1st gig done

westy1970 · #1 03-07-2011, 07:54 PM

I am in a Blues band adn we have been together, officially, as a band for 5 weeks. 2 weeks into it out lead guitarist booked a party for us. Talk about stress. I have been playing bass for less than a year and REALLY only about 6 months. We had a hodge-podge of covers and originals but the venue was "safe" in that it was a friend's 40th. Stress kicked in and we all thought about pulling out as only the guitar player has ever played in front of anyone, I didn't know some of the songs and our drummer didn't know ANY of them. We rehearsed 2x a week, practiced until our fingers bled, argued about the set list. We were able to set up and rehearse the night before the party and afterwards felt like we won the Indy500! Night of the show we butchered half of the songs and ROCKED the other half AND NO ONE BUT US CARED!. Awesome experience that I would do again.

DarkArwen · #2 03-07-2011, 08:02 PM

Glad you had a good experience! Keep playing out and don't worry about the bad notes and other screw ups. As long as nothing and no one catches fire, it really doesn't matter. Keep holding down the low end!

selowitch · #3 03-07-2011, 08:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by westy1970

I am in a Blues band adn we have been together, officially, as a band for 5 weeks. 2 weeks into it out lead guitarist booked a party for us. Talk about stress. I have been playing bass for less than a year and REALLY only about 6 months. We had a hodge-podge of covers and originals but the venue was "safe" in that it was a friend's 40th. Stress kicked in and we all thought about pulling out as only the guitar player has ever played in front of anyone, I didn't know some of the songs and our drummer didn't know ANY of them. We rehearsed 2x a week, practiced until our fingers bled, argued about the set list. We were able to set up and rehearse the night before the party and afterwards felt like we won the Indy500! Night of the show we butchered half of the songs and ROCKED the other half AND NO ONE BUT US CARED!. Awesome experience that I would do again.

Dude, that's how first gigs always feel!! Good for you for sticking with it and going for it. It'll get easier. Just keep practicing and gigging, practicing and gigging. Y'all will get better.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DarkArwen

As long as nothing and no one catches fire, it really doesn't matter.

I don't think KISS or the Jimi Hendrix Experience would hold to that principle.

DarkArwen · #4 03-07-2011, 08:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by selowitch

I don't think KISS or the Jimi Hendrix Experience would hold to that principle.

Point taken!!

dukaruk · #5 03-07-2011, 08:54 PM

I feel your prep pain and the first gig nerves. I went on vacation, brought my bass and played my set twice a day!

It gets so much easier every time you play. It was about 5 gigs before it stopped being an all day affair of nerves. 8-10 gigs before I was able to have normal conversations before we went on. 15 gigs until I felt totally comfortable. 20-25 gigs until I started showing I was having the time of my life.

I have no idea if that is normal or not, but someone told me that when I first started gigging ... Well... "30 gigs until you look up from your fretboard and enjoy the crowd".