Singer-songwriters sometimes lose focus on filling or expanding their repertoire with well-written, well-arranged, completed songs. If you’re looking to get signed to any type of music deal or just gain exposure for yourself or your band, it’s important to be able to sing your best material from beginning to end at a moment’s notice upon request, either on stage, at a social gathering, or even at a big fiesta–you never know who’s out there listening!

Many singer-songwriters easily gain exposure for their music through impromptu performances in front of someone who knows a friend of a friend of a cousin of an industry insider or executive. Those who aren’t prepared to play their music on request lose out on a bigger chance than they think. Of course, being signed on the spot may not happen, but you can gain a lot of interest from someone connected in the music industry and use that networking to open doors for opportunities.

So make sure you take your acoustic guitar or keyboard setup the next time you attend your best friend’s sister’s barbecue, just in case someone says, “Hey dude, you play music, why don’t you go get your guitar?” Your reply should be, “Why not? I’ll be right back.”.

Then sing and play to your heart’s content, go easy on the wings and ribs, and wow them with these songwriting tips.

The following practice regimen is for singer-songwriters performing with a solo instrument but works just as well as with groups and bands:

1. Make a list of your absolute best songs. If you only have three songs that’s okay, as long as they’re killer songs and they showcase your talent.

2. Once you’ve made the list, take one song at a time, play them from beginning to end and figure out what you can improve in each song. To stay focused and organized, it’s a good idea to write down notes and/or record your performance with some type of portable recorder, or even your home studio setup.

3. When you’re satisfied with one song from start to finish (this could take an hour to several days), move on to the next one. The point is–arrange your songs well and practice each one until you’re satisfied that you’ve gotten the best out of each song.

Remember, as a singer-songwriter, your competition is fierce! Only the best of the best have a chance at making it big or simply developing a fan base in their hometown. Even if you’re super-talented make sure you’re ready to execute great performances at the drop of a hat–people will remember you long enough for you to capitalize on their interest.