Gigs: Do's and Don'ts

[moody]

show up early for gigs.

don't bang the lead singer or the guitar player's girl/boy-friend

Don't join a band that includes a guitarist, the guitarists ex girlfriend and that girlfriends present boyfriend.

Don't join a band that includes a guitarist, the guitarists ex girlfriend and same guitarists ex wife. Both exes before band formed.

Both of these from personal experience but I did not join the second band. Same guitarist, same ex girlfriend in both cases ex wife is more recent ex than ex girlfriend.

 

[plong123]

If you are an original artist, DO continue to write new songs. If you are a cover band, DO continue to add songs to the repertoire. Nobody likes the same old same old every gig.

 

[kenneffdupriest]

When someone gives you/your band a compliment, ask them what their name is and introduce yourself with your real name. You don't have to give'm your full christian name, your first name will suffice.

That makes them and you a real person not just bro/dude or girl/sexy or bass guitarist. Now you're friends and friends buy T-shirts and records.
Friends bring their friends and when you see them at your next show, if you can remember their name, give'm a shout out on the mic, ppl love that kinda stuff. It creates a loyal following provided your music is heavenly.

Also, free stickers. ppl love stickers and ppl love free stuff.

 

[eyeballkid]

ALWAYS put your instrument cable up and thru your strap before plugging it into your bass.

 

[Hoochie Coochie Man]

Don't play at obnoxious volume levels, (unless that is what the crowd/genre/venue require).

If you must be exposed to high sound levels, protect your ears.

 

[bassliner50]

1. Show up on time or early
2. Don't dress like homeless people even to load
3. Start you sets on time and play the entire set
4. If the contact says 15 minute breaks, take 14 minute breaks
5. So not argue our fight on stage
6. No drinking or smoking on stage
7. Spend some break time mingling with the crowd
8. Don't take free food or drinks unless they are offered by the house
9. 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.)
10. Clean up after yourself when you load out.

I totally agree with brother GD Dav, here. I would add,
11. Accept and be professional at all gigs. Those that pay well, those that don't, elegant halls and bar room toilets. Do 'em all. Learn from them all.
12. Accept that the business end of what we do can be unfair and exploitive.
13. Grow your network of desirable musicians and contacts over time. Don't be associated with A-holes.
14. Be versatile. Play or at least attempt and understand ALL styles.
15. Have fun. You will never regret this ride..

 

[Gravedigger Dav]

I totally agree with brother GD Dav, here. I would add,
11. Accept and be professional at all gigs. Those that pay well, those that don't, elegant halls and bar room toilets. Do 'em all. Learn from them all.
12. Accept that the business end of what we do can be unfair and exploitive.
13. Grow your network of desirable musicians and contacts over time. Don't be associated with A-holes.
14. Be versatile. Play or at least attempt and understand ALL styles.
15. Have fun. You will never regret this ride..

16. Never take grilfriends or boyfriends on the road.
17. Have a backup EVERYTHING.
18. If the club owner says you are too loud, you are too loud. period.

 

[jnumme]

Probably already mentioned but stay sober and wear underwear.

 

[Gravedigger Dav]

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.

Never done that, nope, never happened, didn't do it, some drunk spilled a drink on my jeans, wasn't me, nope. no way.

 

[Chef]

Never drink more than the gig pays.

"I figure after all the beer you boys drank, you guys owe us $75."
"Yeah, what I usually do is write the check out on the dash of the motorhome..."

 

[T_Bone_TL]

The old thread that was linked to from a (now broken) link in the stickies of Band Management had some good points. Timeliness/reliability and avoiding impairment have been hit on; the sooner you learn not to play drunk, the better.

Cleanliness and not reeking have not. The point went something like "if you're a grunge band, wear "grunge" clothes, but wear clean grunge clothes," and a somewhat pointed paean to the "continued employment benefit" of showering, brushing your teeth and/or using mouthwash, and generally not creating an unpleasant miasma in your immediate vicinity (clearly based upon encounters with folks who didn't believe in personal hygiene, or believed that an actual lack of it was "required" for their style.) It's unlikely that anyone you offend this way will actually mention it. It's also unlikely that they will call you for a second gig.

