before gig rituals

[tolds]

kinda weird but i take a dump before i play. not sure but i think it releases tension. deep breaths hehe

[detracti]

Whatever I'm wearing on stage that night, I put on early in the day before loading out.

[pocketmonster]

Hilarious idea for a thread.

I play with a guitarist who washes his hands before every set and will not shake hands with anyone before playing. Something to do with skin oil.

On the other hand, I will not wash my hands within 15 minutes before playing because it softens the skin and makes the strings feel different. This is more of an issue on guitar than on bass.

[bassteban]

I used to do pushups- just 5 or 10. I'm old now & that would likely kill me, so I just do the 1-2-3-4-5, 5-4-3-2-1 fingertips-to-thumb drunk test to get some blood flowing in my hands.

[fretless Bob]

well i wash my hands before i play a gig or just play any time to be honest, i also do lots of stretches starting with my lower back and then upper back and arms, then i clench my hands and do hand warm ups.

then i just try and sit down quietly by myself for like 5-10 minutes.

a friend of my does yoga before he goes on.


Dave

[iplaybassguitar]

i usually run the major scale from fret 5 to 14 on the a string playing each scale twice....gets the fingers moving.

then sometimes i stretch my fingers, usually by playing from f to a on the e string, without shifting my hand

[ardorx]

i just ask what our set list is then get pretty hammered and do my thing.

http://www.myspace.com/ardor

[g00eY]

i pee cuz i usually get nervous.

[fretless Bob]

Originally Posted by g00eY

i pee cuz i usually get nervous.

i always pee like three times, just cuz i dont wanna get caught on stage needing to go


Dave

[KJung]

1970's and 80's... drink a bunch of beer, smoke a bunch of dope, spend some 'quality time' with the girlfriend of the moment, and then do the gig....

Now.... take a nap in the afternoon, then a good, strong cup of black coffee about an hour before the gig

[CBBass123]

Smoke

[BassChuck]

Originally Posted by tolds

kinda weird but i take a dump before i play. not sure but i think it releases tension. deep breaths hehe

I won't do a #2 in the places we play. Hopefully we get some more upscale gigs soon.
I just do a deposit and withdrawal.... black coffee and a piss.

[Dan1099]

Me? I like to kill a hooker before I go on stage. Really adds to the intensity of the whole experience. Centers my chi, you know?

[stu FORD]

i wash my hands before each set, thats about it

[mkettner]

I try not to touch my bass for an hour before the gig. I figure if I touch it, then I will want to play it, and that will just make me nervous.

I also take a leak three times during that hour, just so there are no distractions while playing.

[jiant.]

Drop some kids off at the pool, make sure that there is incense around, make sure my wireless battery is good, pray with the rest of the guys.

[BurningSkies]

I stopped doing pre-gig rituals...It's just too hard to find fresh goat's blood out of town.

[SuperDuck]

Originally Posted by BassChuck

I just do a deposit and withdrawal.... black coffee and a piss.

You deposit coffee and take a withdrawal of piss?

[ponjac]

Originally Posted by Dan1099

Me? I like to kill a hooker before I go on stage. Really adds to the intensity of the whole experience. Centers my chi, you know?

HA!!!

[Dan1099]

Originally Posted by BurningSkies

I stopped doing pre-gig rituals...It's just too hard to find fresh goat's blood out of town.

Dogs will make do in a pinch. That's why I switched to hookers. They're EVERYWHERE.