First Gig Stories

[Cypherus]

kinda surprised i couldnt find a thread about it.So guys and girls~ share your first gigs stories~ however awesome,funny or even retarted they might be

I'll start with mine~
My first Gig was at my school carnival,My band was called Fornax which seems to mean furnace or something and all the current members are founding members which is nice ,we had a battle of the bands with over 30+ bands from our school and others,some big bands well known in the student circle.The stupid thing was I also joined paintball and it had rained so my pants were mud stained xD.

The moment before we got on stage,The current band tat was playing was playing the exact same song as we were going to play(we had to play 2)Being a new band,we kinda panicked and luckily decided to go through with it and try to shock the crowd with the second song

So we went,I stepped onto stage wit my muddy soaked pants looking like rambo and we played XD it went quite well except for the tech failures where the amps just stopped working
Overall I felt we did quite well ranking 10th place out of 38 bands and being as we are a new band that only got in 3 rehearsals we felt preety awesome

[DRafalske]

Mine was when I was 16 years old. I was playing in a rock band called Identity Crisis. The "gig" was at one of the guitarist's high school... kind of a talent show turned into a musical type play. We had an "acting" part as well as playing a few tunes.
The plot was that we were in a music class at school and the director was having us play some old classics; "his" music. I think we played Brown Eyed Girl. Then we went on to tell the band director how the song was OK, but not really our style. So he asked to play one of "our" songs, and we did an original called I Don't Believe.
Later on in the show, we played Another Brick in the Wall Pt3 while the rest of the cast sang along at the end. It was pretty cool.
The "show" was a Friday night, Saturday night, and Sunday afternoon. The crowds were light the first two nights, but by Sunday, the place was packed. I was told after the show that word had gotten out about the band that was playing the show and that a lot of the people there were there just to hear us.
One of my fondest musical memories.
D

[ribafish]

My first gig was a massive fail. It was at the end of college excursion of some kind(some 500 students attending), we played in a hotel and started the show around 21....too bad that 90%of ppl was already too drunk to stand when we started...so we actually played to 2-10 ppl that could stand and some even danced for a while(till they went to puke<.<), in a room that could take 300 or maybe 400 ppl. On the other hand, the sound was really ballzout cuz we could crank it up.

PS: this was 3 months after i started playing

the 2nd gig was in a bar and was packed so that the doors couldn't be closed....which made up for the fail of the first gig

[Floridabwoy]

Haha... My first gig was a DJ gig & I could barley spin. I was playing ambient drum & bass and the other guy was playing down tempo. He was very accomplished, but we got booked on a Wednesday night. So we set up, play some jams. Something is wierd, well it is gay night... ok... fine. Then when some guy asked for us to play Madonna and was telling us how in Miami they play XXXX and XXXXX and we were both grew up in Miami, the records whent wwwwwwrrrrrrrrrrraaaaaaaaaapppppp, and we packed up our **** and left...

nothing worse than a queen with an attitude.. haha.

[Neek]

My first gig was at a local bar known for its live music... They gave us a friday night slot, told us to be ready to play a 4-hour show. So we did a bunch of 'practice-run' rehearsals where we would play through our 4-hour show in the garage. The night of the show, we head out to the bar and set up, and we did our 'practice-run' list that we had been working on in the garage, but instead of taking 4 hours to do like in practice, we finished in two hours. When the music stopped, the owner of the bar looks out over the crowd with a puzzled look on his face, and waves his hands to signal us to keep going, oblivious to the fact that we had done all our songs... So what did we decide to do? play the same list all over again!

how embarrassing, but we ended up landing a regular gig at that bar and now it is kind of our 'home' gig.

[Jason P Bass]

My first gig, a long, long time ago, was a middle school talent show. It was shortly after Pearl Jam did the MTV music awards show with Neil Young playing Rockin in the Free World. We thought that was awesome, so we did our version.

We brought a pawnshop electric guitar, and after the last chorus, the lead singer ran behind the drums and got the pawnshop guitar. It was plugged in to a little practice amp that was cranked to the max. He proceeded to smash it on the gym floor. I took my bass guitar and helped it make sweet love to the bass amp (screeching feedback), while the guitar player and drummer knocked over their equipment.

It was very juvenile. It was middle school.

The school administration was mortified. They thought we damaged the gym floor, they thought we spoiled their eastern Tennessee youth with the devil and his satanic influence, and they thought we were too loud. But our peers loved it - we were local rock stars for the next 2 weeks, when school let out for summer.

[darth by tor]

My first gig was at a local bar on Xmas Eve 1988.
As the entire band had only been playing a couple of years we wernt that proficient.
Halfway through the set we did a stupid medley of the theme tune to the Munsters mixed with Caught in a Mosh by Anthrax, at my big moment when the bass riff comes in my bottom E string broke, so like an idiot I just started to play it on the A string and then the band came in in E.
EPIC fail!

