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First Gig Stories
- Thread starter Cypherus
- Start date
My very first gig was as a last-minute fill-in for a very sick bass player at a wedding gig. No reheasals, of course. Many, many mistakes over the course of the evening, but I survived, and we all got paid. The only song I remember was It's Only Make Believe, which I butchered. I never worked with that band again, but was hired to play in another band within a week, and played 3-4 nights a week with them for the next year.
well, actually, if you're curious, here is a video of my first gig.
few things to note
-it was at my highschool's talent show, my 11th grade year.
-we were one of 2 bands for the first time pretty much ever. i don't think a band has ever preformed in the talent show
-it was our first time ever playing in front of people
-the stage had no monitors or anything, the mic was just wired into the sound system in a typical auditorium
-the singer/rhythm guitarist had a broken wrist, he played with a thumb pick attached to his middle finger, the only one he could get out far enough to reach strings. (we would go on to play more gigs with his wrist like that, he's had hard casts, soft casts, wraps, surgery, and they still thinks its broken..wonder why.
-a good friend of ours filmed it, sitting in a group of big friends/fans. so don't mind how terribly shaky the camera is, and how much they scream. and also, he accidentally stopped recording halfway through the guitar solo. started right back up again.
-the mic stand slid down and a teacher had to come hold it up
-we won first place overall, out of about 30 some acts
enjoy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bLVtBSa8h1Y
few things to note
-it was at my highschool's talent show, my 11th grade year.
-we were one of 2 bands for the first time pretty much ever. i don't think a band has ever preformed in the talent show
-it was our first time ever playing in front of people
-the stage had no monitors or anything, the mic was just wired into the sound system in a typical auditorium
-the singer/rhythm guitarist had a broken wrist, he played with a thumb pick attached to his middle finger, the only one he could get out far enough to reach strings. (we would go on to play more gigs with his wrist like that, he's had hard casts, soft casts, wraps, surgery, and they still thinks its broken..wonder why.
-a good friend of ours filmed it, sitting in a group of big friends/fans. so don't mind how terribly shaky the camera is, and how much they scream. and also, he accidentally stopped recording halfway through the guitar solo. started right back up again.
-the mic stand slid down and a teacher had to come hold it up
-we won first place overall, out of about 30 some acts
enjoy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bLVtBSa8h1Y
I had been playing bass for about 6 months. Threw together a set of covers, found a drummer with 3 days notice. We called ourselves Brian of Nazereth. It went alright. Afterwards a friend broke a giant fishtank (empty) that the owner of the venue was keeping around for some reason or other. He got himself banned, but none of us ever went back.
My first gig was a riot . . . a real one, not a humorous one.
This was like the Fall of 1964 on western Long Island. I was 18years old and the other 3 band memebers were 17. We had been together about 3 months and had a playlist of about 15 songs (mostly Beatles and Motown). We were well-rehearsed and weren't half bad. I was playing a 1958 P Bass thru an Ampeg B12 combo. Our PA system consisted of 2 used Shure mics, a used 35 watt Bogen PA amp and 2 used 10" Jensen speakers in home-made unfinished wood cabs. We had no reverb or echo for the PA.
We we were playing at an el cheapo wedding reception at a VFW hall. There were about 150 guests. The bride was Irish-American and the groom was German-American. The wedding feast consisted of cheap cold cuts and 5 kegs of beer. A lot of guys did BYOB.
By the time we started our second set, most of the guests were seriously drunk. About midway thru the set a fight broke out and quickly escalated into a full scale riot with lots of the folding chairs getting thrown. This was Germans vs Irish and even some women were fighting.
I wanted to keep playing (like a saloon piano player in a Western movie) but the guitar player and singer jumped off the stage and took cover under the closest table.
After about 10 minutes the cops showed up and kicked everybody out. Thankfully, none of our equipment was damaged and we got paid ($20 each) before we started playing.
This was like the Fall of 1964 on western Long Island. I was 18years old and the other 3 band memebers were 17. We had been together about 3 months and had a playlist of about 15 songs (mostly Beatles and Motown). We were well-rehearsed and weren't half bad. I was playing a 1958 P Bass thru an Ampeg B12 combo. Our PA system consisted of 2 used Shure mics, a used 35 watt Bogen PA amp and 2 used 10" Jensen speakers in home-made unfinished wood cabs. We had no reverb or echo for the PA.
We we were playing at an el cheapo wedding reception at a VFW hall. There were about 150 guests. The bride was Irish-American and the groom was German-American. The wedding feast consisted of cheap cold cuts and 5 kegs of beer. A lot of guys did BYOB.
By the time we started our second set, most of the guests were seriously drunk. About midway thru the set a fight broke out and quickly escalated into a full scale riot with lots of the folding chairs getting thrown. This was Germans vs Irish and even some women were fighting.
