The trick is getting a feel for the best times to use your abilities. Personally I typically go around your max dps at 100 ilvl, depending on the fight, near 400 with echo in turns..opener around 500~

maintaining proper buff/debuff uptime is going to be your number one focus, and I see many bards that do not do this properly. Some just spam Straight shot, some forget about it, and letting your poisons fall is seriously crushing to your damage. Not watching for when Bloodletter procs can be seriously infringing on it as well.

One trick I learned (if your ping is good) is queueing two OffGCD abilities in between your GCDs, especially on your opener. The only delay I've ever noticed in the GCD is occasionally after Hawk's Eye, but that's pretty random. Too bad you're not on Lamia or I could show you personally; I've coached many of my friends on the intricacies that can help you out. Another protip is learning when bosses will disappear, fly off, go underwater, you get stuck in goo, etc...and put a fresh debuff on 'em! keep doing damage while you dodge randomness.