the bill
• Leaving the venue immediately after the set instead of working the merch table and meeting people

How to use it

1. Print the checklist three weeks before the show. If the show is closer than three weeks, start at whichever phase is closest and catch up fast.
2. Go through each phase in order. Do not skip ahead — the phases are sequenced so earlier decisions unblock later ones (you cannot make a stage plot until you know your set list).
3. Check items off as you complete them. Circle any item you skipped so you know your own risks going into the show.
4. Pack your tech pack the night before, not the morning of. Put the checklist inside the pack.
5. After the show, fill in the post-show log. Keep the sheet. Compare across shows to see patterns — what you keep forgetting is your real to-do list.

The blank template

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LIVE PERFORMANCE PREPARATION CHECKLIST
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SHOW DETAILS
Artist name:
Venue:
Date / doors / set time:
Set length (minutes):
Slot (opener / direct / headline / showcase):
Contact at venue (name / phone):
Contact at promoter (name / phone):
Guest list count:
Load-in time:
Soundcheck time:

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PHASE 1 — 3 WEEKS OUT
----------------------------------------------------------------
[ ] Confirmed set length in writing with promoter
[ ] First draft of set list (with runtimes per song)
[ ] Decided on backing tracks: with backup vocals or without?
[ ] Backing tracks exported (WAV master + MP3 backup)
[ ] Songs registered with your PRO (BMI / ASCAP / SESAC / etc.)
[ ] Venue set list submitted to PRO for performance reporting
[ ] Promo plan drafted (social posts, story schedule, guest list ask)
[ ] Flyer received from promoter — reposted with your handle tagged
[ ] Merch inventory checked; reorder if low
[ ] Bandmates / DJ / hypeman confirmed with call time

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PHASE 2 — 1–2 WEEKS OUT
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Rehearsal
[ ] Rehearsed full set standing up, not sitting
[ ] Rehearsed full set moving around the room
[ ] Rehearsed to the actual backing tracks (not the studio mix)
[ ] Cardio conditioning 3x/week (running or bag work) — breath control
[ ] Practiced worst-case: monitors cut out mid-song, keep going
[ ] Set list tightened — removed anything that dragged in rehearsal
[ ] Transitions and talk-tracks between songs decided and rehearsed
[ ] Studied the room: searched photos and live videos of the stage
Tech
[ ] Stage plot drafted (mic positions, DJ/laptop position, monitors)
[ ] Input list drafted (what the venue's soundboard needs to know)
[ ] Stage plot + input list sent to venue's sound engineer
[ ] Confirmed what the venue provides (mics, monitors, playback input)
[ ] Confirmed how playback connects (1/8" jack, XLR, DI box needed?)

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PHASE 3 — DAY-OF (TECH PACK)
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Audio
[ ] USB stick with clean backing tracks (WAV folder + MP3 folder)
[ ] Second USB stick — identical backup
[ ] Backing tracks also uploaded to cloud (last-resort backup)
[ ] Laptop (if triggering tracks live) + charger
[ ] 1/8" to dual 1/4" or XLR cable (whatever your setup needs)
[ ] Your own dynamic mic (SM58-class) — optional but ideal
[ ] Wireless mic (if provided by you) + fresh batteries
[ ] Headphones (for last-minute checks / in-ear monitoring)

Body / voice
[ ] Water bottle (room temp, not ice cold)
[ ] Throat lozenges (non-menthol)
[ ] Hot tea flask (honey, lemon — no dairy)
[ ] Vocal warmup routine memorized or in a phone note
[ ] No dairy or alcohol in the 3 hours before the set

Kit
[ ] Sharpie (for merch signing)
[ ] Gaff tape (small roll)
[ ] Phone charger + power bank
[ ] Cash box or card reader for merch
[ ] Set list printed x3 (for you, for DJ/laptop op, for sound engineer)
[ ] Show outfit + backup shirt (you will sweat)
[ ] Towel

Paperwork
[ ] ID
[ ] Contract / deal memo (screenshot on phone)
[ ] Guest list submitted to venue

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PHASE 4 — SOUNDCHECK
----------------------------------------------------------------
[ ] Introduced yourself to the sound engineer by name (write it down)
[ ] Handed sound engineer your input list and set list
[ ] Line check every input — mic, playback L, playback R
[ ] Playback level set relative to vocal (vocal should sit on top)
[ ] Monitor mix locked: what YOU need to hear to perform
    (usually: more vocal, less beat)
[ ] Walked the stage — marked your positions with gaff tape if allowed
[ ] Confirmed mic cable slack / wireless coverage across the stage
[ ] Ran the loudest song in the set to check limiter behavior
[ ] Ran the quietest / most vocal-forward moment for level check
[ ] Confirmed how the set starts — is the beat launched by DJ / you / FOH?

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PHASE 5 — 1 HOUR BEFORE
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[ ] Vocal warmup (lip trills, sirens, humming — 10 minutes)
[ ] Bathroom
[ ] Hydrated (water, not soda)
[ ] Ran through the opener a cappella once, full energy
[ ] Located the runner or stage manager and introduced yourself
[ ] Met the MC — gave them the exact intro line you want
[ ] Confirmed the previous act's set time and your ready time
[ ] Set list taped to the floor stage-right (backup for you)
[ ] Phone silenced and stashed with a friend or in the green room
[ ] Deep breath. You are ready.

