DUDE.... my band got its first gig.

tbwilson · #1 02-07-2008, 07:41 PM

we've always played in front of people, but this will be our first gig. we are playing a battle of the bands in a local tavern. we are all pretty nervous any advice?

Matt R. · #2 02-07-2008, 07:43 PM

Just rock. You'll forget you're nervous after about the first verse of the first song. Congrats bro.

ProgRapture · #3 02-07-2008, 07:45 PM

Definitely don't just stand there while you play, and look at your fret board. Move around, enjoy yourself, and have that look on your face of "Hell yeah, we rock!".
And listen to the drummer.

Valerus · #4 02-07-2008, 07:45 PM

Congrats! Kill them! (not literally)

tbwilson · #5 02-07-2008, 07:46 PM

should we do a cover we have about a half hour to play. this is the band

myspace.com/washeranddryher its bad quality but tell me what you guys think.

reverb508 · #6 02-07-2008, 07:51 PM

Congrats on your first gig! I'm sure you'll have a great time.

The best advice I can have is to make sure you get a decent sound check and that everyone can hear themselves. A good mix in the monitor is what makes a show for me.

Besides that, have fun. Don't sweat the small stuff (little mess ups etc...)

ogrossman · #7 02-07-2008, 07:55 PM

Start the set with your second best barn burner to grab their attention and end the set with your best one. They won't remember so much what you did in between.

tbwilson · #8 02-07-2008, 07:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ogrossman

Start the set with your second best barn burner to grab their attention and end the set with your best one. They won't remember so much what you did in between.

thats a good one. thanks for all that have said things. im still open to more.

neurotictim · #9 02-07-2008, 08:02 PM

"Good Yoda" sounds an awful lot like Nirvana's "Breed." You got any vocals other than that... ...rap stuff on "Blame it on the Bears" and the talking on "Andrew AA?"

Honestly, my band wouldn't gig with you. I don't know if what you guys are doing is popular, but I don't care for it. :shrug: Just my opinion.

All of your songs sound the same... It works for some bands, but I would try to vary it up a little bit. Also, as a point of constructive criticism, I would work on getting tighter with the drummer.

I like some of the time changes, but I don't think you're tight enough everywhere else. The bass isn't bad, I rather like the groove on "Andrew AA," if you smoothed it out some.

One last thing - I know it seems like an overreaction, but I would take your student IDs off of your page - there's no reason to have those up, and you can never get started to early, as far as being careful with your personal information is concerned.

All that being said, good luck on your gig, and all the ones that follow.

:thumbs up:

brachal · #10 02-07-2008, 08:05 PM

Have exactly the right number of beers before and during the set. Not too many, not too few.

willg95 · #11 02-07-2008, 08:06 PM

congrats and good luck!

oh and don't forget your bass like i did at my first one (don't even ask me how)

tbwilson · #12 02-07-2008, 08:08 PM

haha i like what your saying neurotictim we weren't planing on playing good yoda as we know it does sound like an awful rip off of breed. and andrew AA was just something new we wanted to put up just for ***** and giggles. all of those recording were about two months ago and we are a 5 month old band. nothing was good quality. i don't really think to much sounds similar. and with the rap over the verse we have a chorus with actual singing. im not trying to defend im just clearing up

.

cutthroatmolloy · #13 02-08-2008, 01:18 AM

if its in a local tavern, youre probably not going to get monitors or much of a soundcheck etc. so dont worry too much about that. just have fun and try to avoid worrying about.

Tosha Northrop · #14 05-12-2008, 01:51 PM

It's been helpful reading this message thread - we're about to gig for the first time, too. Thanks, TBWilson! Some people are very paranoid and nervous about our first time out.

I'm attempting to sing leads and play bass at the same time. Please continue to give advice, anything from conquering the gitters to general things we should be aware of. We're doing covers now to get stage experience for our originals, which we are stashing away til we know what it's like to be on the stage.

Shovelbone · #15 05-12-2008, 01:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by willg95

congrats and good luck!

oh and don't forget your bass like i did at my first one (don't even ask me how)

Ok... I gotta asked... how did you forget your bass? I honestly thought that I was the only person in the known universe that has ever happened to!!!

lamonica78 · #16 05-12-2008, 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tbwilson

thats a good one. thanks for all that have said things. im still open to more.

Make eye contact with the audience (even if you're just sort of staring off into space). Nothing is worse than a band that looks at their fretboard or at the floor. Have fun and just try to connect with the crowd as much as possible.

Oh, and stay for the entire show (or at least most of it). You don't know how much it pisses me off when bands pack their gear and head for the door as soon as their set is over.

stflbn · #17 05-12-2008, 02:15 PM

Set up the whole bands volume, then turn down 1/3rd. Play the songs so they feel slow to you.

Those two things will keep you from killing your audience with volume, and will keep you from speeding through the songs because youre nervous.

Bass Pleasures · #18 05-12-2008, 02:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tosha Northrop

It's been helpful reading this message thread - we're about to gig for the first time, too. Thanks, TBWilson! Some people are very paranoid and nervous about our first time out.

I'm attempting to sing leads and play bass at the same time. Please continue to give advice, anything from conquering the gitters to general things we should be aware of. We're doing covers now to get stage experience for our originals, which we are stashing away til we know what it's like to be on the stage.

The only thing I get remotely nervous about nowadays is equipment problems or just letting people down in some way.

Make sure all your equipment is in top condition, that your bass is tuned up before and after your soundcheck, ready for showtime.

When you're sitting waiting to go on, don't be saying to each other "I'm really nervous" "I'm sh_tting myself" etc. as this will make all of the band nervous. Relax as much as you can and laugh and joke with each other.

Come showtime, don't skulk onto the stage like you're apologetic for being there - you're the star at that moment in time, so act like it!
I don't mean to necessarily swagger on there like you're a million-selling act but just like you belong there - which of course you do.

As for that initial "1-2-3-4" and the start of the first song, that's something you have to deal with on your own, it's nerve-wracking but remember it's no different from the dozens of times you've done it in rehearsals. Just do what you do.

As mentioned by other posters, by the first chorus you'll be wondering what you were worried about.
Absolutely everyone says that about their first show.

The other thing everyone says is how when the set is finished, they think "I wish I coulda played all night!"

Enjoy it, you'll do fine.

DudeistMonk · #19 05-12-2008, 02:37 PM

I was thinking about this one, as I get closer to that point in musicianship...

It occurred to me that going to a karaoke bar the night before the first gig and singing a few songs might help...I would imagine the feeling is the same, nervous as hell, propelled forward only by booze and a desire to hear your request when the DJ screws up and put on the wrong Paul Simon song but you rock kotachrome(sp?) anyway and then feel like a million bucks.