What Makes The Stream Different

This is not a bar gig. Not a festival stage. Not a sterile studio session.

The Stream perches somewhere in the middle of it all.

• Intimate like a songwriter round
• Professional like a live production
• Laid back enough for spontaneous moments
• Focused enough that details matter

The Stream is a risk-free recording session for performers. While we typically charge $450 for a single-song recording session, our livestream performers have access to the stage for free. The Stream is funded by our Patreon subscribers and audience donations. If you capture something you love, you can purchase it for your own use for $100 per song. The content will continue to live on The Stream in long form, but we will mix, master, edit, and cut your chosen song as a standalone video for use elsewhere.

We also offer song sponsorships through our Gumroad store for content captured on The Stream. For $50, individuals can sponsor a song for the Rainwater Studios channel. We mix, master, edit, and cut these songs for Rainwater Studios posts and playlists, and give credit to the song sponsor.

Getting On The Stream

Spots on The Stream are by invitation only. If you’re interested in being featured, please join our artist database. Our shows typically follow one of two formats:

• Solo opener: 15 minutes/Full Band: 45 minutes
• Songwriter Night: 30 minutes each for two solo or duo performances

Before You Arrive

Tell Us About Your Set

We ask all artists to complete this form as soon as possible to help us prepare for your stream. This gives us helpful details for marketing your appearance on The Stream as well as other upcoming shows you might have. The more information you give us, the more we can share with our audiences to help promote your work.

We also ask for your set list ahead of The Stream. Song titles appear on the screen as you play them, so it’s important for our production team to know what you’re playing and when. We will also write your set list on the on-stage whiteboard so you can refer to it throughout the show. Please remember there are NO COVERS on The Stream.

Let Us Know Who’s Coming

We have 10 seats for our live studio audience. We create an EventBrite page for every performance so we can keep track of how many people we’re expecting. The live audience adds excitement and energy to the show, so feel free to invite your friends and family. RSVPs open up to our Patreon supporters first and go public at 6 pm on Wednesday, three weeks before your show. You can reserve seats for plus-ones (one per band member) before the tickets go public. Just let us know how many you need, and we’ll block them off in advance.

Bring All Your Gear

Bring backups. Always.
Especially:

• Strings
• Picks
• Capos
• Instrument cables
• Batteries
• Power supplies

Nothing kills momentum faster than hunting for a 9V.

Consider What to Wear

Wear something that feels like you, but keep cameras in mind.
A few practical tips:

• Avoid neon colors or intense patterns
• Consider the branding if you’re wearing logos
• Bring in-ears if you plan to wear a hat (or wear a hat that works with headphones on top)
• Bring a change of clothes if you get sweaty during setup

Most importantly: look like the artist people came to see.

The Day Of The Show

Unless we tell you otherwise, the day sheet will follow this format:

Opener & Full Band

• 5:30 – Drummer arrival if you’re bringing a full kit
• 6:00 – Band load-in
• 6:30 – Sound and video check
• 7:00 – Opener load-in
• 7:15 – Opener sound and video check
• 7:30 – Audience arrival
• 8:00 – Live stream

Songwriter Night

• 6:00 – Artist load-in
• 6:30 – Sound and video check
• 7:30 – Audience arrival
• 8:00 – Live stream

During the Show

Keep Moving Forward

Small mistakes happen in live music. Ignore them and keep going. Most viewers never notice unless the artist reacts visibly.

Tell Stories — Briefly

People love hearing where songs came from. Just don’t turn every intro into a podcast episode.

A good rule:

• 15–45 seconds of setup is usually perfect

Leave Room for Moments

Some of the best Stream performances happen in the unscripted moments:

• Spontaneous harmonies
• Unexpected jokes
• Stripped-down versions
• Audience interaction

Don’t be afraid to breathe.

The Backwaters / Aftershow Energy

After the public Stream on Facebook and YouTube, we have an additional Patreon-exclusive show known as The Backwaters. This bonus segment runs for at least 15 minutes, but may go longer. This is where artists loosen up, take requests, collaborate, and experiment more freely. We will often see our opener lead a song with the headlining band behind them, or put together unique collaborations with singer/songwriters. You CAN play covers on The Backwaters. These well-known songs are often the easiest way for artists to collaborate when they’ve not worked together before.

For The Backwaters, it’s handy to:

• Have a few extra songs ready
• Know a couple covers everyone can jump into
• Be open to improvisation

This is often where the most magical moments happen.

Promote Your Appearance

The artists who get the most from The Stream are the ones who actively promote it.
Before show day:

• Share the event repeatedly
• Post rehearsal clips
• Tag Rainwater Studios
• Remind people it’s LIVE
• Encourage fans to comment during the stream
• Share the EventBrite link for live audience seating

Our live studio audience is open to anyone, and it’s free to RSVP. We have a suggested $20 donation at the door.

Final Advice

The artists who shine most on The Stream usually do three things well:

1. They come prepared.
2. They stay flexible.
3. They let people see who they really are.

You do not need a giant production to create a powerful show. A great song, honest performance, and real connection still win every time.