Roles needed for a live event

There are a number of roles needed to ensure the success of any live performance. Below I will mention some possibilities.

Artist/Band
An obvious example would be the band members themselves. Not only are they responsible for learning and often writing songs, but they may also be responsible for bringing their own gear. For obvious reasons, the performers have some of the key roles for putting on a good show. They must also be dressed appropriately for the venue.

Merchandise
People are likely to be willing to spend more money on band related products at a gig than they would elsewhere. Somebody needs to run the merchandise stall to ensure payments are correct and that nobody attempts to steal anything. Stalls can be run in the same room as the performance or just outside, depending on the size of the venue. 

Security
Any good live event will have a team of security to ensure safety is maintained. Depending on the venue there could be a number of different roles within security. Many venues have bouncers on the door, who decide who enters or who gets turned away. They are usually responsible for checking identification and sometimes responsible for an initial ticket check. They are also responsible for checking passes for backstage or for VIP areas.

Venues often have security inside as well as on the door. If it is a big venue with big names performing, there will probably be a few members of security between the crowd and the stage. Their role is to prevent anybody climbing on stage or to bring crowd surfers to the front and send them back round to the back of the crowd.

Larger venues have members of security who will check people for illegal substances or dangerous items, such as weapons. They may be permitted sniffer dogs as well if the venue requires them.

All members of security are expected to escort potentially dangerous individuals away from the venue, whilst maintaining safety for everyone around them.  

Bar staff 
If the venue has a bar then it will need a team of people to run it. If there is a large number of people attending a gig then there will most likely be people buying drinks throughout. The more people there are working behind the bar, the more efficiently everybody gets served. If the venue has tables, such as a pub, then bar staff will probably double up as waiting staff to serve customers food. This may not be directly related to a live event however it is essential for the smooth running of many venues.

Roadies
Most bands will have a team of people who help them set up equipment before a gig and help them remove it at the end. Band members often contribute to this task themselves or ask favours from friends to save money. Their main priority is to ensure that equipment is positioned appropriately on stage as quickly and efficiently as possible. Roadies may be employed by the venue owners or by the band themselves.

Drivers
It is likely that a band member might take the role of driver for a performance as it saves money, however if this isn't practical they might think it is a better idea to hire somebody to do it for them. The driver would need to drive the band wherever they need to go. This means before and after events and also means they need to drive them to hotels.

Sound Technicians
Sound technicians are responsible for controlling the sound of a live performance. This means checking the levels of each individual piece of equipment before a performance and to maintain it throughout. Technicians need to make sure that the audience is hearing everything at optimum sound quality. This means they are usually located in an appropriate position to judge this. For example, sound technicians for a main stage at a festival are usually seen in a structure directly in the centre of the audience area or in the middle at the back. This means they have a realistic idea of what the audience is hearing.

One role of a technician is to provide sound for the band members themselves. They control the levels of stage monitors that face the band. This means ensuring the band can hear what they are playing. For example a vocalist would need to hear themselves clearly in order to stay in tune with the rest of the band. All members need to clearly hear the drum beat in order to keep in time and give the best performance possible.

Bigger artists and bands may have technicians for their equipment. These people are responsible for ensuring equipment is in working order. This includes restringing and tuning guitars and setting up drum kits to fit the specific requirements of the drummer. Maintaining instruments is an essential part of concert preparation. If a problem occurs during a performance, such as a guitar string snapping, then it can potentially ruin a set.

Promotion
Any successful gig will need effective methods of promotion. This may include various separate roles. Somebody might produce posters, flyers and other physical versions of promotion. 

There is usually some aspect of online promotion for performances nowadays. Somebody might be liable for online promotion such as social networking or advertisements. Facebook is a helpful tool for promotion because it is so widely used. Someone could set up an event page online and allow people to invite whoever they want. This can lead to a larger number of sales. Facebook pages are also useful to post videos of a band's previous performances or pictures.

The general public play important roles themselves to promote events. Word of mouth will always be an effective method of promotion.

When organising an event, somebody needs to decide the costs involved. The venue owners will most likely decided the price of drinks and the set time for each band but they might discuss ticket prices and discounts with the performing acts.

Any member of the band can take responsibility for promotion or ask a friend to do it for free if they have the skills to do so. In most cases it is best to get somebody with the relevant experience to take care of it because the best level of promotion means the most people turn up for an event.

Photography/Video
Employing a photographer and a video recorder can be useful if the performers are intending on performing again in the future. As previously mentioned, videos can be helpful for promotions because it gives the viewer an idea of what to expect. By picking out the best bits of a video and posting small clips, a band can attract the most attention.

Photographs may be used for not only promotion but possibly for merchandise as well. Band posters of live performances are common amongst big name artists. Album artwork also includes pictures of live performance.

Tour Manager
When a band tours their own country or tours abroad they need somebody to organise and take care of everything. This involves arranging places for the band to stay, arranging for food and transport and deciding the best venues for performances. A well organised tour manager is vital for a successful tour.

Lighting/Pyrotechnics
Most live events will have some sort of lighting. It could range anywhere from a basic spotlight to a complex light show. Either way, somebody needs to take control of this and follow set instructions.

Pyrotechnics would only be used for bigger events as they are expensive and dangerous to use within small areas. If they are used however, somebody needs to take the time to carefully set them up whilst following health and safety procedures.