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First Gig

#7
Back up cords, extra bass guitar if possible, angle the bass cab towards your ears to hear yourself well.

Make sure to tune your bass before you start playing! My first time.....well, I was too nervous to remember that. Turn your rig on before you start playing and make sure it works! If you are doing a sound check, only make noise when told to do so. Don't just stand there and play the whole time.

As the post above says so, do not stop playing! Just keep going and pretend like you "meant to play that". 90% of the audience does not catch your mistakes while the other 5% will notice something, but quickly forget if the song sounds good overall. The last 5% will be musicians who may or may not catch what you did. For me at least, nights when play terrible and sloppy, the crowd eats it up. When we play really well, they eat it up too.

Make sure you know the songs inside and out. Try to make eye contact with the crowd as much as you can - don't just stare at the fretboard. That comes with experience...

Have fun and show the audience you are having fun too.
In the end though, have fun and smile up there.
 
#8
Think of everything that you won't need for the gig, and then bring it anyway. Better to have to much stuff than too little. Spare cables, mics, mic stands, picks, drum keys, bass drum pedals, duct tape, nylon cord, pens, paper, strings, amplifiers, clothespins and beer that I just happened to bring has saved my or someone else's butt more than once.

Otherwise, have fun, show up early and sober, and if there is a soundguy, LISTEN TO HIM.
 
#9
Have fun. You only get one first gig. Stare at bewbs. After all, it's Hooters. Bring backup strings and cables. Move around. Look around. Never say sorry. If someone compliments you, say "right on. Thanks. I'm (name)..." and shake their hand with a firm grip.
 
#10
Everyone has covered it really well. The only thing I can add is to not try and overthink or worry about it too much. You will get a feeling of anxiety and most people intepert that as "fear" or "Nervous", but excitement and fear are almost the same feelings, like on a rollercoaster. So, just let yourself be excited, you should be, there's not other feeling in the world quite like creating music on a stage. \m/
 
#14
RELAX! If you get too tense, it is going to all go downhill. Just have fun, and be sure to remember the experience. Really, even if it doesn't go perfect, it will always be your first gig, so it will always hold some sentimental value. Pretty much everything else has been covered. Let us know how it goes!
 
#16
If you have a mic say "Thank You" everytime they applaud. If you don't, just smile and mouth the words. I used to do 2 things in my band, I'd always be smiling, even if I/we was/were playing badly, and I'd say thank you after every song.
 
#17
Imagine everyone naked. All the girls, I mean. Of course, you do that anyway but just don't forget.

Don't noodle between songs. If the band takes too much time, just rest your arms on your bass and smile at the audience.

Wink at the girls. It works. But first, pay attention to who has a boyfriend in attendance.

Show up early, and relax.
 
#18
Kawai-chang said:
If you have a mic say "Thank You" everytime they applaud. If you don't, just smile and mouth the words. I used to do 2 things in my band, I'd always be smiling, even if I/we was/were playing badly, and I'd say thank you after every song.
Click to expand...

I can't stand it when people do this. Watch live videos of your favorite artists. See how often they do it. Almost never. The occasional thank you is ok. Not every song.
 

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