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First gig ever tonight

#21
A guy of normal intelligence is aware of both benefits and downsides of drinking beer at a gig. I usually drink one or two before starting, to calm my nerves. I play better and have an easier time connecting with the audience, this way. Moderation is the way to go.
Also, if you got one of those bottomless-kitchensink drummers, make sure he saves his drinking to afterwards.
 
#24
I'm a little late, but ...
Bring a flashlight.
Bring a power strip and an extension cord.
Bring spares ... strings, batteries, cables, whatever might be needed. I carry a spare strap in my bag. The guitarist has needed it twice. You never know when one of your cords is going to go toes-up.
Pack your gear well before the show. If you're running around at the last minute, you're more likely to forget something.
Bring an extra shirt. Gigging is sweaty business.
Relax.
 
#25
It went great! You guys were right, as soon as it started I just got into it and it was a ton of fun. We jammed a little with the band that came on after us too, all in all, pretty awesome. I did a lot of prep, showed up a good hour early, did normal warm up. There were less people than expected though, 200 had RSVPd to the facebook event, but when we played only about 35-40 were there. About a half hour after we were done the crowd hit. A few pics here:
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#26
Datsgor said:
Speaking of which......if you do screw up, don't spend the next few minutes focusing on it. Just move on. You are probably the only one who will know anyway....or just give a smile and a shrug if your band mates notice. Just have a good time and get into the groove of playing live.....Everybody is there to have fun. The audience sure won't care about a few missed notes. Peace, John

P.S. If you do a total train wreck...well....then you are on your own I'm afraid.;)
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I was always worried about screwing up, then i went to an open mic night and listened to the guys onstage play "Santaria"
the bassist played his own bass lines, nothing like the original, and i noticed it, but no one else in the entire bar did (or, if they did, they acted as i did and didn't let on)
they still were dancing and having fun
bottom line, usually if you don't let on to the mistake, no one will know
play
play
play
 
#27
Glad it went well! I remember being nervous as hell my first show too. I just made sure I was more prepared. (Turns out for all of that band and every band after, I was by far the most prepared person for every show... I guess it's a good habit. :))

I wouldn't sweat a small turn out. There's been times I've played at bar shows to only the couple of regulars... Still had a blast, and I'm sure they enjoyed it too (seemed like it.) The way I think, I'd rather play to a smaller crowd and have more people dig our stuff and continue to come to shows than larger shows were no one remembers who you are. This isn't always the case, but I feel it's a good positive, thing to keep in mind.
 
#28
mokkat said:
A guy of normal intelligence is aware of both benefits and downsides of drinking beer at a gig. I usually drink one or two before starting, to calm my nerves. I play better and have an easier time connecting with the audience, this way. Moderation is the way to go.
Also, if you got one of those bottomless-kitchensink drummers, make sure he saves his drinking to afterwards.
Click to expand...

Or bassplayers, like me ;)

I had a nickname for a while, Sensei, cause I was so good at drinking I was to teach others how to follow my example. Post-gig of course (well, almost always post-gig...). I'm not quite so bad these days, as I sometimes have to drive afterwards.

I found with my first gig (15 years old, played guitar for 1 year and at a summer music school with 400+ people at the concert, I think we played "Come Down" by Bush) we were nervous as all hell, but halfway through we loved it. So much so after we got off pumping full of adrenalin we just so wanted get back up and play some more... 12 years down the track not a lot has changed, other than I switched to bass a year after the first gig. Still get nervous at the big gigs, still love it when everything goes well, which thankfully it does most of the time.
 
#29
First gig? Remember, the fate of the civilized world doesn't rest on anything you do. The audience is there to have fun, so have some fun yourself. I can tell you not to be nervious, but you will be. My first real gigs were in Las Vegas in 65 at the Golden Nugget. I was nervous, but not ever anymore. Good luck, you have a long road ahead of you.
 

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