Okay, I've played some gigs but I notice many here talk about just constantly going from one song to another. So what, not even 30 seconds of the frontman talking?
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First Gig Advice
- Thread starter JeepSahara
- Start date
1: Bring two of everything
2: Go Pee before you play
3: Focus on the sound as a whole
4: Have fun and remember they are there to see you. 99% of the audience are not musicians, and will never notice small hiccups.
2: Go Pee before you play
3: Focus on the sound as a whole
4: Have fun and remember they are there to see you. 99% of the audience are not musicians, and will never notice small hiccups.
Get a really big white sheet, throw it over yourself before you play and make "BOOing" noises the whole time. Everyone will remember you, well not you exactly, but they'll remember this ghosty thing that played bass and was really cool.
30 seconds of dead air can be an eternity.
Although you don't need to do your whole set running one song into another, the dead air should be avoided. We usually run blocks of 3-4 songs, then speak into the mic. If everyone on stage is just standing around staring at each other waiting for something to happen, it just kills the mood. If someone's tuning, the singer/frontman should be welcoming the crowd, asking how they're doing, saying hi, name of the band etc.
+1,000 for NO NOODLING!
Here are a few things I learned:
1. Distractions can really throw you off. Includes the bar TV showing ESPN & baseball highlights. Also includes the well-stacked waitress or barkeep ("Yes, get the glasses on the top shelf..."). Or it could be some people talking in the back. Pay close attention to what you are doing, and you'll be fine.
2. Performing while drinking is MUCH different that rehearsing while drinking. For me, the more I drink, the less I can hear vocals, my own playing, etc. Drink afterwards.
3. Enjoy it.
1. Distractions can really throw you off. Includes the bar TV showing ESPN & baseball highlights. Also includes the well-stacked waitress or barkeep ("Yes, get the glasses on the top shelf..."). Or it could be some people talking in the back. Pay close attention to what you are doing, and you'll be fine.
2. Performing while drinking is MUCH different that rehearsing while drinking. For me, the more I drink, the less I can hear vocals, my own playing, etc. Drink afterwards.
3. Enjoy it.
Most of my advice has already been given here.
1. No drugs or alcohol before or during the performance.
2. No belly upsetting food before the performance.
3. Take a bottle of water and hand towel to the stage.
4. You will get nervous. Don't forget to breathe.
5. When you make a mistake, don't stop the song.
6. No noodling between songs.
7. If your drummer is inexperienced, they'll probably count off the songs faster than usual during the live performance.
8. You've been hired for FUN job. So enjoy it!
Have a great gig!!!
1. No drugs or alcohol before or during the performance.
2. No belly upsetting food before the performance.
3. Take a bottle of water and hand towel to the stage.
4. You will get nervous. Don't forget to breathe.
5. When you make a mistake, don't stop the song.
6. No noodling between songs.
7. If your drummer is inexperienced, they'll probably count off the songs faster than usual during the live performance.
8. You've been hired for FUN job. So enjoy it!
Have a great gig!!!
What is noodling?
We try to have as little dead are as possible. Fortunatelly our frontman was both in theater and used to be a radio DJ so he knows how to avoid dead air.
Towel and water are very important.
Also, since you're playing outside on a possibly hot and humid day, be aware that you may have to check your tuning periodically. Hope you have a tuning pedal.
Make sure you don't have a "what not to say" discussion with your band mates. At least twice (thankfully both were at open mics), my drummer did two major no-no's. Fortunately I didn't hear him the one time, where (at an open mic) he said "Its about time you guys gave us a reation" (or something like that).
Missaps with your gear can happen. I was at an open mic and right at the beginning of our first song the amp that I was using kept cutting out. Completely threw me off the rest of the set. I still have to remind myself not to get flustered should that happen.
Communicate with your sand crew. If you have time before your set offically starts, play at list a bit of a song during the soundcheck (don't go too long) so you can tell if you can hear what you need ot hear in your monitor. Also, treat the soundcrew well.
One more thing. If you have the means, videotape yourself. I video tape each one of our gigs. By doing that I can see what I did wrong and what I did right and if I need ot adjust how I"m playing. It's help many times already.
Also, since you're playing outside on a possibly hot and humid day, be aware that you may have to check your tuning periodically. Hope you have a tuning pedal.
Make sure you don't have a "what not to say" discussion with your band mates. At least twice (thankfully both were at open mics), my drummer did two major no-no's. Fortunately I didn't hear him the one time, where (at an open mic) he said "Its about time you guys gave us a reation" (or something like that).
Missaps with your gear can happen. I was at an open mic and right at the beginning of our first song the amp that I was using kept cutting out. Completely threw me off the rest of the set. I still have to remind myself not to get flustered should that happen.
Communicate with your sand crew. If you have time before your set offically starts, play at list a bit of a song during the soundcheck (don't go too long) so you can tell if you can hear what you need ot hear in your monitor. Also, treat the soundcrew well.
One more thing. If you have the means, videotape yourself. I video tape each one of our gigs. By doing that I can see what I did wrong and what I did right and if I need ot adjust how I"m playing. It's help many times already.
Something I didn't notice mentioned that I found helped when we first got started is to get feedback from the bar owner/staff between sets while on break.
For instance, we were concerned about our volume; too high/too low...when I talked to the bar owner asking for feedback, I received "perfect, most bands play so d@mn loud you can't hear yourself think and nobody will get close enough to dance to. Keep it right where you have it, don't change a thing".
We always follow up with the bar owner after the performance looking for "what can we do better for you to make the night a bigger success?" After that conversation is over, assuming it went well, we then say "we really like your place, your people and being here...when can we work with you again?" More often than not, we book the next gig at that point. Saves having to play phone tag, working through the tending staff, and dealing with confusion.
