The Most Important Month of The Year

January is a strange month for performers.

You big holiday and New Year’s Eve gigs are over.
The calendar suddenly looks quieter.
And many musicians just slip into reaction mode, almost waiting for the year to just “happen.”

But for serious performers, January isn’t a slow month. It’s a month for strategy.

This is the moment where the strongest years of performing are quietly being built.

If you want better gigs, stronger shows, and more consistency as a performer, the next 12 months don’t start with booking, they start with intentional planning.

Here’s a practical framework to help you reset, refocus, and move forward with clarity.

1. Rebuild Your Show Before the Season Builds for You

Every year should begin with an honest audit of your show.

Ask yourself:

• Which songs hit every time?
• Which songs feel stale, or only work some of the time?
• Which moments feel consistently strong?
• Which moments feel forgettable?

Winter months (especially January and February) often come with fewer high-demand gigs. That’s not a problem though, because it’s prime development time.

A powerful goal:

Add or refine 10–15 songs by early spring.

That gives you:

• A refreshed setlist before weddings, festivals, and corporate events ramp up
• More confidence walking into higher-value gigs
• Fewer last-minute scrambles later in the year

Also, don’t overlook key choices and arrangements.
Sometimes a song isn't failing because it's a bad choice. The song might just be living in the wrong key or arrangement for your vocalist or band.

Small changes can dramatically improve performance quality.

2. Expand (or Rebalance) Where You Perform

Most performers play the same rooms over and over again out of habit.

January is the time to step back and ask yourself:

• Are these venues still serving my goals?
• Am I visible to the right audiences (i.e. the clients I want to work with)?
• Where could I be playing that I’m not?

I also encourage you to think beyond just bars and clubs:

• Wineries
• Corporate events
• Private parties
• Churches
• Festivals
• Community events

Here's a strong planning target:

Identify and pursue 5 new performance opportunities by early spring.

This isn’t just about adding gigs. It’s much more about improving the quality and reach of where people experience your show.

And if you haven't thought about this, January also becomes a good moment to reassess your existing relationships:

• Are expectations clear?
• Is the compensation fair?
• Is the situation still mutually beneficial?

Professional performers don’t avoid these conversations. They make a conscious choice to address the needs of both their clients and themselves.

3. Make It Easy for People to Say “Yes” to Booking You

If someone can’t see you live, can they still understand your value?

January is the perfect time to assess your online presence:

• Do you have recent photos?
• Do you have current performance videos?
• Is it obvious how to contact you?
• Does your online presence reflect the experience you deliver on stage?

Think like a client:

“If I found you today, would I feel confident booking you?”

Strong marketing doesn’t mean constant posting. Iit means clarity, professionalism, and accessibility.

4. Do the Math Now (Before the Year Does It for You)

This is something many performers avoid looking at, but it’s really something that you need to find clarity.

Gig Math.

You need to know:

• How many shows you realistically plan to play
• How much income you want (or need)
• How that income is split if you’re in a band

For example:

• One show per week at $1,000 = $52,000/year
• But split that amongst five people? The take home pay number changes really fast.

This isn’t supposed to be discouraging. It’s empowering.

When you know the math, you can:

• Price appropriately
• Choose better opportunities
• Avoid burnout and resentment later in the year

Professional performers plan income before accepting any gigs, not after.

When musicians take time each year to plan their gigs, income, and performance growth, they move from reacting to opportunities to intentionally choosing them.

5. Protect the Professionalism of Your Group

Finally, look inward.

Every successful musical act, bands, duos, solo, DJs... They all depend on professionalism:

• Musically
• Personally
• Logistically

January is a good time for honest reflection:

• Is everyone pulling their weight?
• Are the expectations clear? REALLY clear?
• Are there recurring issues that need to be addressed?

This doesn’t mean you're creating drama. It means that you are trying to prevent it.

Strong groups don’t avoid hard conversations.

They handle them early, respectfully, and with the long game in mind.

The Year You Want Is Built Right Now

Your year as a performer doesn’t improve by accident.

It improves when you:

• Reflect honestly
• Plan intentionally
• Make small, strategic decisions early

January gives you something rare and very important: the time and space to think.

Use it well, and the rest of your year will see the benefit of your effort early on.

If your goal is to grow your musicianship, your stage presence, and your opportunities without losing your creative spark, this kind of planning isn’t optional.

It’s foundational.

Be the Performer You’re Meant to Be 
... and do it on purpose.

Have a great year!
Danny

P.S. If you want to go deeper into improving your live show, stage presence, and professional confidence on stage, explore the resources and courses available at Danny Robertson Music.