I have my first gig comming up on Monday and just wanted to ask for any tipps you Xpirienced bassists have. I'd appriciate anything,
THX
SCODI

Show up early. You will have time to get set up and then chill a bit before the show stars. I find it is best to relax a little befor you start playing. Don't get all wound up before hand or you'll just wont play as well. And most important, have fun. Don't get frustrated when and if you make mistakes. Any of the players out here will tell you that mistakes WILL happen. If it's wrong notes, if you forget a bridge, etc., mistakes will happen. Just have fun.:D

Bring spare batteries, strings, tools (wire cutters, soldering iron, etc.) and cables.
Spare bass too, if you have one.

Duct tape.

Shake hands with sound guy.

Smile onstage.

Remember its all about the music.
Act like a professional.
Focus
Enjoy the hell out of it---
you're doing a Gig!!!!:cool:

It's not just our gig though.
Its a producers 53 Birthday Party and he invited all his bands, and his son is a guitarist in our band and we are just going to play 2 of our songs round about the middle of the performance. (If it goes well well play three:) )

THX so far
SCODI

Don't "rock out" so much that you dont play properly

Originally posted by SCODI


THX so far
[/B]If it goes well we'll play three

SCODI- Go ahead on & give 'em FOUR, man!!

:D

If you screw up.... KEEP GOING!

dont be nervous. its just a gig, nothing bad can happen. and like the antipop said, if u screw up dont worry, just make up for it by continuing to play your best.

Don't let the drummer drink too much...

Trust me, dude -- I know from experience

Originally posted by babecker
Don't let the drummer drink too much...

Trust me, dude -- I know from experience


HA! I love it....
sometimes I wish one of mine would drink himself into oblivion!!:D

1. Know your parts

2. dont drink alcohol or at the least dont drink in excess

3. be professional at all times

3A. if you should somehow need to retune, dont do it inbetween the song where the crowd can hear it, use an electronic tuner (if possible) imo nothing is more unprofessional that someone tuning or noodling around on stage inbetween songs.

Live Rock and Roll Rule No. 1:

Keep the awkward silences to a minimum.

Live Rock and Roll Rule No. 2:

No band "in" jokes. Nothing's unfunnier than a joke that only the band gets.

Live Rock and Roll Rule No. 3:

Unless you're the lead singer, keep your comments into the mike to a minimum.

Live Rock and Roll Rule No. 4:

Be confident and kick ass. The rest will follow.

Originally posted by babecker

Don't let the drummer drink too much...

It's true, it's true! Don't let anyone drink too much, ESPECIALLY the drummer. And yeah, if anyone screws up--if everyone screws up--KEEP GOING. The crowd might notice, they might not. But they will DEFINITELY notice if you stop. Nothing's more embarassing....................................... ...................................except when your drunk drummer keeps playing after the song ends. That's even worse.

Practice the songs and learn the lyris singing . If you make a mistake you can fix it.
And remember have fun!!! don't let the little mistake became BIG.

Originally posted by cassanova

3A. if you should somehow need to retune, dont do it inbetween the song where the crowd can hear it, use an electronic tuner (if possible) imo nothing is more unprofessional that someone tuning or noodling around on stage inbetween songs.


This is *SO TRUE*.

No band should be taken seriously if they're tuing audibly. In fact, I heckle them.

Originally posted by SMASH
I heckle them.

That's really cool. I'm sure they appriciate that too. You would think that you would have a little more class than that, being a gigging bass player and all. :rolleyes:

the pez is right I would never heckle someone tuning their instrument between songs...in fact they are doin YOU the audience a favor by being in tune.theres nothing more offending than a band thats out of tune...and maybe they cant afford a eletronic tuner...or just don't want one..some people don't lik'em...as far as advice goes..no matter what happens HAVE FUN!!!!

Originally posted by ThePez

That's really cool. I'm sure they appriciate that too. You would think that you would have a little more class than that, being a gigging bass player and all. :rolleyes:

It depends. If anyone is trying to pass themselves off as a real band and they tune audibly, especially if they make a "tuning song" joke, then I'm kind enough to give them a reality check. If they're a young band, or otherwise inexperienced, I'll likely say something helpful to them after the set.

