How to Direct a Concert

A Guide to Stage Direction and Design for Rock, Pop, Hip Hop, Edm, and More
1. Auflage 2026
ISBN: 978-1-041-15417-4
Verlag: Taylor & Francis

Buch, Englisch, 198 Seiten, Format (B × H): 138 mm x 216 mm

This is the first comprehensive, professional manual on concert direction, providing step-by-step guidance on transforming live music performances into intentional theatrical experiences through set design, lighting, blocking, audience engagement, and emotional continuity.

While theater and film have established norms and training for directors, concerts have lacked an equivalent discipline—leaving a creative leadership void in most productions. This book argues that concert direction is not only a missing link but an emerging profession whose time has come, just as it did in the evolution of modern theater. Drawing from decades of field-tested experience, How to Direct a Concert: A Guide to Stage Direction and Design for Rock, Pop, Hip Hop, EDM, and More explains the unique position of a concert director and why the role is essential for creating memorable performances, as well as teaching readers how to craft emotionally resonant and visually compelling live shows for any musical genre. This accessible guide provides structure and strategy where none currently exist, offering practical tools to navigate the process of creating unforgettable live music experiences. Through case studies, readers gain both strategic frameworks and concrete techniques for transforming fragmented performances into intentional, memorable shows that elevate the artist's stature and redefine what modern live music can be.

This book is written for performing artists, artist and tour managers, concert producers and promoters, students in live event production and performing arts programs, and industry professionals looking to elevate the quality of live music experiences.

Zielgruppe

Professional Practice & Development and Undergraduate Advanced

Autoren/Hrsg.

Pocker, Sam

Fachgebiete

• Geisteswissenschaften Musikwissenschaft Musikwissenschaft Allgemein
• Geisteswissenschaften Theater- und Filmwissenschaft | Andere Darstellende Künste Theaterwissenschaft Theaterregie, Theaterproduktion
• Wirtschaftswissenschaften Wirtschaftssektoren & Branchen Medien-, Informations und Kommunikationswirtschaft Musikindustrie

Inhaltsverzeichnis

A Foreword Introduction 1: Why Concerts Need Directors 2: How Concerts Differ From Legitimate Theater 3: The Role of the Director in a Concert 4: Setlists and Show Structure 5: Staging and Blocking for Musicians 6: Lighting That Tells a Story 7: Sound Design for Impact 8: Visuals, Screens, and Multimedia 9: Costumes: From Concept to Quick Change 10: Audience Engagement: Energy, Eye Contact & Euphoria 11: Dialogue and Banter: What to Say When the Song Ends 12: Special Guests, Features, and Surprises 13: Designing for the Road: Portability and Scale 14: The Rehearsal Process: Making the Most of Limited Time 15: Tech Days and Opening Night 16: Touring With a Directed Show 17: Concerts as Art, Though Commerce Pays 18: Why So Few Concerts Have Directors (and How to Change That) 19: When the Artist Doesn’t Want Direction 20: The Case Studies: Great Concerts That Got it Right 21: Directing Your First Show 22: Final Thoughts: Why This Matters Index

Über Autor(innen)

Sam Pocker is a contemporary artist who also works in video, music, and performance. His work has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, NPR, The Los Angeles Times, The New York Daily News, WPIX 11 News at Ten, and many other media outlets.