First Real Gig tomorrow night... and im sick as a dog

Floydian · #1 06-27-2009, 02:00 PM

So im playing with my good friends band who has been around for a while for the first time tomorrow night. I have only actually played with one of the guys in the band (Lead singer and guitarist) once, and even then i've only played with him once. I know the songs, as I have all the chord progressions and have been playing to their recordings but I am still a little nervous about the whole thing. Anyways, to make matters worse I have a really bad upper respiratory infection right now and am sick as a dog.

Wish me luck!

**Rune Bivrin** · #2 06-27-2009, 02:11 PM

Of course you're a little nervous. Anything else would be strange. And a little nerve just keeps you on your toes.

Just remember one thing: You're the bass player. No one is looking at you.

As far as the cold goes: Drink plenty of water and take aspirin or something similar if you've got a fever. Unless you're singing a little snot never hurt anyone.

Anyway: Good luck!

madbassplaya · #3 06-27-2009, 02:16 PM

last year I had west nile/encephalitis and was called to play a gig with some guys that i had never played with before.

i was hesitant to do it, but my doctor had been telling me to get out to get my strength up.

i brought my bass and ended up having to sit down the entire time because i didn't have the strength to stand up for long periods much less hold a 10 pd bass.

i am glad i played the show though, it made me realize that i was going to get better and that i was still able to do things!

Skeet · #4 06-28-2009, 07:23 PM

Yep playing sick sucks ass, was playing at a huge metal fest with my metalband, and it was a big gig for us, turns out i got food poisoning and on stage wanted to **** and throwup at the same time.
I managed to finish the set.
Did i mention it was on my brand new Spector 5 string and id never played a 5er before hahaha and its a metalband so they expect you to jump and headbang. So I just sunk back into the corner and tried to be a good bass player.

Floydian · #5 06-30-2009, 08:59 AM

Well I made it through the experience. My strategy ended up being just taking double the antibiotics and ibuprofen before the gig and hoping for the best. I actually ended up playing well and had a great time. Although I must have looked rough because my girlfriend told me I looked a little bit like skeletor on stage. So I made it through the show although the real challenge was driving back to Richmond, VA (from Yorktown, VA) in this same condition that same night AND THEN working until six in the morning.

Anyways, as far as the actual show is concerned we drew in by far the most people that night and we were told by the oldest woman at the show (probably 60-65, don't know why she was there in the first place) that we were by far the best act that night. So all in all a very positive experience.

J. Crawford · #6 06-30-2009, 09:03 AM

Just remember,

Quote:

When in doubt, under play!

As long as you hit the root note, youll be fine. Youre the bassist, who really cares?

EDIT: D'oh. Didnt notice you already played the gig. You officially a devirginized bassist. Welcome to the world of wanting to play a show daily.. Its an addiction!

ohskigod · #7 06-30-2009, 09:07 AM

tylenol cold "severe", the blue liquid (get the one for daytime, there are little"suns" on the wrap over the plastic cap to differentiate it from the night stuff. make sure it has Gualfeisin in it....look at the ingredient list (same stuff as mucinex....fight the phlegm is the key to getting better)

I'm prone to upper resp infections and that stuff has gottem me through some rough times.

If you have the means to get to the Dr and get on a run of antibiotics, do so as that would be best, butyou might not be able to do that, hence the tylenol cold liquid recomendation

Mo'Phat · #8 06-30-2009, 09:10 AM

Have a few Jagerfeds* and you'll be fine.

*Jagermeister and Sudafed should never be mixed if you're going to be flying an aircraft or operating heavy machinery. You're good to go as a bassist.

dblbass · #9 06-30-2009, 09:11 AM

I wasn't sick but i had to get surgery on my mouth because of an accident i had when i was younger (I flew over my handle bars and ate pavement). I had to rap at a gig that night. My face was all swollen but i got through it and it was definitly my bands best gig.

Joe Gress · #10 06-30-2009, 09:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mo'Phat

*Jagermeister and Sudafed should never be mixed if you're going to be flying an aircraft or operating heavy machinery. You're good to go as a bassist.

Floydian · #11 06-30-2009, 12:10 PM

Ohskigod I actually had been taking tylenol cold severe and that stuff really knocks you on your ass. It really works though it broke my fever once or twice after I would wake up and I would be good to go for a couple hours. Also, it kind of gives you a trippiing effect if you have the "severe" stuff.

EricF · #12 06-30-2009, 05:00 PM

Glad to hear you did the gig and got through it pretty well!

Our former drummer bailed out on us the day of our first real gig becase he had a cold, and we ended up cancelling the show. He was asked to leave a very short time later. Our new drummer is way better, anyway. The biggest bummer is that the club - which isn't even a very great place - won't book us despite having a new drummer and always pulling a decent draw. In hindsight, we should have just shown up and did an acoustic set.

Our lead guitar player hurt his ankle badly, and played our gig the following night. He thought it was just a bad sprain and swallowed a bunch of Tylenol to get through the day. The next day, he went to the doctor to find out he had a broken bone and torn ligaments. The dude played a 45 minute gig on a broken freakin' ankle!!! The bar has been set very high in our band for tolerable excuses.