Don't forget to turn off iMessaging on your device BEFORE a gig!

[Pongo]

Otherwise, your backing track will have that annoying `ding' (or whatever sound you have associated with messaging) interrupting your song, if you get a message from another ios user! LOL!

Settings>Messages>iMessage...slide to OFF

I had been using Airplane Mode, but now I have to leave it off, because of the AirPort Express that I'm using to playback audio (thanks again to Christoph).

[arlo]

The Do Not Disturb settings might also be useful ... maybe quicker to turn all forms of incoming messages on and off?

[Christoph]

I had been using Airplane Mode, but now I have to leave it off, because of the AirPort Express that I'm using to playback audio (thanks again to Christoph).

Actually, you can switch on Wifi (and also Bluetooth) again after entering Airplane mode. This lets you connect to the AirPort (and other iOS devices, e.g. for screen sharing), but still blocks mobile data and prevents the "ding"