Can't aford a tuner? GMAFB. Then you can't afford to play live.

Of the heckling I have done, I have received many good-humoured "thanks" and never an attempt at suckerpunching me. I dish it out with good humour and they take it the same way. Usually it's more along the lines of "turn up the bass", "guitar is too loud", or "tuning break !!!".

Gotta lighten-up, especially if you're casual enough to be tuning through your amps :rolleyes:


>>> theres nothing more offending than a band thats out of tune...

This is also a great truth.

Speaking of gigs...do you guys think it's unprofessional to use a music stand (for lyrics or music)? In my band, I know the words to the songs, but what if you choke on stage and forget them? :confused:

Who cares if you hear em tuning, as long as they don't suck!



Also a couple years ago I was doing this proiject for school and me and 2 guitar players and to play brown eyed girl. I learned the verse, and the chorus, but there were some parts that were a little um odd to me and I had a hard time memorizing them so I used stands and played while the guitars didn't. So what if I looked like a wierdo. It did sound good, but those damn guitar players kept telling me to turn it down.

See also "My First Gig !" : http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=86315

and

"Backup Gear" : http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=90130

Here's my 2 cent Zen wisdom:

Even though it appears that you are wading through a bunch of weeds, from the heavens it all looks like a garden.

When we change to drop D, my guitarist will tune down thru his amp, and thus the PA. It's so lame.

I've seen alot of bands tuning thru amplifiers and I've said things like...time to buy a tuner? Yeah its a cheap shot but give me a break... this isn't the garage kiddies!

All that has been said on this topic is words to live by (especially the no drinking before gig...I've divebombed too many gigs due to wasted/tipsy drummers).

The best bit of advice I ever heard was:
"You got into music for the love and the fun, who cares what the audience are doing, if you're having fun on stage the love will come across to the audience."
Thanks to a Mr Pulford for that: http://www.rockphotography.co.uk/

All good advice, to which I will add:

Nobody's going to notice the mistakes unless they're REALLY huge (and face it up front, you're going to make some mistakes...we all do). DON'T get embarrassed and DON'T apologize. Believe this: You are your own harshest critic.

Don't concentrate so hard that you turn into a scowling statue. Do some deep breathing and stretching to relax. Get in the zone, and visualize how great it's going to be. It's easy to get so wound up that you literally cramp your arm and hand and can't play! (This used to happen to me.)

In addition to not drinking alcohol, don't drink coffee or ultra-caffeinated soda. If you get all torqued up on caffeine, you'll be so jittery you won't be able to relax.

If you sing, don't eat food that's going to give you gas before you play. Nothing quite like a big BRRRAAAPPP belch when you go to sing your first harmony!

If you think you're going to get stage fright, don't look the audience in the eye. Stage lighting can help you here by making them less visible.

Accept that the schedule and a bunch of other preplanned details will go to hell, especially since there are multiple bands playing. A wise man once said "No battle plan survives first contact with the enemy." It's true. Don't let it rattle you. You're there to play, and people are there to watch you play. Let it go down however it wants to.

Take the time before you get on stage to breathe heavily. Stretch your arms, legs, back and hands. As far as stage presence, I tell my guitarist...who plays great but looks scared...to pose...bend a leg, spread your feet out, lean back...anything. It at least looks like you are into it.

Good Luck

Originally posted by Pete-the-bass
Speaking of gigs...do you guys think it's unprofessional to use a music stand (for lyrics or music)? In my band, I know the words to the songs, but what if you choke on stage and forget them? :confused:

IMHO Yes but...

If I'm just the bassplayer I'll secret some notes somewhere. If there's a drum riser then that's ideal. I recently filled in with a covers band who have at least 50 songs on the list. The guitarist had a little notebook with keys and notes like 'solo' etc.

I once played for a keyboardist/singer who seemed to know every song ever written. I found out his secret one day, he would look at the music for all the songs in the set just before he would go on stage. Try to work this way rather than reading unless it's a reading gig.

