First gig tonight

**TheDude007** · #1 10-18-2011, 03:05 PM

Well, after a year and a half of practicing and band member changes, we're finally playing tonight. We've got a half-hour opening slot for a national act. I'm pretty excited!

I've played in plenty of bands and have been performing since I was 13 (29 now) but this is my first gig playing bass and being out front. I've always been the horn player in the back until tonight. I'm not really nervous about my playing at all, but like I said...first time out front, and I'm kind of nervous of looking like a doufus. Anyone got some suggestions to mentally keep in mind so I don't have my idiotic looking bass face on all night? Wish us luck! I'll update with some pics and maybe even video if I can tomorrow!

Floyd Eye · #2 10-18-2011, 03:08 PM

Relax and have fun. Audiences like it when you have fun,

Congratulations man.

deltadave · #3 10-18-2011, 03:19 PM

Awesome man.. I gotta ask, who are you opening up for?

**TheDude007** · #4 10-18-2011, 03:34 PM

Thanks for the words of encouragement guys! We're opening for a band called Milagres. I hadn't ever heard of them before this. I guess they're kind of the whole "Arcade Fire" type thing. We're more of the Wilco/Neil Young vibe.

Stilettoprefer · #5 10-18-2011, 11:06 PM

Try to look at the audience and SMILE!! It'll look better in pictures and gets rid of the dumb looking bass face! When I'm wearing my bass face it looks like I wanna kill someone haha, so i try my hardest to avoid it but playing upright bass always seems to let it sneak out:P.

Oh and move around a lot. Nothing gets the audience more excited than when a band member is jumping around and occasionally gets into the mosh and still plays flawlessly! If you do get into the audience, make sure to be using a beater bass though! My P has a nice chunk of paint missing from the last time I tried that move.

Oh and dress light! I wear semi-loose jeans and a light V-neck on stage.

tom once dead · #6 10-18-2011, 11:08 PM

Good luck, have fun and don't be a deer in the headlights.

madmartyr17 · #7 10-30-2011, 05:00 PM

Relax dude, you play bass! You look inherently cool. Just don't try to hard. You're not a metal/ punk guitarist, so act like it. Stand there, legs apart, one foot forward, and just groove with the music. Organic is good! And most of all, enjoy it, it's fun!

S.B. · #8 10-31-2011, 03:33 AM

focus on having fun. if your relaxed and having fun youll play better and set the tone with the audience. good luck