PLAYING AT BATTLE OF THE BANDS FOR THE FIRST TIME.

freddershredder · #1 10-05-2009, 10:45 AM

sweet. k so im playing at a mini battle of the bands feature our highschool is hosting at our home coming game. it will be after the game on the field. each band gets 9 mins to play 2 songs and the top 2 winners get a bunch of free crap from guitar center. im pretty psyched about this. we have to play a cover song and a song of our own. our band is playing three little birds and a sweet rock song our guitarist came up with called wake me up. weve scoped out the competition and we have a pretty good chance of winning there is just two other bands that we're worried about. i REALLY need any tactics or ideas... ANYTHING weve never performed before so any help would be awesome.

bassteban · #2 10-05-2009, 10:48 AM

Nudity & explosives would be memorable, albeit likely to earn a disqualification.

fishsticks · #3 10-05-2009, 10:49 AM

practice! practice! practice!

don't just stand there but don't move around so much it hinders your playing

oh and practice!

bassteban · #4 10-05-2009, 10:55 AM

OK, seriously(this helped me HUGELY): Realize that you're doing something that most of the crowd does NOT have the nerve to even try. Alsso, if you fake self-confidence long & hard enough, you will eventually believe it.

chandman1004 · #5 10-05-2009, 11:04 AM

Get on stage quickly. Don't mess around . Hit them hard and quick, possibly don't even have more than a four count between songs. State your name, rock out , get out . Leave them wanting more.

nortonrider · #6 10-05-2009, 11:11 AM

Finish Strong with which ever song rocks the hardest.

Phalex · #7 10-05-2009, 11:23 AM

Don't be afraid to look like an idiot. Move around, look like you own the stage. Don't be self conscious about playing in front of people. Remember: They Love You!

Oh, and practice.

jmac · #8 10-05-2009, 11:28 AM

Tube socks.
If you don't know what I mean google chili peppers + tube socks. lol.

Seriously, good suggestions already posted. Rock on and good luck. Report back.

sirpug · #9 10-05-2009, 11:40 AM

First question I would ask is who is "judging" the top two? Is it based on real judges or is it based on crowd reaction? If it's judges then you have to make sure your songs are spot on from a technical stand point. If it's based on crowd reaction then you HAVE to put on a show. You need to make it fun for the crowd and be memorable. With only two songs you can't really get crazy but if you need put put a lot of energy into it. I've seen a lot of great band suck on stage, which ruined the show for the crowd, and a lot of mediocre bands put on great shows live with a ton of energy that I would want to see again because they were fun

I just had an idea, find an old cheapo guitar or something and smash it at the end of your set. A high school post football game crowd should really eat that up. If it's based on crowd reaction, you just won wether you were good or not.

standupright · #10 10-05-2009, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassteban

Nudity & explosives would be memorable, albeit likely to earn a disqualification.

that about wraps it up.

jive1 · #11 10-05-2009, 12:17 PM

Practice and play the best you can, and have as much fun as you can, and don't be disappointed if you don't win it all.

In my experience, the most talented band rarely wins a battle of the bands. Don't let the desire to win overcome your desire to play your best and have fun.

**jmattbassplaya** · #12 10-05-2009, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jive1

Practice and play the best you can, and have as much fun as you can, and don't be disappointed if you don't win it all.

In my experience, the most talented band rarely wins a battle of the bands. Don't let the desire to win overcome your desire to play your best and have fun.

+1

BOTB`s in high school is a popularity contest. Just play for yourselves and to have fun and you`ll come out winning no matter what some judge tells you.

DaveDeVille · #13 10-05-2009, 01:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chandman1004

Get on stage quickly. Don't mess around .
Hit them hard and quick, possibly don't even have more than a four count between songs.
State your name, rock out , get out .
Leave them wanting more.

all good suggestions ....

might i also suggest :
know your material dead-on , no slop .
relax , have FUN with it .
smile , a lot .
be in tune BEFORE you hit the stage .
keep your head up , don't look down at the floor .
be sure to acknowledge the crowd .

standupright · #14 10-05-2009, 03:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by david meissner

all good suggestions ....

might i also suggest :
know your material dead-on , no slop .
relax , have FUN with it .
smile , a lot .
be in tune BEFORE you hit the stage .
keep your head up , don't look down at the floor .
be sure to acknowledge the crowd .

+1

or constantly stare at your fretting hand

rhapbus · #15 10-05-2009, 06:01 PM

Since its high school. Play absolutely horribly paying no attention to musicianship, wear girl pants and dye your hair flamboyant colors cut off just below the ears. That will get you an awesome reaction from high school kids.

gahpg · #16 10-05-2009, 10:23 PM

+1 on the guitar smashing idea. Although it's something I don't like and wouldn't do myself, it will definitely get you guys noticed. Otherwise, just get into it and don't stand around. Another idea would be, if possible, have the lead singer crowd surf (if its suitable music for that). Be careful though, some idiots might just drop him, so he really needs to read the crowd carefully before he does it.

lousybassplayer · #17 10-06-2009, 12:14 PM

Show no mercy. Make sure you learn a really complicated warm up exercise, rip through a bunch of scales as fast as possible and then whip out a well known and highly regarded bass line (you may have to stoop to high school standards for this, but trust me). Make sure you are warming up and doing all of this right in front of as many competing bands' bassists as possible, and DO NOT acknowledge their existence as you do it. I'd practice this routine as least half as much as you practice your set. Being that a good half of my stage experience has been in podunk battle of the bands, I can assure you this technique helps a lot.

thisisblakef · #18 10-06-2009, 12:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lousybassplayer

Show no mercy. Make sure you learn a really complicated warm up exercise, rip through a bunch of scales as fast as possible and then whip out a well known and highly regarded bass line (you may have to stoop to high school standards for this, but trust me). Make sure you are warming up and doing all of this right in front of as many competing bands' bassists as possible, and DO NOT acknowledge their existence as you do it. I'd practice this routine as least half as much as you practice your set. Being that a good half of my stage experience has been in podunk battle of the bands, I can assure you this technique helps a lot.

+1

This may be low, but it most definitely works.

dmusic148 · #19 10-06-2009, 12:31 PM

Just rock out, man. Play it like you mean it.

Rattman · #20 10-06-2009, 12:56 PM

Keep the tempo on the CORRECT BPM... Make the drummer feel great, relaxed and confident so he won't play too fast. Have a great time and ham it up... give 'em a GREAT show.. and you can make sure that happens by going over the songs many, many times.