If I'm singing and I'm new to it I will write lyrics on my arm or on a card, but only the rhyming words. You can write them on the set list, it's best to write the keys on the set list anyway. I play/dep(sub) in two bands that do "that's the way I like it" one in F and one in F# (nice).

RE tips for live playing do your homework and take spares for as much as you can as well as tools, drink softdrinks on the job and have a beer or two when you get home. Don't go straight to bed no matter what the time is as the last song will go around your head whilst trying to sleep. Watch TV computer games talkbass whatever.

what we do a lot of times is write little key reminders next to the songs on our set list. I'm assuming most bands have set lists so that everyone knows the order of the songs and stuff. So if there's something I always forget or if a song has a weird ending, I'll jot down a little two word reminder next to that song. It's pretty handy and inconspicuous.

Make sure you have plenty of time before the gig to set up your gear and sound check, it always takes much more time than you think. Scout the place out in advance, talk to the people at the venue... this will make you feel more relaxed and in control. Don't drink too much alcohol, bring a bottle of water with you on stage. And, try to have fun - at a live gig it doesn't matter that much if you play some bum notes, it's more important to put on a good show and look confident and happy on stage.

Setlists - yep, those are a good idea ;)

Print them out nice and large so you can read them on the floor, have enough copies for everyone in the band, and add any notes that are required - keys are a good one, and whatever else you need.

Wulf

i go through a 1/2 gallon at every gig.


also, regarding forgetting the lyrics, there was a funny snippet on msn the other day about david bowie. he said his drug use in the 70s was so overdone, his brain has turned to swiss cheese. he carries a large 'bowie lyrics' tome with him onstage with lyrics to all his tunes. if he forgets, he just sneaks a glance.



i think that's pretty hysterical myself. actually, though, it seems no one ever remembers the lyrics to peoples songs, so no biggie if ya can't remember them on stage. just phrase it right!


m

Originally posted by adouglas

If you sing, don't eat food that's going to give you gas before you play. Nothing quite like a big BRRRAAAPPP belch when you go to sing your first harmony!


This is perfectly acceptable if you play in a metal band.

Unless, of course, you're hoping to meet some groupies.

expect EVERYTHING to be different from what you're used to. the way you feel, the way your hands work (as they may suddenly feel as though they're someone elses), the way everything sounds. you may not hear your guitarist or singer. you may wonder, "what band is this?" if it all sounds and feels the same or better, then great - you're off to an excellent start/but be prepared for the former.

make sure you wrap your cord around your strap so you don't pull it out.

realize that this is your 1st gig and cut yourself a lot of slack. even if you COMPLETELY suck and mess EVERYTHING up, don't matter none. you're new and you have to make some mistakes in order to learn. if you get them all out of the way 1st gig, good for you! if all goes great, even better.

if and when you (or anyone in your band) do screw up, do your best to act as if nothing happened. whatever it was, you "meant" to do it. i once played an entire song tuned a halfstep down from the rest of the band - people thought it was an artsy dissonant thing we were going for.

keep your eyes open and try your best to look at people in the audience. don't look at the floor. if you can't look people in the eyes just yet, look at their hair. they can't tell the difference.

if big things go wrong, like all of sudden there's no sound coming out of your amp, it isn't the end of the world. go with it - the audience will love you even more for that. sh*t happens.

if you believe in any type of higher being, pray to it before the show.

know that this is only one of thousands of shows you'll hopefully play in your lifetime. right now it seems like the most important thing in the world, years from now you will laugh about it. days from the show (probably actually HOURS from the show) nobody else is going to remember it at all. much less the small details like that A you played instead of an E.

know that (IMO) you can rehearse a thousand times in the house or studio, but you're not rehearsing till you start doing it on a stage. that's the BEST possible rehearsals.

wait till you have left the place to discuss with your band members how you think it went. not only will it give you a little more time to be objective, it's best for many reasons to start early the practice of not letting audience members know your business. you may think you suck when someone loved you - you don't need to sway them.

repeat to yourself in the mirror (and all day long) "i am a great bass player in a great band!!!" or anything else like that that resonates with you. "i am becoming an even better bass player every day." some people think it's corny, some people it really works for. i always say try domething before knocking it.

have fun.

thanks for all your advice. It was nealy a year ago, but still thanks. You can never know anough.
Now I have gigs nearly every weekend, and things are going great.
thx again
SCODI

Originally posted by wulf
Setlists - yep, those are a good idea ;)

Print them out nice and large so you can read them on the floor, have enough copies for everyone in the band, and add any notes that are required - keys are a good one, and whatever else you need.

