Phatty's Question: Gig Stamina

[Lazybite]

when it comes to jamming... I can almost go non stop (apart from running out of ideas)..

Live because I exclusively play in originals bands that play between irregular 45-60 minutes so I have to put maximum energy in and put on a show and generally like phatty its no good talking to me until at least had a beer and a ciggie and my gear is packed up (too buggered to do anything else other than things which only require autopilot).

Once I played 2 x 45 minutes with a touring band (an all ages show and an 18+ show 4 hours later). Another time we played 2 x 1hour sets with 30 minute break between at the national suicide girls convention. Too my suprise I actually found it quite easy... but i think I was running mostly on andrelin at the end of the sets for both gigs.

If we wanted to we could probably play 2 1/2 hour sets 3 times a week.. but given that Canberra is notoriously fickle about original bands over playing.. we avoid over playing... which seems to gives us a bit more impact. Probably also helps that we are amongst the more popular local bands.

 

[Sherry SK8]

I'm the old timer classic rock BP said who plays "gigs"

We are west coast Canada playing East Coast Newfie Music, some originals and classic rock. I'd way rather party all night and just play than sit and watch or take a break.

Very cool to hear BP's influences as well as all the different perspectives.

Now the cool thing about Newfie Music is it is only possible to play while having at least a couple of shots of Screech-or maybe only tolerable . .

 

[KennethB]

Good technique is important and also what BP said about playing without tension.
So even when you "play with muscle", it's not draining. Breathing is key.
Technique-wise I patterned myself after Jaco's technique with a few modifications that works better for my physique. For instance I hold the bass slightly lower.
Also I'd like to mention what difference a particular bass can make:
I feel Music Mans are great when it comes to this. Let me explain:
The summer of 2005 I played at the biggest blues festival in Norway. The band played the festival plus two gigs at a music pub/bar. All done in one weekend. The bar gigs were from 10pm-03am two nights in a row. Because of crappy accomodations and 40000 drunken festival-goers I decided for the first time to leave my Stingray at home (I only have one, soon to be two I'm happy to say) and travel with my Fender Jazz. The Jazz is a great bass, but it's very neck-heavy. Even when standing and with a strap, you can feel it. The two 5-hour gigs took it's toll. I noticed that I was more beat-up afterwards than usual. My left hand and shoulder was stiff and aching from holding the neck up. Even my back felt sore. I felt this came from playing an unbalanced bass cause this never happened when playing the same amount of time with the Stingray. With the Stingray everything is appropriately balanced when I play. The weight is more evenly distributed so no hand cramps, shoulder, neck and back pains. In fact I feel empowered which is great. Also the compliments about my sound that I get almost every time I play with the 'Ray were absent on this trip.
Also after playing the big stage at day-time the band and me stayed behind listening to the other bands coming on after us. One band walks on with the bassist playing a Stingray 5. One minute into their perfomance our guitar player leans over, jabs me in the side, and says: "Listen to that, you bastard!!! Where's your Musicman, jackass?"

Point taken and thank you EB for making a balanced bass. My body appreciate it.

 

[phatduckk]

quick note: when i meant - "done" or "drained" its not about being "pysically" drained... its kind of like being checked out mentally - going from "the zone" back to the normal world. i think while on stage the adrenaline and the music keep me going but once it stops... then i need recovery time.

we can pysically play longer... its just clubs dont want you to

 

[HornetAMX]

Our gigs are anywhere from 3 to 4 hours. Most always we play 45 minutes with 15 off. We've got a strange one coming up in December that is going to be 5 hours! I don't drink (that much) anymore, so I just drink lots of water to keep from cramping, and keep my fingers dry to prevent blisters. Those new Slinkys I'm using are Nickel so they are easier on my fingers than my old brand of strings. I do recall a gig we did in Corpus Christi 2 years ago where we played a private party that started at 11 p.m. and ended at 3 a.m. on a Thursday. I'm just glad they paid us a bunch for that gig.