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PHASE 6 — ON STAGE
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[ ] Opener — high energy, no talking, get the room's attention
[ ] Introduce yourself clearly ("What's up, I'm [name]") within 90 sec
[ ] Main set — hit the middle songs
[ ] Biggest / most familiar song near the end (not last)
[ ] Thank the venue, the promoter, the other openers, and the headliner
    (headliner if you are opening; openers if you are headlining)
[ ] Tell the crowd where to find you online (one handle, one platform)
[ ] Tell the crowd about the merch table
[ ] Last song — close hard, no long outro talk

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PHASE 7 — POST-SHOW
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[ ] Get to the merch table within 5 minutes of leaving the stage
[ ] Stay at the merch table for at least 30 minutes
[ ] Meet fans — take photos, sign whatever they bring
[ ] Thank the sound engineer BY NAME
[ ] Thank the promoter BY NAME
[ ] Thank the other artists on the bill BY NAME
[ ] Ask two friends to send you their video / photos from the set
[ ] Collect any owed payment before leaving (get it in writing if delayed)
[ ] Load out — leave the green room cleaner than you found it

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POST-SHOW LOG (fill in within 24 hours)
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Best moment of the set:
Worst moment / what broke:
Sound issues to fix next time:
Set list changes for next show:
Merch sold (units / dollars):
New contacts made (name / role / how to reach):
Photos / videos received (from whom):
Followers gained (approx):
One thing to add to the checklist for next time:

Completed example

================================================================
LIVE PERFORMANCE PREPARATION CHECKLIST
================================================================

SHOW DETAILS
Artist name:      Julian Reyes
Venue:            The Basement (150 cap)
Date / doors / set: Thursday, doors 8pm, set 9:15pm
Set length:       25 minutes (7 songs + 2 min intro loop)
Slot:             Direct support (of 3 artists)
Venue contact:    Priya M., 555-0188
Promoter contact: Devon O., 555-0142
Guest list count: 6
Load-in:          6:30pm
Soundcheck:       7:00pm

PHASE 1 — 3 WEEKS OUT  (all checked)
Set list locked at 7 songs. Backing tracks: instrumental-only,
no backup vocals — Julian wants a dry live sound. WAV + MP3
folders exported and named "SET_ORDER_01" through "SET_ORDER_07."
Set list submitted to BMI. Flyer reposted; guest list DM'd.

PHASE 2 — 1–2 WEEKS OUT  (all checked except:)
[x] Rehearsed standing / moving  — did 4 full run-throughs
[x] Cardio 3x/week
[ ] Practiced worst-case monitors-out scenario — SKIPPED (do next time)
Stage plot: one wired mic center, playback via 1/8" jack from Julian's
laptop into venue's DI box (confirmed with Priya).

PHASE 3 — DAY-OF TECH PACK  (packed the night before)
Two USB sticks. Cloud backup on Dropbox. Laptop + charger. Own SM58.
Water bottle (room temp), throat lozenges, no dairy since noon.
Sharpie, gaff tape, phone charger, $80 cash box for merch,
set list printed x3, backup shirt, towel. ID in wallet.

PHASE 4 — SOUNDCHECK  (7:00pm)
Sound engineer: Rachael K. (wrote it down).
Line-checked mic + playback L/R. Monitor mix: +3 vocal, -2 beat.
Marked mic-stand position with gaff tape. Ran the loudest song
("Late Bus") and the most vocal-forward ("Corner Store") for level.
Confirmed Julian launches the first beat from his laptop.

PHASE 5 — 1 HOUR BEFORE  (8:15pm)
Warmup done in the green room bathroom (10 min). Water only.
Ran "Late Bus" opener a cappella once. Met MC (Devon) — gave
him the intro line: "Direct support from Julian Reyes — make
some noise." Phone silenced, in Marcus's jacket pocket.

PHASE 6 — ON STAGE  (9:15pm)
"Late Bus" opener, no talk. Introduced at 1:20. Six songs deep,
"Corner Store" (biggest song) at song 6. Thanked The Basement,
Devon, opener M. Okoye, and headliner Vela. Told the room:
"@julianreyes everywhere, merch at the back." Closed with the
short outro song.

PHASE 7 — POST-SHOW
At merch table by 9:45pm. Stayed until 10:35pm. Thanked Rachael
(sound), Devon (promoter), M. Okoye and Vela by name. Asked two
friends for photos and video. Payment collected in cash before
leaving ($150 door split).

POST-SHOW LOG
Best moment: "Corner Store" — full crowd rapped the hook back.
Worst moment: Talked too long before song 3 (30+ seconds, dead air).
Sound issues: None — Rachael was excellent, refer her name at this venue.
Set list changes: Move "Corner Store" to song 5, not 6. Cut the
   talk-track before song 3 entirely.
Merch sold: 6 shirts, 2 CDs — $140.
New contacts: Rachael K. (FOH, The Basement); Devon O. (promoter,
   books Thursdays); a manager who introduced herself as "with
   Vela's team" — follow up Monday.
Followers gained: ~35 on Instagram.
Add to checklist: A short list of pre-approved talk-tracks so I
   stop rambling between songs.

Related SongBattle reading

• The First Live Show Playbook
• The Rap Concert Survival Guide
• What Makes a Great Live Rap Performance
• How to Get Booked