first time gigging in a while, any advice?

[pie_man_25]

hey, yeah I was in a local ska band last year, and we played a few shows and just had some fun before breaking up, our last show was hallowe'en actually. I'm currently in a 4-piece prog. band that actually plans on getting paid and being professional. This is new to me, and I'm not sure how I should behave. In the ska band we were wacky and did all sorts of things - jumping around, making cheesey jokes (we were called the punchlines afterall), and generally having fun with it. But I'm not sure about how professional I should act when on stage, and in terms of preparation, and interaction with others.

I've already got some things down that I think would be smart: bringing a spare bag with a a spare of all cables I would need, a spare set of strings, a screwdriver and allen wrenches just in case I need a quick adjustment, and placing my amp about six feet away from where I stand so I can hear it in case monitors screw up. Is there anything else I should take note of?

ps. the band is hoping to smash some cheap gear at the end of the show, is there any REALLY cheap bass I could get?

[Spinal Tapper]

just go out there and have fun. don't worry about stuff. if it looks like the band is having fun (eye contact, flashing smiles, vibing) the audience will have a great time, guaranteed!

[bruiser1964]

I agree - just have fun and don't worry about what might go wrong (sounds like you've done the prep!)
Good luck!
And remember no photo's no gear smashing!!

[Mo'Phat]

Don't smash gear...just don't do it. Better yet, give it away (even if it's crap) to a person in the audience.

It's also extremely unprofessional, even when professionals do it.

Just enjoy the music and the people you're playing it with, and get that first gig in the books.

[mboogiemanusa]

I agree with not smashing gear. Been done so many times before that it's become a Spinal Tap type cliche'. Beside a piece of gear could fly off and hit someone in the eye like some hot girls in the front row. Even the Who and Hendrix stopped doing it. Bad idea........guaranteed to never get invited back to play at that venue. Just be practiced and prepared so you are comfortable giving it your best.

[Mo'Phat]

Cliche...not clique.

This is a cliche:



This is a clique:




Oh...and 1, 4, 2, 3...in that order.

[pie_man_25]

Originally Posted by Mo'Phat

Don't smash gear...just don't do it. Better yet, give it away (even if it's crap) to a person in the audience.

that actually sounds a billion times better

[FromTheBassMent]

Originally Posted by Mo'Phat

Don't smash gear...just don't do it. Better yet, give it away (even if it's crap) to a person in the audience.

It's also extremely unprofessional, even when professionals do it.

Just enjoy the music and the people you're playing it with, and get that first gig in the books.

+1. Smash gear and you're a poser... it's an antiquated gesture that once symbolized rebellion and now shows that you can't think of any new ideas of your own. Smash gear and you look like a spoiled brat. Give gear away and you're a hero (and will be invited back, if you don't suck).

Remember to breathe.

[pie_man_25]

Originally Posted by FromTheBassMent

+1. Smash gear and you're a poser... it's an antiquated gesture that once symbolized rebellion and now shows that you can't think of any new ideas of your own. Smash gear and you look like a spoiled brat. Give gear away and you're a hero (and will be invited back, if you don't suck).

Remember to breathe.

breathe, that sounds good.

[delta7fred]

Originally Posted by Mo'Phat

Don't smash gear...just don't do it. Better yet, give it away (even if it's crap) to a person in the audience.

It's also extremely unprofessional, even when professionals do it.

Just enjoy the music and the people you're playing it with, and get that first gig in the books.

+1,000,000

Never did get the gear smashing thing, and I was young and impressionable when it started (Henrix and The Who).

It just looks so unprofessional to me, and usually entails unnecessary feedback, which is also very unprofessional, as is swearing on stage.

Any vandal can smash something up, do something on stage that they can't, like playing. and make a good job of it.

[alembicguy]

Ive seen bands smash their gear and it had a huge negative reaction,splinters hitting people and damage caused to a clubs stage not to mention drunk idiots who see it as a oppertunity to destroy clubs property because the band did it.

[baileyboy]

1, 2, 4, 3

[Stingray5]

Originally Posted by pie_man_25

I'm currently in a 4-piece prog. band that actually plans on getting paid and being professional...

ps. the band is hoping to smash some cheap gear at the end of the show, is there any REALLY cheap bass I could get?

It's a prog band and you plan on getting paid?




I'm with the others on the smashing gear thing. don't really see the point of doing it, especially if it's premeditated.

For getting back into gigging, it should be just like getting on a bike again. i like to have a backup bass as opposed to a backup set of strings as switching basses is a lot faster (plus I've never broken a string). Otherwise you should have it covered with the ususal supplies - tools, extra cords/cables, batteries etc. Good luck!


oh and 2,2,2,2...

[Eater_of_Birds]

1 looks like those legs are heading for skin cancer. imma say 4. also get some straplocks if you dont have any to avoid the gear smashing occuring any earlier than it has to ^ ^

[scottbass]

3,3,3,3,3,3,3

(3 is the redhead, right?)

[Mo'Phat]

Sorry, guys. Lacey Chabert is unbelievable. And if you haven't seen 'Chloe' yet, Amanda Seyfried is every bit as unbelievable. Rachel McAdams is wondrous, but doesn't have that BOOM-shakalaka that the other two have. I'd let LiLo have her way with me...if only to have it on my scoreboard.

[NielsBass]

I kinda like seeing bands smash their gear at the end of a great show

[pie_man_25]

I dunno, I must say that I dislike the way they all look, it looks too much like they're living barbies. It just doesn't look real to me.

[Mo'Phat]

Well...yeah...that was kind of the whole point of the movie. I was looking past the characters.

[Ric5]

first time gigging in a while, any advice?

- get falling down drunk
- don't tune your bass
- turn up really loud

oh ... wait a minute ... those are the things not to do ...