 

[Lazybite]

Yup very mentally draining. Nothing worse than people coming up to you after you have played to compliment you and because you are to drained you come across as arrogant.

 

[tkarter]

When the crowd gets into it and is having fun the band has fun and 4 hours just don't feel like more than an hour.

Those days we gigged from 9-2 Friday night and then 9-1 Saturday were the most fun I ever had.

I love the feeling. I reckon it affects each of us a bit differently.

tk

 

[bovinehost]

There is nothing else I'd rather be doing than playing live.

(Well, mostly.)

The other night I was tired and sick of lugging around the PA and they left some big freakin' TV on behind us ("People can see it from the street") and blah blah blah, but we kick it in and off we go and I think, "This is good."

 

[Lazybite]

gear is one of those things that you grin and bear. Nothing worse than carrying a heavy quad up a massive set of stairs.. then having to help those wretched drummers with their gear. but its doing the **** things which makes the good things better.

 

[RockinRayDuke]

There is nothing else I'd rather be doing than playing live.

(Well, mostly.)

Same here. I love it. Gigs are normally 4-4 1/2 hours. I've done it for so long the biggest problem is entertaining myself. I might have a little burnout but I've decided at this point in my life I play what I want to when I want to with who I want to.

BUT, I'm so tired of the same old same old I've been playing here (SRV, ZZ, the usual BS) and the biggest thing that gets me going is the occasional fantastic drummer that listens to me and has the ability to go a little outside enough that we both have some fun.

But as far as getting tired at the gig, nah. I'm old school. At a gig I'm just getting warmed up at last call.

 

[phatduckk]

There is nothing else I'd rather be doing than playing live.

(Well, mostly.)

The other night I was tired and sick of lugging around the PA and they left some big freakin' TV on behind us ("People can see it from the street") and blah blah blah, but we kick it in and off we go and I think, "This is good."

+1

ya i love playing live. it is pretty damn fun. i love band practice too. playing bass is fun and ill play any time i get a chance....

"got a garage or an amp we'll play any time"
-Rancid

 

[Lazybite]

I love playing loud full stop. good thing my neighbours don't mind either, which I should take as a compliment.

 

[Jim_F]

Good thread started by BP - interesting responses ...

I love playing live - but as we tend to veer towards the punkier end of rock / power pop - our setlists never really go past an hour. (Probably long enough for us and certainly long enough for our audiences
I have played longer sets with other bands in the past - I think one of the tricks is to let the gear and the soundguy do a lot of the work. Invest in a a decent bass and get it properly set up. And use a decent bass amp / PA to save hammering the bass and to stop having to crank the bass amp to the max. Never sounds good!
Guitar and bass quality of instrument and quality of set up is incredibly significant here in my opinion - you can have the best bass guitar in the world - but if it is set up badly you will suffer from finger ache, wrist strain, cramp etc. - playing should always be pleasurable and never a chore.
As BP said, find a relaxed, comfortable style of playing - find the right strap - and keep hydrated, particularly in hot sweaty smoky venues under stage lights. Dehydration leads to headaches (never good for a loud gig) and muscle tension (again never pleasant when playing live).
I also tend to find finger playing for a whole set occasionally starts to be uncomfortable after a while - particularly if we've been rehearsing intensively - I tend to use a plec on a couple of tracks to give my right hand a break.

 

[Bill]

When the crowd gets into it and is having fun the band has fun and 4 hours just don't feel like more than an hour.

Words of wisdom once again! That's my thought exactly, but you put it into words a lot better than I did.

One other tidbit to add to the topic of playing long gigs....if your band is very loud (like mine), wear hearing protection! The first few gigs I did with my current band would leave my ears ringing (much more than they usually do...damn tinnitus) for about 2 or 3 days after. I quickly dug up my old pair of custom fit musicians' earplugs from about 15 years ago & started wearing them. I never really liked them 15 years ago when I was a teenager, but now I'm a little older & smarter. Anyway, we can play for as long as we need to & my ears thank me after the gig.

