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Gigs: Do's and Don'ts
- Thread starter organworthyplayer337
- Start date
Don't let the audience hear you tune.
Don't whiz on the electric fence.
show up early for gigs.
don't bang the lead singer or the guitar player's girl/boy-friend
don't bang the lead singer or the guitar player's girl/boy-friend
Or eat yellow snow.
Don't assume the bar has a "built in crowd".
Load in: if you bring in a stand of any type, don't lean it on something, don't lay it down. Please, at least just stand it up, even if your not sure where it goes or what exactly it's for. It's a stand, that is how it will end up. That way it's one less thing for me to bend over and pick up.
Learn how to run more than just your personal gear. At least learn how to get a couple pa speakers and an iPod going on your own. If you ever end up on your own for some odd reason, you wouldn't be completly helpless.
Learn how to run more than just your personal gear. At least learn how to get a couple pa speakers and an iPod going on your own. If you ever end up on your own for some odd reason, you wouldn't be completly helpless.
THIS:
when U play small pubs / clubs with just a vocal PA, the drummer WILL want to mic his kick.
DO THIS:
Mic him up, turn the volume on the desk right up, let him go thump thump and let him hear the loud thump thump thru the PA, in the soundcheck.
Ask him, "that loud enough?"
When he is happy with it, turn that mic OFF.
Do the show. He will never know, the dumb@ss.
when U play small pubs / clubs with just a vocal PA, the drummer WILL want to mic his kick.
DO THIS:
Mic him up, turn the volume on the desk right up, let him go thump thump and let him hear the loud thump thump thru the PA, in the soundcheck.
Ask him, "that loud enough?"
When he is happy with it, turn that mic OFF.
Do the show. He will never know, the dumb@ss.
I'm trying to convince the BL in a cover band to bag our cheapo inefficient sub that only has kick through it. I has to go on stage usually, and doesn't throw past the monitors, so it's just cluttering up the stage volume. Causes havoc with the URB.
Never drink more than the gig pays.
Did a last minute pickup job once and the BL (also owner of the PA), had to leave his PA as collateral because him and his drummer drank more than the job paid and he didn't have the cash to cover the difference. He tried to tell the bar manager that part of the deal was an open bar for the band, but the manager was the guy who hired him, so that went over like a pregnant pole vaulter. I wound up having to loan them $10 for gas to get home on. After that all he ever got was my answering machine when he called.
Don't: assume that just because that cute little thing is trying her best to show you her "assets" that she is interested in you. She's just trying to make her navy SEAL/biker/MMA fighter boyfriend jealous.
Do: Always take a change of clothes to the job. You never know who's gonna hark up what, and there are few things in this world quite as miserable as a couple of hours in a shirt and/or pants with most of the upchuck scraped off.
DO's
Turn up on time
Play for the audience, not yourself. As an audience member, I want to dance and party. Not really interested in your atonal tapping solo.
Provide the venue with an invoice that is correctly set out so they (along with you) can accurately claim at tax time.
(This one is often I overlooked but important) Know how to feed a crowd. It's fantastic if you can keep the crowd dancing non stop for an hour, but the bar sales will be down, and you will get less work for it. Seriously.
I used to work as a nightclub dj, and was very successful and made tons of money out of it, but I knew when to cool the crowd down so they would go to the bar an d buy a drink.
DONT's
Be a diva. No one likes that douche who demands coconut water.
Be late. Period.
Be there to pick up. You are there to work. Your job is to make money for the bar. Nothing more.
Expect the bar to bring in the crowd - they hired you on the expectation that your good music will encourage people to come to their venue
Be drunk.
Turn up on time
Play for the audience, not yourself. As an audience member, I want to dance and party. Not really interested in your atonal tapping solo.
Provide the venue with an invoice that is correctly set out so they (along with you) can accurately claim at tax time.
(This one is often I overlooked but important) Know how to feed a crowd. It's fantastic if you can keep the crowd dancing non stop for an hour, but the bar sales will be down, and you will get less work for it. Seriously.
I used to work as a nightclub dj, and was very successful and made tons of money out of it, but I knew when to cool the crowd down so they would go to the bar an d buy a drink.
DONT's
Be a diva. No one likes that douche who demands coconut water.
Be late. Period.
Be there to pick up. You are there to work. Your job is to make money for the bar. Nothing more.
Expect the bar to bring in the crowd - they hired you on the expectation that your good music will encourage people to come to their venue
Be drunk.
- Show up on time or early
- Don't dress like homeless people even to load
- Start you sets on time and play the entire set
- If the contact says 15 minute breaks, take 14 minute breaks
- So not argue our fight on stage
- No drinking or smoking on stage
- Spend some break time mingling with the crowd
- Don't take free food or drinks unless they are offered by the house
- If a guest offers to buy food or drink accept it whether you want it or not. (It's cash in the register and that is now you are judged.)
- Clean up after yourself when you load out.
I don't believe any bass player has managed to do that, that's just sounds bass-playerly impossible.
*Do purchase / consume venue-provided food & drink when available and non-lethal.
*Do be gracious to the waitstaff, bouncers, management, etc.
*When meeting audience / crowd members, I always open with "...glad you could make it out tonight".
*If rotating thru a regular venue, remember: familiarity breeds complacency. IOW, don't slack off.
Riis
*Do be gracious to the waitstaff, bouncers, management, etc.
*When meeting audience / crowd members, I always open with "...glad you could make it out tonight".
*If rotating thru a regular venue, remember: familiarity breeds complacency. IOW, don't slack off.
Riis
And if you can only do one of these, show up early!
To follow zooberworx, be prepared to tip the bar staff
Start on time, take short breaks, tune silently, keep time between songs to a minimum, read the crowd and adjust your set list to keep the mood going
Start on time, take short breaks, tune silently, keep time between songs to a minimum, read the crowd and adjust your set list to keep the mood going
Be on time.
Start on time.
No extended pauses between songs. Medleys work best.
Know your demographic. (I personally like sticking to a setlist so....know your demographic)
No noodling onstage.
Take proper breaks.
No drinking or smoking during performance.
Finish on time.
Be professional at all times.
Start on time.
No extended pauses between songs. Medleys work best.
Know your demographic. (I personally like sticking to a setlist so....know your demographic)
No noodling onstage.
Take proper breaks.
No drinking or smoking during performance.
Finish on time.
Be professional at all times.
When one member of the band is soundchecking and the others are noodling/showing off with volume on shows unprofessionalism in my opinion, so thats a don't.
A big do: socialize and interact. Get to know who runs the place where you play, get to know the crowd,... That's how you become known locally and will receive more gigs.
A big do: socialize and interact. Get to know who runs the place where you play, get to know the crowd,... That's how you become known locally and will receive more gigs.
Do everything everyone else has said before me, but also, seriously, take care of all bodily functions before the first set. No one needs to see you standing stock still, cross-legged and sweating in the corner because you forgot.
