Tonight I had a small gig at my church. Around 15 people there a guitar player and me on bass would lead it. My first gig ever and I totally blacked out. I faked through it completly after I realised I wouldn't make it and set my amp at a lower volume so no one would hear it. Is there anyone here that has some tips and tricks for me so this never happens to me again ?
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I blacked out
- Thread starter Jeroen91
- Start date
get up there more. the more used you are to be on stage the more confident you will be there - don't over practice as you tend to forget things you overpractice ( at least I do) ofc you should know your stuff but still... sounds like a stagefreight moment to me. been there done that - don't sweat it and make sure you are loose when going on stage. tense bass players tend to skip beats or play too fast
You probably shouldn't drink so much before gigs! 
Did you "blank out" because you weren't prepared or from nerves?
Did you "blank out" because you weren't prepared or from nerves?
You probably shouldn't drink so much before gigs!
Did you "blank out" because you weren't prepared or from nerves?
Blank out , I'm a Dutch guy so excuse me for my bad English
I don't think drinking before gigging would be a good idea lol.Until the show I was cool , knew what I was doing but as soon as we started I blanked out. I might be going out there more often
the few notes I did play well sounded awesome combined with the guitar and the singing!Get wasted!! You will suck at playing, but at least you'll _feel_ pretty good and confident up there Although I guess that is not an option, considering it's a church gig. Just relax, people will think it's embarrasing if they can see you don't enjoy it up there. Rather act like a crazy moron than a nervous statue!
Although I guess that is not an option, considering it's a church gig. Just relax, people will think it's embarrasing if they can see you don't enjoy it up there. Rather act like a crazy moron than a nervous statue!Thanks! I hope so
Get wasted!! You will suck at playing, but at least you'll _feel_ pretty good and confident up there
Lol ! Getting wasted for a church gig wouldn't work out well
And I was trying to have fun 
I screwed up soo bad on my 1st gig I left the singer after the 1st set - didn't even close out my tab. . . I gig around once a week now (and that was a few years ago . . .) it gets easier!
when I saw the title of this thread t reminded me of something that happened recently - I have sleep apnea (sp) and I actually conked out during a gig once. woke up to the guitar player poking me, hard, in the chest in the middle of a tune.
that was when I decided I should go to a doctor . . .
when I saw the title of this thread t reminded me of something that happened recently - I have sleep apnea (sp) and I actually conked out during a gig once. woke up to the guitar player poking me, hard, in the chest in the middle of a tune.
that was when I decided I should go to a doctor . . .Just tell yourself "I'm the bass player nobody will be looking at me, we have the singers and guitars for that" or you could do some playing on family events like birthdays. If you mess up there its no big deal and will give you confidence to play in front of Strangers
Lol , that's typical for bassplayers right ?
I screwed up soo bad on my 1st gig I left the singer after the 1st set - didn't even close out my tab. . . I gig around once a week now (and that was a few years ago . . .) it gets easier!
when I saw the title of this thread t reminded me of something that happened recently - I have sleep apnea (sp) and I actually conked out during a gig once. woke up to the guitar player poking me, hard, in the chest in the middle of a tune.
My story doesn't sound that bad compared to yours ! Thanks
I might be doing it again in two weeks and this time I will nail it
And the other side of that is "the only time the average person realizes that the note is bad is when you make a face!" And then they just think it is jazz!
Really, non-musicians are much more sensitive to problems in rhythm than they are in harmony. Keep with the roots and they will think you are doing great. Later on, when you are less nervous, you can add more tones.
Dan K.
CONGRATULATIONS WITH YOUR FIRST GIG!! Like some of the other guys have said, you get used to it. What can help sometimes is remembering that the audience is basically a friendly bunch who are there to have a good time and listen to some music - and not to "judge" you as a player. So look them in the eye, smile, and keep on thumpin'
I can't understand why people get nervous when they perform live, hell, I have to drink COFFEE to CALM me down before a gig and even then I jump around like a mad man on stage.
Think about it that way, everyone out there that is standing/sitting and looking at you wants to be YOU at that moment, on stage, rocking out, so just get up there and go batpoopie insane! if you mess up, doesn't matter, mess ups happen
Think about it that way, everyone out there that is standing/sitting and looking at you wants to be YOU at that moment, on stage, rocking out, so just get up there and go batpoopie insane! if you mess up, doesn't matter, mess ups happen
so just get up there and go batpoopie insane! if you mess up, doesn't matter, mess ups happen
Trio/curch gig..
Good for you, Bro! I'd probably NOT be asked to come back, if I did that on about 90% of my gigs - but maybe I should try at the next wedding reception
Trio/curch gig..
A guitarist friend once did the Chuck Berry/Michael Fox(in Back to the future)sliding-backwards/upside-down-on-your-back-across-the-stage-during-wild-solo in a for the most part pretty traditional Baptist church. He got a pretty good response, actually.
Dave Atell calls blackouts *time-travelling*
A guitarist friend once did the Chuck Berry/Michael Fox(in Back to the future)sliding-backwards/upside-down-on-your-back-across-the-stage-during-wild-solo in a for the most part pretty traditional Baptist church. He got a pretty good response, actually.
Dave Atell calls blackouts *time-travelling*
OK Bassteban, you've got me convinced: I have a party-cover-gig Saturday at a 60th birthday or something, this time with soloing-with-bass-behind-the-head (hope the tux allows that kind of arm movement) and some seeeeerious stage-diving
