1. You practice on your own time, when the band gets together it's rehearsal.
2. All the band members should have agreed on the songs before getting together and should know their parts already.
3. To reduce the drummer's volume, we bought 4x8' sound board, cut it into three pieces, connected them together and put it around the drum kit. Worked like magic. Practice at a volume where everything can be heard clearly.
4. The drummer should be able to play to the room and sound level.
5. Everyone loads in/out.
6. People hauling the equipment get expenses reimbursed (agreed upon before the gig at at an agreed upon rate)
7. Schedule vocal practices/rehearsals. We used acoustic guitars and a metronome.
8. If one of the band members is a reliable, honest, hardworking, team player, don't kick him/her out just because some hot player comes along.
9. If you don't have a sound guy, get a wireless so one of the guitarists or bass player can at least go out front and get things balanced.
10. Rehearse your songs with dynamics. Try not to play all the songs at the same volume all the way through.
11. Be sure to write into your contracts something that limits your liability if "acts of God" or mechanical (car problems) or illness prevent the show from going on.
12. Have band meetings to discuss problems and come up with a plan to solve them.
13. Have a load/unload plan. When you have to move equipment off stage then to your van/truck/car, someone has to stay with the open truck or the equipment on stage. Too many times I've seen unattended trucks with equipment partially loaded.
14. Figure out a stage setup plan. What goes on first. Who needs help with what. Check out where the plugs are. How long of extension cord do you need. You may want to carry a plug tester. I've run into bad plugs that kept blowing PA fuses. Not a good thing.
15. If you can't visit a gig site before the gig, if possible, talk to someone at the location and find out about parking, stage size, room size, availability of elevators, plug location, stage height, stage access, mmm....anything else you can think of.
16. The only time we allowed exceptions to the load/unload rule was at the end of gig and we had a very energetic lead singer. He would get physically worn out after 3 - 4 hours. We gave him a break.
17. If a band member can't control their temper, out they go.
18. Depending on one's available resources (money), a band member may be very good at performing but not be able to afford the appropriate equipment. We bought a PA as a group and the singer paid us back out of gig money. Everyone used the PA though and he got a bigger share of the money.
19. If someone is having trouble with their equipment, try and help him out by figuring out what's wrong.
20. Have fun.
21. Be sure to know how many amps the heads are drawing from the plug. If you run into a situation with on 15amp plug, you may need to modify your setup or run a very long extension cord to another part of the venue.
22. When you rehearse, before you start a song, agree who can stop the song and for what reason.
23. Wear ear plugs.
24. Make sure your transportation is reliable and well maintained. Getting stuck in the middle of the night with car problems is the worst, especially if you've driven a long way and your rescue team is a long way away.
25. Agree on your set list before a gig but watch the crowd to see how it's going over.
26. If a song is short, 2-3 minutes, extend it by playing it all the way through again. It will please the crowd to keep dancing and if your set list is short, it's a freebie.
27. If you have more songs than your gig needs, you can pass out your song list and take requests from it depending on the venue (private party vs. bar).
28. Depending on the venue, the band should agree on how to dress.
29. Depending on the venue, if the guitar is not miked, an easy way to get sound coverage is to run an extension cab or a line out to another amp (so the volume can be adjusted) to the other side of the drums. I've heard many a band where the guitarist could be heard on only one side of the room.
30. If you're caravaning to a gig, be sure the lead driver has a good map and a passenger with good vision to follow all the signs and turns.
31. Leave at least 60 minutes of extra travel time in case you get lost, run into traffic or have some other problem.
32. If you're going to be late to the gig, call the venue as soon as you know. Don't keep them hanging on thinking you're not going to make it.
33. Our manager went to every gig. It's great to have someone to run interference with the venue manager and try to solve problems for you or at least let you know what's happening.
34. There's no long term advantage to getting angry when things don't go your way. Try to talk them out when everyone is cooled down.
35. When want something changed, word it as a "suggestion", give the suggestion a try and then decide if a change is really needed.
36. If a band is being run by one person, say a lead singer/guitarist who likes you and wants you in the band, don't quit the band just because someone new is added that you don't get along with. Try to work it out, talk it out and see if an agreement can be reached. This happened to a friend of mine where the new keyboard player was trying to take over the rhythm player's job and get him irritated enough to leave. My friend quit the band even though the lead player was very happy with him. He regretted quitting because the band was really good. Fortunately(for him) the keyboard player was booted out later and he was asked to rejoin the band.
37. No girlfriends/friends at rehearsal. You don't go see them work at their job.
38. Be sure and have business cards made and have some readily available during the gig. It never fails that someone will come up to you if they like you and want a card.
39. Be sure someone stays with the equipment during a break.
40. During a break, be sure and ask the person who hired you if everything is okay and if there's anything that needs changing or improving. That way they can't complain after the fact which I've heard done many times.