Also, we make sure we leave the place clean after every gig. We take down all of our gig posters, any props we hung up, pick up any and all trash around the stage, and leave everything in our area neat and clean. The last conversation we have with the bar owner before we leave is "we're all torn down, got the stage area clean and ready for the next performance so we're all set. We loved being here, is there anything we can do before we leave to help or are you all set?" Always met with positive comments and it leaves the bar owner with a great last impression.
Just a few things to consider...
For instance, we were concerned about our volume; too high/too low...when I talked to the bar owner asking for feedback, I received "perfect, most bands play so d@mn loud you can't hear yourself think and nobody will get close enough to dance to. Keep it right where you have it, don't change a thing".
We always follow up with the bar owner after the performance looking for "what can we do better for you to make the night a bigger success?" After that conversation is over, assuming it went well, we then say "we really like your place, your people and being here...when can we work with you again?" More often than not, we book the next gig at that point. Saves having to play phone tag, working through the tending staff, and dealing with confusion.
Also, we make sure we leave the place clean after every gig. We take down all of our gig posters, any props we hung up, pick up any and all trash around the stage, and leave everything in our area neat and clean. The last conversation we have with the bar owner before we leave is "we're all torn down, got the stage area clean and ready for the next performance so we're all set. We loved being here, is there anything we can do before we leave to help or are you all set?" Always met with positive comments and it leaves the bar owner with a great last impression.
Just a few things to consider...
Don't have the 'why are you looking at me' look.
They are supposed to look at you, and you want them to.
They are supposed to look at you, and you want them to.
ADVANCE THE GIG!!!
Play like you practice
noone will notice if you mess up and keep going with a smile on your face ...
you will mess up at least once ... it's all bout recovering and getting back into the groove of the song. What do you do when your practicing and you hit an off note... you move on to the next note right...
and were full circle to Play like you practice...
Play like you practice
noone will notice if you mess up and keep going with a smile on your face ...
you will mess up at least once ... it's all bout recovering and getting back into the groove of the song. What do you do when your practicing and you hit an off note... you move on to the next note right...
and were full circle to Play like you practice...
Plenty of excellent advice from our TB-residents. A few random thoughts...
If you're going on after one act, thank and compliment that band. If another band will go on after you, try to compliment them beforehand. These gestures are normally returned.
Don't worry about nervousness or butterflies. They are all part of the show. In fact, if you do not experience any nervousness before, something probably will go wrong. lol
If you're going on after one act, thank and compliment that band. If another band will go on after you, try to compliment them beforehand. These gestures are normally returned.
Don't worry about nervousness or butterflies. They are all part of the show. In fact, if you do not experience any nervousness before, something probably will go wrong. lol
You have said it best! the only thing I would add is make sure you have back up gear" Cables, Fuses, Strings, batteries Another bass to fall back on be prepared for anything
Playing your instrument between songs.
The worst offense is to "noodle" the riff for the upcoming song.
funny noodling redneck fishing catfishing - YouTube
Except in this case, I mean when your guitar player just won't stop fingering his guitar (yeah, I said it) between songs using the excuse that he's "dialing in his sound". Or When the drummer is banging away, playing nothing, while your frontman is trying to talk. Not much more annoying. STFU on your instrument between songs.
Also, if you have something to say, don't talk over each other. And if you do speak, speak with confidence. If you talk like you're embarrassed to be there, the crowd will eat you alive.
Except in this case, I mean when your guitar player just won't stop fingering his guitar (yeah, I said it) between songs using the excuse that he's "dialing in his sound". Or When the drummer is banging away, playing nothing, while your frontman is trying to talk. Not much more annoying. STFU on your instrument between songs.
Also, if you have something to say, don't talk over each other. And if you do speak, speak with confidence. If you talk like you're embarrassed to be there, the crowd will eat you alive.
I didn't notice anyone saying this except for water and a towel, but it is summer time... not sure where you are.
1. Bring a cooler with lots of water or multiple cold water bottles. Maybe a sports drink or two also. Don't bring caffeinated sugary drinks that will dehydrate you.
2. Are you being covered with an overhang of some kind? What if it rains? Do you have a tarp?
3. A very strong fan: Plug it in and keep it on you. If you have long hair, you'll look even cooler!
4. Light clothing if it is very hot too. Heavy dark jeans and a black shirt may not be the best idea.
5. Sun glasses, but if you do wear sunglasses, make sure you've played with them before.
6. Sun block. You don't want to wish you didn't have that gig the next day.
Our keyboard player started overheating after our first song one night. If we hadn't started giving him lots of water, he would have gone into heat stroke-- that's a trip to the hospital to be hydrated via IVs.
Oh... have fun!
1. Bring a cooler with lots of water or multiple cold water bottles. Maybe a sports drink or two also. Don't bring caffeinated sugary drinks that will dehydrate you.
2. Are you being covered with an overhang of some kind? What if it rains? Do you have a tarp?
3. A very strong fan: Plug it in and keep it on you. If you have long hair, you'll look even cooler!
4. Light clothing if it is very hot too. Heavy dark jeans and a black shirt may not be the best idea.
5. Sun glasses, but if you do wear sunglasses, make sure you've played with them before.
6. Sun block. You don't want to wish you didn't have that gig the next day.
Our keyboard player started overheating after our first song one night. If we hadn't started giving him lots of water, he would have gone into heat stroke-- that's a trip to the hospital to be hydrated via IVs.
Oh... have fun!
+1 on sunglasses. They look cool, perform a funtion, and seem to act as a "disconnect" between you and the audience.
