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Gigs: Do's and Don'ts
- Thread starter organworthyplayer337
- Start date
Even if you don't think you need to, at least make the effort. You'd be surprised.
If you see people in the audience screaming across the table at each other trying to talk, you are too loud.
If you see a lot of patrons move to the far corners of the club so they aren't being blasted by the band, you are two loud.
If you see a lot of people leaving on your first couple of songs, you either suck or you are too loud.
Be ready to adapt. If everyone in the audience is wearing cowboy hats and boots, adjust your set list and not play metal all night.
If you see a lot of patrons move to the far corners of the club so they aren't being blasted by the band, you are two loud.
If you see a lot of people leaving on your first couple of songs, you either suck or you are too loud.
Be ready to adapt. If everyone in the audience is wearing cowboy hats and boots, adjust your set list and not play metal all night.
DO: Tune up before you start and check your tuning now and then, even if you play a precision or jazz.
Make sure you can hear and have eye contact with everyone else.
Keep listening, no matter what.
Do an idiot check at the end of the night to make sure no one's left anything.
DON'T: Take anything from the stage or backstage that doesn't belong to your band. Instant karma.
Make sure you can hear and have eye contact with everyone else.
Keep listening, no matter what.
Do an idiot check at the end of the night to make sure no one's left anything.
DON'T: Take anything from the stage or backstage that doesn't belong to your band. Instant karma.
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Label EVERYTHING - Twice. Or more. [and to save on that "DON'T," leave the roll of labels at home, or make darn sure whoever has them hasn't got bad karma they'd like to spread by putting them where they don't belong.)
All good stuff.
I like to ask the staff if there is any kind of drink special or anything they'd like us to promote. After all, we're there to increase their business. We also ask if there are any birthdays or special events.
I like to ask the staff if there is any kind of drink special or anything they'd like us to promote. After all, we're there to increase their business. We also ask if there are any birthdays or special events.
Bah, I hate do and don't lists, quite frankly, they are never complete and they serve more to expose people's preferences and prejudices than to provide any guideline for others. The do's and don'ts aren't that different from regular life, don't be late for your job, don't be late for your show, that's not bass or performer or musician specific, that is essentially common sense.
I prefer to modify my sig line:
Use your eyes and your ears and what's behind your eyes and you'll be fine. That said, a little asshattery can turn your reputation (and your bands reputation) to ash.
I prefer to modify my sig line:
Use your eyes and your ears and what's behind your eyes and you'll be fine. That said, a little asshattery can turn your reputation (and your bands reputation) to ash.
Fat Steve
The poodle bites, the poodle chews it.
This is the only thing I've seen where I kind of disagree. If I'm playing a gig to make some scratch, the last thing I'm going to do is spend my money on over priced venue food. Drinks on the other hand are usually comped on the gigs we play, so a beer or two on top of the comped drinks isn't out of the question.
If you are away from home (or anywhere but intending on buying your food that night) then why not get it from the venue? At the end of the night their sales are higher, and that means their opinion of you is higher.
Don't let drunks "help" to load heavy and/or expensive gear.
Fat Steve
The poodle bites, the poodle chews it.
Being a musician on a shoestring budget, I've found that I'm never more than 10 minutes away from a Subway or a supermarket. I have no time for $12 cheeseburgers or deep fried pub fare.
Speaking of birthdays. Learn Happy Birthday, so you can properly congratulate the birthday person (or embarrass them, which makes their friends even happier). We play something like this version:
Tip the bartender for your drinks, even if the house is comping you on them.
get the name of the door guy, and talk to him like a human being. He is the one going to help (or not) you when you get caught doing someone's girl in the bathroom.
ask the venue manager how is business, but be serious about it, cause he/she is.
label all your stuff.
ask the venue manager how is business, but be serious about it, cause he/she is.
label all your stuff.
when arriving at a venue, walk inside first and introduce yourself before you start bringing in drums and amps.
ask for the stage manager or at least ask someone where you are supposed to put your stuff so you get to the correct place before you start wheeling your fridge around. There may be a loading door or backstage entrance that will be much easier.
ask for the stage manager or at least ask someone where you are supposed to put your stuff so you get to the correct place before you start wheeling your fridge around. There may be a loading door or backstage entrance that will be much easier.
In addition to.....most of the above, leave the drummer enough room to get in and out of the kit and play it.
Make sure the one you're doing in the bathroom isn't the door guy's, make sure the one you're doing in the bathroom isn't the owner's significant other ... in fact, show some class and after the show GET A ROOM!
********
Always make sure your gigbag has the instrument in it before arriving at the gig – really. Guitarist in one of my bands brought his brand new gig bag without the brand new guitar. Same guy that has used more of my spare 9v batteries than I have, the same guy that I bring extra guitar strings for, the same guy that is always plectrum-less, the same guy that has a faulty lead, the same guy that has to borrow my harmonica holder...
Know your bandmates' shortcomings and be ready to compensate.
Be a boyscout, be prepared. Be a girlscout and be extra prepared.
Always wear a condom (even while playing on stage).
