1st Gig w/ New Band......A Few Warning Signs

[winstonthecat]

Played my 1st gig with my new band (the 2nd of my cover bands). It was a birthday party for my drummer's sister, and so it was pretty low-pressure.

It went OK, but our singer just isn't practicing enough to remember the lyrics. He sings well, and plays decent guitar, but struggles on some of the more difficult songs.

We have our 1st real gig in two weeks, and I'm afraid he won't be ready for it. He knows a lot of sings partially, but isn't putting in the effort to get them down.

I'm going to talk to the drummer (who is good friends with the singer/guitarist) to see if we can light a fire under him. I'll probably give this band a few more months, and then bail if it doesn't improve.

[Adam Bomb]

Good luck with that. I personally don't understand why people aren't too proud or embarassed or whatever to get in stage unprepared. I have had the pleasure of hearing a bandmate ask, "How does that one go again?" at a *gig* ...

--Bomb

[Stumbo]

If it comes down to it, give the guy a music stand for the lyrics so you can get through the gig successfully.

That will show the rest of the band that he's not up to speed and give everyone something to discuss.