Things you never, ever want to do. . . .

[TNT]

I thought it would good (and beneficial) for us to share with each other things we've experienced in our "live" music days, that we will never ever do again, before, during, or after a live gig.

I think we can all help one another avoid a possible trying and discouraging situation at a gig. e.g., ok, who brought the PA??

1. I think we all know this one. Never put on "new" strings without first stretching them out completely prior to a gig. You'll spend the entire first set tuning after every song.

2. Years back I sent my guitar to a so-called reputable tech to have it set-up and then delivered to my gig at the start time. After I opened the case (as the show was beginning, and the drummer was tapping me in) I looked at the action and it was @1" above the fretboard!!!! STOP EVERYTHING - break time!!!

 

[the24thfret]

To add to #1, I always have the guitar setup with new strings the night before, if not at least 24hrs prior to a show. And you have to play the strings. Don't go onstage with fresh strings untouched.

To add to #2, always setup your own guitar, IMO... and like you said, play it first to know everything is right!

#3 Dont have anyone else setup your gear for you. And if you do... SOUND CHECK.

#4 Guitar polish

#5 Don't use too much #4

#6 Don't forget extra picks.

 

[NorM]

When you put your guitar on a stand,

UNPLUG IT!!!!!​

 

[spkirby]

Don't do as I did after one gig and park your car in a restricted zone (just for easy loading, only be 5 minutes officer!) then lock your keys inside...

Amazingly my mates car keys worked in my cars locks and after a few minutes of panicking I was back in...security? Well they were both Fords...

 

[Sigmunds Couch]

Never eat roasted garlic pizza

 

[Dead-Eye]

Don't do as I did after one gig and park your car in a restricted zone (just for easy loading, only be 5 minutes officer!) then lock your keys inside...

Amazingly my mates car keys worked in my cars locks and after a few minutes of panicking I was back in...security? Well they were both Fords...

...which brings us to #7: Don't leave your gear in the car

 

[Pittman75]

#8...Relieve yourself before you start the hour and a half long set

 

[Jack FFR1846]

When you hit your multi-effects pedal to change the setting between songs, look to see that you didn't also mistakenly hit the volume pedal to zero. Little hints that you've done this are that you are getting almost none of your playing in the monitor and the sound board guy frantically moving around.

jack

 

[Bungo]

Making rather too regular eye contact (and perhaps exchanging an occasional wink or two) with an attractive young lady in the crowd, before finding out later that she's the unfeasibly young niece of the bass player!

Run, run and keep on running........

 

[Big Poppa]

make sure your fly is up and don teat yellow snow

 

[Bungo]

Don't allow someone else to turn on a dry ice or smoke machine during a gig without testing it first to make sure it doesn't completely obliterate all of your pedals, switches and most worryingly the edges of the stage!

 

[koogie2k]

Make sure you use EBMM straplocks!

 

[robguitar]

Always have a backup guitar tuned up, and ready to play.

Make sure your amp is free from "condensation".

 

[the24thfret]

Make sure you use EBMM straplocks!

I've never had a problem without these while using my over 10yr old EB nylon strap...

 

[whitestrat]

Never go without a spare guitar...

 

[paranoid70]

Yep, spare guitar. I've reached for my SUB1 to finish out the set twice this year.

Also, try to schedule your gig more than 2 weeks after you have had surgery. Ouch!

 

[PugNinjas]

Never, I repeat, NEVER, mix Tequila, Heineken, and Champagne throughout the course of an evening

 

[TNT]

Oh yeah, I forgot, if by chance you set the mic stands on the floor, and not the front of the stage (if stage is too small), be sure you remember this during the night!!! If not, you may pay a big price!!

Ouchhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!

 

[Grand Wazoo]

These are a few "Things you never....." as happened to me

1) When you are laying new carpet in your home and using a stanley knife to cut the edges, if someone knocks on your door, FOR GOD SAKE DON'T OPEN THE DOOR WITH YOUR STANLEY KNIFE BLADE STILL EXTENDED thus resulting in slicing 5 inches of your belly open. Try and explain that to the ER department! (no pics available sorry, no time I had to rush to the hospital.)

2) When cleaning your motorbike chain don't do this while the engine is on!!! resulting in your right thumb being caught and severed in the rear sprocket see attached pic.

3) If you live in Naples, Italy and some druggie kid tries to steal your bike, FOR GOD SAKE DON'T CHALLENGE THE LITTLE cotton runt, he will pull a gun on you and shoot your knee cap off (no pic available sorry, no time I had to rush to the hospital ahem... again)

EDIT..... WARNING the pics below are a bit graphic, only click on them if you are not affected by blood and gore.
http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r200/xt660/04062008214.jpg
http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r200/xt660/04062008213.jpg
http://s144.photobucket.com/albums/r200/xt660/?action=view&current=04062008016.flv

 

[MrMusashi]

hehe.. and i though i had some "good" advice to give.. hats off to mr moto

MrM