 

[Bunk McNulty]

For club gigs: Memorize this phrase, or one like it, and repeat it before the last tune of every set: "Please tip your waitstaff and bartenders. Remember, they're doing it all for you."

 

[bassburner]

- Double check battery levels, especially on your wireless

- When someone (including yourself) makes a mistake don't make faces. Act as if nothing went wrong.

 

[Jake72]

If you're covering the Red Hot Chili Peppers...and are in your 40's with waistline that exceeds your age...don't take the stage wearing only a sock...

 

[samson3382]

The old thread that was linked to from a (now broken) link in the stickies of Band Management had some good points. Timeliness/reliability and avoiding impairment have been hit on; the sooner you learn not to play drunk, the better.

Cleanliness and not reeking have not. The point went something like "if you're a grunge band, wear "grunge" clothes, but wear clean grunge clothes," and a somewhat pointed paean to the "continued employment benefit" of showering, brushing your teeth and/or using mouthwash, and generally not creating an unpleasant miasma in your immediate vicinity (clearly based upon encounters with folks who didn't believe in personal hygiene, or believed that an actual lack of it was "required" for their style.) It's unlikely that anyone you offend this way will actually mention it. It's also unlikely that they will call you for a second gig.

I know two drummers who always stink, always the same stale sweat/catbox stink. They don't know each other, but the smell matches. ***! Just an idaho thing?

 

[Slevage]

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.

I've been trying to get guys to do this for 40 years--- most still don't get it.

Also, if you gig regularly with a band, and use the same gear at all gigs (90%), put the stuff APPROXIMATELY where it's going to end up so you don't have to re-arrange stuff.

Guess I'm type A (but not anal)

 

[GeneralElectric]

Do:
-Carry a string winder, extra strings for you and your guitarist and drum keys.
-Bring a few extra cables.
-Bring your own extension cords and surge protectors.
-Bring multiple copies of the set list. Assume someone will lose theirs.
-Bring gaff or heavy duty painters tape
-Actually learn the songs you're going to play.
-Make a sound check ditty so you can play as a group when setting FOH.
-Figure out some quick tunes for the rest of the band to play if something breaks. I've seen broken drum heads, strings etc.
-Do bring a back up guitar and make sure it's in good working order.
-Bring your own mics always. If you spend decent money yours will be as good or better than the venue and you know they should be issue free.
-Make friends and network with other bands. If you guys play something similar then keep in contact often and try to get more gigs. This works two ways.
-Keep a few tubes of super glue in your gig bag.

Don't:
-Get too wasted to play
-Bumble through a song. I've been in a position where I don't know what's being played and I'm not so much a whiz where I can magically pick it up. If you must play something do a muted picking around the root. It doesn't sound too terrible and it makes that thumpy bass sound. I'm assuming you're a bass player and able to keep an atonal groove.
-Have a good time. Kidding. Sorta.
-Take **** when a venue tries to screw you. Get everything in writing so you can throw it in their face later. Repeat the words "Not my problem. Give me my money."
-Don't be a jerk and trash the venue or turn the volume to 11 because it's a backliine. Someone will be using it tomorrow and it wasn't (as) broken as you found it.

 

[SamJ]

lots of good advice... I think something that can't be over stated (unless you play in some kind of death metal or punk band) is... play only as loud as you need to for the mix to sound good. Any louder is just annoying.

 

[GeneralElectric]

I've been trying to get guys to do this for 40 years--- most still don't get it.

Also, if you gig regularly with a band, and use the same gear at all gigs (90%), put the stuff APPROXIMATELY where it's going to end up so you don't have to re-arrange stuff.

Guess I'm type A (but not anal)

I agree 110%. I've also encouraged drummers to make a drum mat where the location of everything on his kit is marked out so that the geniuses in the rest of the band can put everything more or less where its supposed to go. I bring extra everything for everyone and bring my own head. If I'm not lugging a bass cabinet into the venue I am grabbing at least one piece of the drum kit on my way in.

Also cabinets have two handles so two people can share the weight.

 

[Humbled]

At load-in be thoughtful about where you drop all your crap. It shouldn't be in the way of others. Especially me.