Wulf

I remember thinking of EVERYTHING that day, eccept for my contact lenses. I didn't put them in, so that I could look the croud in the eye, without being intimedated. But I coundn't read the setlist! so I had to keep bending down to read it, so I pretended I was setting someting on my pedal. ...as with Apolo 13, you learn from mistakes;)
On the whole the gig went great!
We were even in the newspaper twice. Once, coz we gave such a good show, and second coz there was a huge fight with the drunks afterward. (not including us) Toward the end, the cops were coming in and out sercing for a guy who had smashed a car windshield and smashed a bottle into this guy face. (damn skin heads, can't they ever be peacefull?):rolleyes:

SCODI

1. Don't talk too much. People want music, not talk.

2. Do not play in between songs, it is irritating.

That is all. Oh yeah, have fun, 'cause gigs can be hard to come by. :)

1) If your thinkin, your stinkin
2) Chops belong in a butcher shop


and...

No one really notices the screwups.

Let the post die! Gee whiz, the kid is an old man now, running virgin records. He's got it already.

Oh wait, did I bump this back from the dead?

This is *SO TRUE*.

No band should be taken seriously if they're tuing audibly. In fact, I heckle them.

What do you say to them?

My biggest complaint is time between songs. Keep the set moving forward for crying out loud. When I hear a band that can't keep their set moving, they lose my interest in seconds. When I'm IN a band that can't keep their set moving forward, I feel like my pants are down around my ankles and I'm standing on the stage with everyone looking at me. Its awful, awful stuff. I'd say smile, but if the set does not flow, its hard to smile.

Night of the living zombie threads from the past!

:rolleyes:

I treat every show like its my last, so just enjoy every moment. Relax, and make sure you drink plenty of water because stage lights make you sweat like a pig no matter how fit you think you are. Also, i dont know if its been mentioned but a spare bass, spare lead, spare strings that are cut and ready to go. (This is just in case, they should always be in your gig bag). And most importantly, have fun. Lifes too short too stress over one show, or mistake etc. Before you know it you will be joing the weekend warriors program and wishing you were young again.

Best of luck

I would like to thank all of you for your advice over the last six years (!)

all the best
alexx


(esecialy the, don't let the drummer drink one, but try telling him that :)

If you think you may be nervous before the gig, take some time out to chill and just imagine the gig going well. Lie down and run through it in your mind for 20 mins or so on a couple of nights ahead of the appearance.

On the night itself, there are certain things you can do to help with nerves as well. I use a tip from Steve Cohen a professional Magician (yep) who performs for the rich and famous in the US. He advises performers to get to a gig early and subtlety move one or two bits of furniture around so as to stamp your authority on a place in your own mind. I don't think he's talking about wholesale re-arranging of all the seats though of course. I usually just shove the odd table or chair to one side if they're not nailed down.

On stage I'd recommend:

1. Use economy of movement in your fingers. Don't move them at all unless the song calls for it and then with minimal effort
2. Start to get fretting fingers in position before each next note is played.
3. Try and look as if you're enjoying yourself with a little movement and the odd smile. This will generally help an audience have a better experience.
4. Don't get too absorbed in what you're doing. You need to be aware of what you're drummer is up to..

Just look confident. It will get easier with time and experience, trust. Confidence makes everything better. I've played horrible horrible horrible sets (and people from this board have seen them!) but I've always tried to pull it off with confidence and a smile. Realize that in the end, you're just a friggin' bass player.