[4-stringB]

Originally Posted by Neek

My first gig was at a local bar known for its live music... They gave us a friday night slot, told us to be ready to play a 4-hour show. So we did a bunch of 'practice-run' rehearsals where we would play through our 4-hour show in the garage. The night of the show, we head out to the bar and set up, and we did our 'practice-run' list that we had been working on in the garage, but instead of taking 4 hours to do like in practice, we finished in two hours. When the music stopped, the owner of the bar looks out over the crowd with a puzzled look on his face, and waves his hands to signal us to keep going, oblivious to the fact that we had done all our songs... So what did we decide to do? play the same list all over again!

how embarrassing, but we ended up landing a regular gig at that bar and now it is kind of our 'home' gig.

I was in a band when I was in the Air Force /Virginia/ Mid 70's. We, all being GI's, had weird schedules, so practice time was hit and miss. However, when we had 6 songs (SIX Whole Songs)up to performance grade, our guitarist booked us at a local roadhouse frequented by fellow GI's. I was furious. We'd be laughed out of town. However, we'd play our six songs, a long blues jam, and take a break. The folks who hung around from the beginning of the show were getting bad drunk and didn't care, and the newer arrivals didn't suspect a thing. Actually, we used that format more than once, 'cause we were pretty popular after that show, and didn't have time to learn more songs 'til much later...Cheers...

[Dan Knowlton]

My first gig as a bassist was at church. I was playing drums every other week so on my "off" weeks I brought my bass to rehearsal with a headphone amp/headphones to learn the songs. About two hours before a Saturday night service I got a call from the Worship leader saying "we don't have a bass player for tonight, are you available?" I did that night, went back to my normal drum schedule for a couple of months and then went into the rotation as one week on drums, one week on bass for the next year. After that I played almost every week on bass.

My first GIG - we playing for a drummer at a dance I was at. He had just a few too many and fell down the stairs after the first set and broke his arm. Just to date myself - the first song I ever played on stage was Steppenwolf - Born to be Wild. Very little stage fright though, I had been singing and playing piano for years at that point.

Dan K.

[Kevin.Kevin]

I was in a punk band called "gay". We played at a local punk show. one of those 5 bands, 5 dollars at the door kinda thing. I think i was 15. We played well, people were big fans, but the venue got trashed. Urinals kicked off walls, spray painted building ect....Also somebodies girlfriend took too many drugs/got too drunk and people seemed to blame me. That got a bit hairy.

[rtslinger]

First gig in grammar school standing on a stool played the theme to tv show Hawaii Five 0 it was 1968 I was ten and 4'5 playing a big green & Yellow (school Colors) hand painted Double Bass I was scared to death but, I did better then the drummer he fainted dead away during the second half of the song yeah we had to stop also my shortest gig lol

[Spraeg]

My first gig was with my first band straight out of high school, I was 16. We were a Death/Thrash metal band, playing in a local hick bar, opening for an even heavier death metal band... We played for a total of 6 people. It was gloriously bad.

[IbanezBass69]

Well, being a noobie here on this wonderful site, this seems a good a place as any to introduce myself into this world. I am 19, and the oldest person in my band. So, here is the story:

My bass teacher teaches guitar as well (I know, not a good choice...), however, he said he found a guy who needed a bassist to complete his band. Long story short, me, and my guitard brother joined up, making it 4 people. We first covered Blink 182- All the Small Things, Green Day - American Idiot and Red Jumpsuit Apparatus - Face Down. Now, the only song I really like playing is the last one, and it was thankfully picked to be our one cover we played at.... *drum roll*..... A small high school talent show. I still thought I was a rock star. I was gonna play in front of people! We had heard from friends and such that we sounded great during sound check and such, and all was good the night of the show. We prepared for our big moment, I walked out on stage like a champ. But, the second my part came in, both hands cramped, and all relaxation went out the window. Everyone was messy, singer was too quiet, and I was probably playing like I had tape on my fingers. But it was the most fun ever! I thought we nailed it just fine anyway.

That is my story, and I have already enjoyed everyones stories/advice/ wisdom!
Later

[Yegor P.]

My first gig was with a high school band of mine that was called White Dragon (when i just turned 18). I was on rhythm guitar back then and we did covers of Dio, Iced Earth, Blind Guardian and Iron Maiden. We were very big into fantasy metal, so hence the name for the band. I still love that metal (but I play a bigger varity of music now).

I remember that we were provided with amps, and I played through an old Peavey 50W (or something along those lines) amp on a mic to the PA with my Epiphone Les Paul and my BC Rich Platinum Pro Warlock guitars.

We didn't rehearse with our drummer before the show, so he had to learn the songs independently. We were all nervous as Hell... I thought I was going to puke.... I was that nervous.

Apart from getting entangled in my cable, and screaming backing vocals over the lead singer, I don't think I screwed up. Oh yeah... once I missed my Boss Metal Zone pedal and ended up with a late riff.

