Question Gig advice

[AlexBongoCrazy]

Got my first gig tomorrow at my school. I'm playing a song by the rest of the band members and managed to come up with a fairly fun bass riff that thanks to my bongo sticks out in the mix in a pretty good way especially when i do some fun stuff further down the neck. so anyway, I havn't done any gigs in a while and was just wondering what you guys could offer as advice, not for stress but just the preparation you do for your playing or your bass or anything else.

 

[Psycho Ward]

Well, before a gig I don't drink coffee, it keeps me awake all day.

 

[supadave]

Warm up! Spend 20 minutes warming up before hand if you have a chance. It took me a long time to realise that walking straight on stage cold meant your first couple of songs were shaky. Relax. Enjoy. You can only control what you do, so don't stress about what the rest of the band is up to.

 

[Aussie Mark]

I usually have a couple of beers and check out the talent in the room.

 

[AlexBongoCrazy]

I'm playing at my school's talent show, so apart from the second half which is just for rock bands there isnt normally a whole lot of talent and i won't be having beer . I'll try and get someone to take pics and then post them

 

[Aussie Mark]

I'm playing at my school's talent show ..... there isnt normally a whole lot of talent

Sorry, I assumed it was a co-ed school.

 

[RaginRog]

Sorry, I assumed it was a co-ed school.

lol....me too....

 

[RaginRog]

Warm up, make sure your bass is tuned and ready to go once the band starts playing, and make sure you're not TOO loud.

That should be enough... relax ....and remember....warm up...bass is tuned...watch volume level.

 

[AlexBongoCrazy]

... it is. I'm guessing by "talent" you meant girls then?

 

[stu42]

Arrive early!!! Then, make sure all your gear is setup and working properly and your bass is tuned, your strap is securely attached to your bass and, hopefully, have a sound check ahead of time to make sure you can hear what you need to hear at a good volume. Generally, just make sure things are organized around you. If it might be dark on stage then bring a small flashlight just in case.

Then, go hang out and try to relax.

 

[adouglas]

Some of this doesn't apply to your specific situation, but might be useful at some point.

Personally I sit down with ipod and headphone amp in the days before a gig and run through the set list, skipping songs I know cold and working on any rough spots. I don't overdo it. If you're worn out come time for the gig you'll screw up.

Day of, I just make sure all the ducks are nicely lined up… spares easy to get to, batteries checked, trussrod tweaked, levels all set, set lists taped to the floor, etc. etc. All the little details attended to well in advance. The moment you go on stage, you should be ready to play, not mucking about tuning your bass or figuring out where to put your drink.

I don't normally spend a whole lot of time warming up before getting up to play, but I do try to chill out and relax. No alcohol for me… I don't drink anymore at all, but even when I did, never during performance. It's a lot more fun if you're all there.

I don't eat much before a gig. It just slows me down.

I keep checklists handy for gear because at 2 am you're brain-dead and WILL forget things, even if you've done them a thousand times. Packing and setup should be a set routine… everything in the same place, every single time. The first time you misplace something expensive will be all the incentive you need to start doing this.

You said you've got gig experience, but didn't say how much. When you're new at this, it's easy to get flustered by the audience. DO NOT apologize if you screw up. Just keep going… chances are nobody noticed. If the audience intimidates you or you feel self-conscious, focus on the music and your bandmates, like you do during practice… just ignore the crowd. Unless there's someone attractive out there…. (Tip: Sunglasses… )

Keep it simple. Don't overplay. Less is more. New ideas for licks or arrangements should not be introduced at the gig… that's what rehearsal is for.

Looking good on stage is important. Try not to stand there like a statue, staring at your fretboard. Look at the gig pics thread… you can tell when musicians are doing that, even in still pictures. There is nothing more boring than watching a bunch of guys just standing around as if they were waiting for the bus.

SMILE!

Just my $0.02, but I think it's a good idea to dress well too. The crowd LIKES it when you look sharp… (cue ZZ Top) but the whole band has to be on board with the idea.

Oh, and most important….

Have fun.

 

[supadave]

...it's easy to get flustered by the audience. DO NOT apologize if you screw up. Just keep going… chances are nobody noticed. If the audience intimidates you or you feel self-conscious, focus on the music and your bandmates, like you do during practice… just ignore the crowd...QUOTE]

Some REALLY good tips in there but I especially liked this one and wholeheartedly agree.
The audience is there to listen, not comment. However, there is always one guy in the crowd who will be watching for you to make a mistake so he can tell everyone around him how he would have done it.
You'll spot him. He will be standing on his own. Nobody cares what he has to say...because he is a dick. There is one at every show. Ignore.

 

[AlexBongoCrazy]

Thanks for all the help guys very useful stuff! and it always gives me a confidence boost to feel like I have the EDMM forum behind me I'll try and get pics

 

[J Romano]

Have a good gig, as AD said "have fun"!!!!!!!!!!!!! Looking forward to pics.

 

[cyoungnashville]

just jam by yourself for a few minutes backstage, and get your hands warm. if you are new to this, and still get nervous (at all), it always goes straight to the hands . i been doin this a while and dont get nervous very often, but i used to really bad.. the worst ever was when i was playing the letterman show with frozen hands. they keep the theatre at 50 degrees so dave wont sweat!!! i was all nervous because its bigtime tv and grandmas watching and for a minute or two my hands were useless from cramping, shaking, and bonechilling cold!. if your fingers are warm and loose, its a hell of a lot easier to recover. especially if there's co-ed talent in the front row (or one of the worlds greatest bass players, will lee, watching you from 3 feet away.)

adoogles, i gotta disagree with ya on one point brother, and its pretty amazing that its taken this long in our interwebs friendship for that to happen, haha. i kinda think the cats that are thinking about their stage presence , while onstage, come off lookin like big goobers, and miss out on the magic. i think you just gotta be yourself and simply let your soul connect to the music you are playing (if at all possible), live that moment and just go where it takes you. if you are sincere, and connected to your music, the audience will connect to you.

other than that, break a leg, and dont forget to turn your amp on. before the part where you come in.

 

[DTG]

Lock in with your drummer ! It will make the whole band sound better

 

[keko]

Arrive early!!! Then, make sure all your gear is setup and working properly and your bass is tuned, your strap is securely attached to your bass and, hopefully, have a sound check ahead of time to make sure you can hear what you need to hear at a good volume. Generally, just make sure things are organized around you. If it might be dark on stage then bring a small flashlight just in case.

Then, go hang out and try to relax.

+1

You're real pro Man! (all regards)

Anyway, even if author of this Thread probably doesn't gig professionally, these advices are great even for the beginners!

 

[adouglas]

adoogles, i gotta disagree with ya on one point brother, and its pretty amazing that its taken this long in our interwebs friendship for that to happen, haha. i kinda think the cats that are thinking about their stage presence , while onstage, come off lookin like big goobers, and miss out on the magic.

Totally agree…. doing "the show" and leaping around like a danged idjit in an 80s hair band is just plain silly. But just as bad is forgetting to move at all, IMHO. We've all seen those guys, standing there like cigar store Indians frowning down at their hands.

I guess it's all about just being relaxed and interacting.

 

[cellkirk74]

and dont forget to turn your amp on. before the part where you come in.

That! And make sure to wire your pedals in the right direction. I had a funny moment once, stepping on the big muff mid song and the bass was gone....

 

[ksandvik]

The more you know about the songs/set list, the more you are relaxed (that's in the early days, later you will have gigs where the band asks you to play unexpected songs on the spot.)