Wow......I would not play a bar/club where I'm expected to sell booze, and not get drinks on the house. It defies all logic to me.
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Gigs: Do's and Don'ts
- Thread starter organworthyplayer337
- Start date
Show up early, don't show off or overplay... no one cares typically. Please crowds--not guys wanting to hear Fairies Wear Boots, ettc. Have great break music. Don't stand around between songs, or before sets. Clear the stage after sets. Don't tune audibly or check mics excessively. Have fun because an audience won't if you don't. Tip the staff at night s end. Don't drink or smoke much if at all. You are an employee of club or promoter so act like it, within reason.. Leave at the end of night; don't hang around the bar unless asked by staff.ACT LIKE YOU'VE BEEN THERE BEFORE. Smile. If you play with big drinkers get rid of them or quit. Bring two basses, tune both, spare string sets, spare amp, hardshell cases, stands, spare cables. Be prepared for gear failure.. I've had an svt blow up, a mesa head fail, and switched heads in underr 30 seconds.. I've broken strings and switched basses in under 10 seconds. Bring a voltage regulator and surge protector.tipping the staff, especially if you got even a water, is really common sense. If you please the staff you'll be labelled as easy to work with. How this point gets lost on musicians is beyond me. Lastly, depending on the gig, if you're unwiling to play what people want to hear, stay home. I once saw a bassist play a cliff burton solo and the club cleared out. Another band did yyz and every woman on the dance floor left. This is reality. Also don't let people sit in unless it's discussed beforehand with entire band. It looks unprofessional to change gear and players miset, even anouncing it. If your drummer or guitarist overplays move on... no one cares if you're playing with neil peart unless you're at a rush tribute show. Again, how this gets lost on musicians is beyond me. Check your ego at the door because it's not about YOU . DON'T let singers curse excessively, anywhere. Seriously, change lyrics to avoid cursing, depending on club or event. Dress accordingly.
FOR CONFIDENCE, here is what I do. I REFUSE, ABSOLUTELY REFUSE TO LET ALL THAT PRACTICE, BOOKING, EMAILS, TRAVEL, GEAR, AND PRACTICE (i AM REPEATING PRACTICE) GO TO WASTE. IT IS THIS MOTIVATION MORESO THAN PUTTING ON A GREAT SHOW THAT MOTIVATES ME TO PLAY WELL, AND IT WORKS, I AM TOLD. I DO HAVE FUN, BUT I REFUSE TO LET THE HOURS OF PRACTICE GO TO WASTE. That's enough for me to play well. I've been playing long enough to where I just play the songs and let the cards fall where they may. I rarely solo, well, I do sometimes, but I never lose the song. if someone wants to hear brown eyed girl and she's a dancer, we do brown eyed girl--no arguments or eye rolling. if a lady wants to hear pink, we do pink (not pink floyd). if a guy wants to hear rush, we don't play rush (and I love Rush).
FOR CONFIDENCE, here is what I do. I REFUSE, ABSOLUTELY REFUSE TO LET ALL THAT PRACTICE, BOOKING, EMAILS, TRAVEL, GEAR, AND PRACTICE (i AM REPEATING PRACTICE) GO TO WASTE. IT IS THIS MOTIVATION MORESO THAN PUTTING ON A GREAT SHOW THAT MOTIVATES ME TO PLAY WELL, AND IT WORKS, I AM TOLD. I DO HAVE FUN, BUT I REFUSE TO LET THE HOURS OF PRACTICE GO TO WASTE. That's enough for me to play well. I've been playing long enough to where I just play the songs and let the cards fall where they may. I rarely solo, well, I do sometimes, but I never lose the song. if someone wants to hear brown eyed girl and she's a dancer, we do brown eyed girl--no arguments or eye rolling. if a lady wants to hear pink, we do pink (not pink floyd). if a guy wants to hear rush, we don't play rush (and I love Rush).
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This one is so tough, man. I mean, everything in moderation, but I just had to leave a band of incredibly talented, super nice dudes, because the guitarist was routinely too high to play the same thing the same way twice when we were writing together.
I think marko138 and I recorded 2 albums with that guy
#goldendave
#mediumpepperoni
...And the most important "do" of all: If at all possible, start gigging when you're still just a kid, and learn to never say "no" when asked to play with people that you know are way better musicians than you are, regardless of genre or if you think you're yet good enough. If they didn't think you were likely to rise to the task, they wouldn't have offered it.
I don't follow? Whether it's a ticketed even or not, booze sales is where most club revenue comes from.
And when did I ever say "sell tickets?"
I'm talking figuratively.....bodies in the door, lines at the john, over flowing tip jars.......