After the first song, I became all warmed up and began to move energetically on the stage (doing some headbanging when not screaming the backing vocal parts). The interesting part was when we were finishing up with our set (which consisted of 4 songs) we ended going into a 2/3 minutes improvisation guitar battle (myself versus my brother who was on lead guitar) for the simple reason that we didn't practice with the drummer beforehand and we didn't know how to properly end the set. In retrospect, I think we did very well, considering it was our first time and that we were in front of 300 high school guys.

A year and a half after that show, I switched to bass and drums, and haven't played guitar since.

Edit: If I can pass on some valuable experience, I just want to say that practice makes perfect. As I said, we didn't practice with the drummer due to logistics, but we all played the songs dozens of time per day many months before the show. By the time we had to play live, those songs were drilled into our brains. So, to those who are just starting out, always remember - keep practicing, and never quit. Oh, and when you play live... look like you are enjoying it - live the music, and show it to the audience.

[EdHunter]

Every year there's this thing called "BandIt". It's a young persons' (under 21) battle of the bands for the whole region of Zürich. So we entered in it, thinking we'd turn up, have a laugh, maybe get through to the next round, and just play for some people as opposed to just ourselves. We get 3 songs written, starightforward but fun for me, and lots of chance for our guitarist to show off. We (the guitarist) decides that despite us being a pretty heavy metal band, we're gonna close with "Starlight". Anyway, being the first on after a 30 minute break, we have time to setup. I get going, plug my T-Bird into the house amp (biiiiiiiiiiiig Ashdown - very nice) and run through some Sabbath, "Orion" and some general messing around while the others set up. We come on, applause etc. and get going. First song (instrumental)is perfect, no mistakes until the drumkit falls apart and the drummer stops. But we carry on for the last coupla bars and end up. I go to my mic to talk to the crowd while he fixes it, and shout "Good evening, we are..." and stopped. The mic (working fine in soundcheck) was off, no warning from the sound guy or anything. Awkward silence. Second song, a dark, slightly grand, piece starts fine, but when the rhythm guitarist/singer goes to sing, his mic is also off. We carry, regardless, end the song with no fuss. Third song, very fast instrumental, very catchy riff. It's going down brilliantly, when in the last "chorus" the rhythm guitarist misses a section and skips ahead, but we pull it together and finish with some respect left. Then I go over to the singer's mic to announce that "this is one for your lighters" and we go into an instrumental (and slightly dirty-in-a-good-way) version of Muse's "Starlight", to great response. We end, and knowing it didn't go well, got the verdict from the judges and went to the drummer's house to get wasted. Worst part was, we were billed as 22:00 and therefore told all our friends to come at 22:00. But, the break started 15 minutes early, and with a 15 minute set, we were walking offstage as about 20 of our classmates walk into the room...


Here's the 3rd song and "Starlight":
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UvRW8OI1a1E

[bass4worship]

My first gig went bad, real bad. I froze up on the first song and my lead singer had to stop the show before we got started. After taking me in the back and telling not to look at the audience I was able to compete our set. Now I can't get enough.

[T-zone]

Halloween of my freshman year of high school. I was in the first evolution of my high-school, uh, jam band called Continental Breakfast. We were just a trio then with my brother on drums and my friend Wes on guitar. We specialized mostly in spaced-out 18-minute versions of classic rock tunes, mostly, like "The Joker" and "Werewolves of London" but by this point we were figuring out how to end them within reasonable periods of time... but I digress!

My friend was having a Halloween party in her barn and she offered us the gig. Inspired by Phish's Halloween tradition of playing a "musical costume", we told everyone that we were an emo band called "Pieces Of My Soul". We wore fingernail polish, eyeliner and (TEMPORARY!!) black hair die to the show, we really went all out to make ourselves look the part, even opened with a Fall Out Boy song... it was legit! Then we proceeded to play "Sunshine Of Your Love" for the next 12 minutes and every stoner in attendance went "yeaaaahhhh bro"... good times.

[elgecko]

The details have been lost to time but I'm pretty sure it was a jazz combo in a coffee house.

[funkybassinator]

I have no idea what mine was, but my first paid gig was about a week ago. It was this guy's retirement party in a north Philly caterers (he had been working at the same co. for 42 years!), and it was a just a supposedly 2 hr set of standards. Well we were supposed to go on at 4:15. The rest of the band (I was just a sub, I know the guys well) showed up close to 4 (I was there at 3:15), and we didn't get on till about 4:30. We did about half our list for about an 1:30 set, and got off. I got dinner and $50 (i'm only 14).

The best part is that even though I kind of mumbled my way through the tunes, showing up on time and dealing with the staff and party organizers for the rest of the band won me some serious bonus points with the manager. Just goes to show people appreciate that stuff.

[Kawai-chang]

My first was in the bar a friend's brother owns. No butterfly's until about 6 songs in, then I almost froze. Looke down at the floor and just remebered to play what I knew.

Our singer had an extensive network of friends, and the bar was packed to the point of people standing in the street out front listening.

It went great. Tons of people dancing, having a good time.

The bar sold out of the 2 biggest brands/stock of beer they had, and we got an extra hundred bucks for the band. I did not get sexed up, or it would have been epic.