 

[tkarter]

The way I relax on a gig. Look at guitar players they are smiling. Look at drummer drummer smiles. Look at keyboard player he is smiling. Look at singer another smile.

It is fun from there on out and is not any kind of thing I would call work for any of us in the band.

Practice is where one should work. Not the gig. IMHO.

tk

 

[Bill]

Yeah, it's a good gig when after every song we look at each other & laugh. Now that's a good time!!

 

[SharonG]

But as far as getting tired at the gig, nah. I'm old school. At a gig I'm just getting warmed up at last call.

That's me, usually. Every now and then I might get tired if it's otherwise a long day (I gig 3 1/2 hours, mostly on a weeknight), but as long as I don't drink to much booze, I can go on and on. Lived and learned about the alcohol - my playing gets verrrry ugly - gotta watch that! That'll burn me out more than anything.

 

[Sigmunds Couch]

I'm one of the old guys who plays a gig.

Playing for 3 1/2 to 4 hours is the NoRm for us. We usually prefer 3 longer 14-17 song sets with a break between but will do 4 sets and fill up the same time. Stay relaxed, drink a beer, and know that the playing is the easy part of it.

For us, the playing is really less than half our time and honestly, less demanding than the behind the scenes aspects. There is the 30-60 minutes breaking down and loading our personal gear and PA equipment from the rehearsal space. Follow that up with the 30 to 90 minute drive to where ever it is that we are playing. Then there is the 60-120 minute load in, PA and gear setup, and sound check. Add the stress of the PA not behaving as it should (It's amazing what problems arise in the PA just from unplugging, transporting and plugging everything back in. Granted our setup is different in the rehearal space then it is on stage but ) If we are lucky enough to be at a venue close enough to the house, we'll go home and take a break, shower etc. but there are times that we change our clothes and hit the stage.

Then after the show we have to reverse the whole above process. Usually with several cocktails in us so it takes longer.

When negotiating prices with club owners, I tell that we play for free...... it's breaking down and setting up our equipment twice that costs them the money.

In a nutshell, if you love what you are doing, it really doesn't matter how long the whole evolution takes. As crazed musicians, we can adapt to anything, or at least (for some) drink through it.

 

[Mobay45]

I'm one of the old guys who plays a gig.

Playing for 3 1/2 to 4 hours is the NoRm for us. We usually prefer 3 longer 14-17 song sets with a break between but will do 4 sets and fill up the same time. Stay relaxed, drink a beer, and know that the playing is the easy part of it.

For us, the playing is really less than half our time and honestly, less demanding than the behind the scenes aspects. There is the 30-60 minutes breaking down and loading our personal gear and PA equipment from the rehearsal space. Follow that up with the 30 to 90 minute drive to where ever it is that we are playing. Then there is the 60-120 minute load in, PA and gear setup, and sound check. Add the stress of the PA not behaving as it should (It's amazing what problems arise in the PA just from unplugging, transporting and plugging everything back in. Granted our setup is different in the rehearal space then it is on stage but ) If we are lucky enough to be at a venue close enough to the house, we'll go home and take a break, shower etc. but there are times that we change our clothes and hit the stage.

Then after the show we have to reverse the whole above process. Usually with several cocktails in us so it takes longer.

When negotiating prices with club owners, I tell that we play for free...... it's breaking down and setting up our equipment twice that costs them the money.

In a nutshell, if you love what you are doing, it really doesn't matter how long the whole evolution takes. As crazed musicians, we can adapt to anything, or at least (for some) drink through it.

That sounds like the drill to me. The only difference is that our gig gear pretty much stays in a trailer and we all meet at the venue since we live in different parts of the DFW metroplex.

 

[phatduckk]

you guys get paid too huh? wow.

all joking aside... there's not much money to be made as a nobody punk band. at least in my experience so far. some nights we make maybe $30 each but usually we make next to nothing and get about 2 drink tickets each.

i do it cuz its fun .... the gas money is a bonus to me