I wanted to keep playing (like a saloon piano player in a Western movie) but the guitar player and singer jumped off the stage and took cover under the closest table.
After about 10 minutes the cops showed up and kicked everybody out. Thankfully, none of our equipment was damaged and we got paid ($20 each) before we started playing.
My daughter's band had a gig set up for Saturday night, early January 2000, in a small college town. Their singer/guitarist had gone off to Aspen for Christmas vacation and was either snowed in or wasn't ready to come home, depending on who you talk to. My daughter was prepared to take over guitar/vocal duties but they needed a bass player. Since I'd attended nearly all their shows and was familiar with the music, she asked me if I would sit in.
Looking back, I'm surprised at how I did not panic. We ran through a quick practice on the spot and then played the show the next night. It actually went pretty well, though the "crowd" was essentially the other bands, the venue owners and a couple of hangers-on, so there was no pressure. The only f***-up of the whole evening was when the drummer (normally a most conscientious and professional guy) ended a song just before the last verse. We dribbled to a halt. For a first gig, it was not the best, not the worst. It was also before I'd had any lessons.
Looking back, I'm surprised at how I did not panic. We ran through a quick practice on the spot and then played the show the next night. It actually went pretty well, though the "crowd" was essentially the other bands, the venue owners and a couple of hangers-on, so there was no pressure. The only f***-up of the whole evening was when the drummer (normally a most conscientious and professional guy) ended a song just before the last verse. We dribbled to a halt. For a first gig, it was not the best, not the worst. It was also before I'd had any lessons.
My first paid gig on bass was at a friend's church, while I was in 8th grade. They were doing a kid's play about Noah & the Ark. All reading, really easy stuff. I think the pay was either $25 or $50. We were coming home from a rehearsal at the church, and heard on the radio that Nixon had passed away.
Playing a 1978 Fender PBass through an Ampeg B-15 Portaflex (both were my father's, now I own both of them).
ian
Playing a 1978 Fender PBass through an Ampeg B-15 Portaflex (both were my father's, now I own both of them).
ian
I think the first time i played infront of people was at my cousin's birthday, over a year ago. So i'd been playing for about 4-5 months..
Me and my other cousin (birthday girl's sister) went up, i plugged into the PA system, which was pretty bloody loud when i was used to my 15w practise amp..
We did Buck Rogers by Feeder. Love that song, but damn my cousin can't sing that style of music.
About 6 months later, i also played with her (sigh) at my Nan's birthday party. We did some Maroon 5 song, it was pretty sweet.
Me and my other cousin (birthday girl's sister) went up, i plugged into the PA system, which was pretty bloody loud when i was used to my 15w practise amp..
We did Buck Rogers by Feeder. Love that song, but damn my cousin can't sing that style of music.
About 6 months later, i also played with her (sigh) at my Nan's birthday party. We did some Maroon 5 song, it was pretty sweet.
One day I decided to be a bass player. It didn't occur to me to take lessons, but I grew up hearing blues, so I sat in my room practicing blues bass day after day, and wondering how the heck I could expand. Then a friend lent me a Wilson Picket album, and pretty soon I was doing syncopated soul bass. But I had no natural ability for rock, and jazz styles eluded me. And all my musician friends were rock musicians.
One day I got a call. All the good bass players were busy, and someone had told someone that I played bass. I was supposed to show up at a club and play cold (no rehearsal), as a side man for a singer/guitarist.
I don't remember now why I accepted. But I showed up and found out the guy was a blues singer who also liked to do some blues/rock with a bit of a funk/soul beat.
So we got on stage, he turned to me, said "shuffle in A," and off we went. Most of what he did ended up being 12 bar, and all the styles he wanted I knew. I did so well I was in. And after that night the singer called me with a list of songs he wanted me to learn, and I did.
I don't think I could have had a better first gig experience. What I had been playing alone in my room was exactly what he needed. And he was a easy musician to follow.
One day I got a call. All the good bass players were busy, and someone had told someone that I played bass. I was supposed to show up at a club and play cold (no rehearsal), as a side man for a singer/guitarist.
I don't remember now why I accepted. But I showed up and found out the guy was a blues singer who also liked to do some blues/rock with a bit of a funk/soul beat.
So we got on stage, he turned to me, said "shuffle in A," and off we went. Most of what he did ended up being 12 bar, and all the styles he wanted I knew. I did so well I was in. And after that night the singer called me with a list of songs he wanted me to learn, and I did.
I don't think I could have had a better first gig experience. What I had been playing alone in my room was exactly what he needed. And he was a easy musician to follow.
I played with my dad's band at a Ham's restaurant. They asked if I wanted to come up and play Sweet Home Alabama, which ended up becoming a jam. After that, I'm now asked to come to as many gigs as I can as a sub should they ever need one.