* Don't buy expensive gear. Few people in your audience even know bass players exist. They certainly won't care that your new Fodera costs more than the car they drove to the bar/club in.
* Never underestimate the horrible musical tastes of your audience. Yes, they want to hear Mustang Sally for the 10,000 time, believe it or not. Just make peace with the idea that you're going to be playing music you loathe and despise.
* If I come to see your band and you play anything by Bon Jovi, I'm outta there.
* Don't be a bar band.
* Don't be afraid to turn down a gig.
* NEVER PLAY FOR FREE!! (except for charity events and religious services)
* If your guitar player tells you to turn down, that means your volume is perfect.
* All drummers are insane. If you find a drummer who appears to be sane, refer to the previous statement.
* Since you ignored my first suggestion not to buy expensive gear, get used to the idea that sound men also do not recognize bass as a legitimate part of the band and will bury you in the mix. So your expensive gear won't be heard by anyone beyond five feet in front of the stage anyway.
* Don't slap....ever.
* Put your basses in bags or cases in between sets. That way when drunken muscleheads decide to throw down your bass won't be on a stand just waiting to be run over by them.
* Don't be afraid of female musicians.
* Tell your singer that you're not playing the Madison Square Garden this evening, so knock it off. You'll know what I mean when you see it.
* Ignore every piece of advice you've read here today, including mine.
* Never underestimate the horrible musical tastes of your audience. Yes, they want to hear Mustang Sally for the 10,000 time, believe it or not. Just make peace with the idea that you're going to be playing music you loathe and despise.
* If I come to see your band and you play anything by Bon Jovi, I'm outta there.
* Don't be a bar band.
* Don't be afraid to turn down a gig.
* NEVER PLAY FOR FREE!! (except for charity events and religious services)
* If your guitar player tells you to turn down, that means your volume is perfect.
* All drummers are insane. If you find a drummer who appears to be sane, refer to the previous statement.
* Since you ignored my first suggestion not to buy expensive gear, get used to the idea that sound men also do not recognize bass as a legitimate part of the band and will bury you in the mix. So your expensive gear won't be heard by anyone beyond five feet in front of the stage anyway.
* Don't slap....ever.
* Put your basses in bags or cases in between sets. That way when drunken muscleheads decide to throw down your bass won't be on a stand just waiting to be run over by them.
* Don't be afraid of female musicians.
* Tell your singer that you're not playing the Madison Square Garden this evening, so knock it off. You'll know what I mean when you see it.
* Ignore every piece of advice you've read here today, including mine.
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DO- Banter between songs, engage the audience, be funny and appeal to the crowd
DONT- Now there is a very interesting story behind this.... but... the best piece of advice i can give you is DO NOT TAKE YOUR BASS TO THE BATHROOM WITH YOU!!! And when in the bathroom DO NOT take the stall thats occupied on either side.... believe me... there is a VERY good reason i have this rule
DONT- Now there is a very interesting story behind this.... but... the best piece of advice i can give you is DO NOT TAKE YOUR BASS TO THE BATHROOM WITH YOU!!! And when in the bathroom DO NOT take the stall thats occupied on either side.... believe me... there is a VERY good reason i have this rule
I played a Jazz gig once with a sax player who took the wireless clip-on mic off the bell of his horn and clipped it to his pants pocket at break time, forgetting to mute it.
His trip to the the bathroom was in the PA on his un-muted channel. The whole place was laughing hysterically by the time he came out.
Don't stand in the middle of the hall backstage while David Allan Coe is walking towards you.
Don't drink all of Christopher Cross's beer while he's on stage.
Don't call Barry Richman "Barry Richland"
Do listen to Bernie Worrell when he's preaching theory.
Do turn down an opening act for 10,000 Maniacs.
Do rip "Stranglehold" a new one when Derek St.Holmes is standing in front of the stage.
Do or Don't pass a poopy bowl of stems and seeds to Mike Mills.
And always invite harp players onstage if your tuned half step down. Thats always funny to watch unfold.
Don't drink all of Christopher Cross's beer while he's on stage.
Don't call Barry Richman "Barry Richland"
Do listen to Bernie Worrell when he's preaching theory.
Do turn down an opening act for 10,000 Maniacs.
Do rip "Stranglehold" a new one when Derek St.Holmes is standing in front of the stage.
Do or Don't pass a poopy bowl of stems and seeds to Mike Mills.
And always invite harp players onstage if your tuned half step down. Thats always funny to watch unfold.
That's a crappy situation to find yourself in. I would have been pretty pissed.
Sounds better than my experience.... i had a 70's J Bass stolen from in a bathroom :/