41. Once your sound levels are set, don't change them based on what you hear on stage. You may need to turn them up if a venue gets really crowded but that should be done based on how it sound FOH.
42. The bass player should have a rig or a monitor where it can be tilt back, if possible, so he can hear himself easily. Too many times the bass is so damn loud about 50 feet out front of the stage it's ridiculous. All the sound is going under the bass player's ears and he thinks he has to turn up. You can hear the guy down the street.
43. Adjust your tone for the band and the song. I've heard many guitarists keep the same blues tone all night long and play covers that cry out for efx that really fit the song.
44. Carry a first aid kit and some extra water bottles. You never know when someone will get a pinched finger loading/unloading or you need to quench your thirst so you don't get dehydrated. Carry some Gas-X and Imodium in the kit for those times when you need it.
45. Carry some hand cleaner/wipies so you can clean up before you start playing. During unloading your hands may get dirty and you may not have time to hit the head.
46. Don't eat a big meal before playing. If you do eat, don't eat onions, garlic, peppers or any other stinky stuff. Nothing worse than a smelly microphone or a microphone with food particles in it. Carry a snack (apples/bananas are great and filling, so is a peanut butter sandwich) for later if you won't be able to eat.
47. If you wear contact lenses or glasses, carry an extra set and/or a repair kit.
48. Keep a master note book with all the song lyrics/chord sheets. Each member should have a copy.
49. If you're not happy about something in the band, don't be afraid to speak up in a calm, reasonable way.
If there's a problem, don't just bitch about it, suggest solutions.
50. If one of the members carries most of the equipment, be sure and help him/her unload at their house after the gig is over.
51. If a band member just wants to show up and play and not help out with the grunt work, that's fine, they just get paid less (as agreed upon ahead of time).
52. Be cordial and friendly at all times during a gig. Even if something goes wrong, it's totally unprofessional to start yelling, cursing, etc at each other. Now if someone has a drug, alcohol or anger management problem and it comes out during a gig, that's a issue for a band meeting.
53. If you're playing a gig and a couple of guys from another band are there, I suggest not letting them play a few songs. It's your gig.
54. If you play in a "battle of the bands" sometime and let's say you get 15 minutes to play, figure out how to play a medley of 5 or 6 songs for the full 15 minutes. Don't play a song all the way through. Nobody will be dancing so the songs will get boring after the first 2- 3 minutes. For the medley, pick songs that showcase a short solo from each member or some slick harmonies, a duet, etc. Whatever shows off you talent and showmanship.
55. Make sure everyone has a copy of the set list. That way everyone can plan ahead for their effects, tone, etc. and their won't be arguments over "what's the next song, dude?"
56. One very overlooked item is the "between song" banter, talking, announcing...whatever you want to call it. Talking to the crowd is very important and you can play great but come off as social misfits if you don't know how to "get to" a crowd. Check out other bands and take notes of what you think is good and what comes across to a crowd. Like what an MC does. Write some scripts and rehearse this stuff as well.
57. Carry some tire plugs, a mini-air compressor and some "FixFlat" flat tire repair foam in your car/truck at all times. Even though you have a spare or can call AAA, you might not have enough time and those items may help get your tire inflated (depending on the damage) and send you on your way. Disclaimer: use at your own risk.
58. If you're playing out a lot, get a GPS or internet access for your phone so you can always get directions.
59. Before each road trip, you gotta inspect your ride: If you don't know how to do this stuff you need to learn. See your owner's manual. If you don't have a manual, find one on line or at the dealer. Or have an automotive tech inspect your ride a couple of times a year. Hauling a lot of weight will take a toll on your ride.
Some basics:
a.. Cooling system - visually check the radiator. If it's clogged with bugs and such, buy some bug remover and get at it. Your car will ride much cooler and have more reserve cooling if the weather temp rises. If you see rust or colored fluid, it may have a leak.
b. Radiator Temperature Gauge - make sure your ride is not overheating - even a little bit.
c.. Oil - oil level, color of the oil will tell you many things. Get it changed according to your users manual. Don't miss and oil change.
d. Belts and hoses - cracks, cuts, bulges, wear
e. Tires - air pressure and wear level. Snow tires in your area, if necessary.
f. Windshield wipers — should be changed at least once a year. Maybe twice.
g. Battery - leaks, acid drips, age - better to replace sooner than later
h. Lights - brake lights, headlights, turn signals. You don want someone running into your ride with your equipment in it.
i. Vehicle Exterior - clean the windows. Keep some window cleaner and 3 or 4 terry cloth towels in the trunk. I use "Invisible glass" window cleaner.
j. Emergencies — Keep an emergency kit in your trunk with some basic items.Be sure to include a quart of oil, a gallon of drinking water, jumper cables, windshield washer fluid, basic tools, work gloves, a rechargeable flashlight, a jacket, a rain poncho, umbrella, and a first aid kit.
k. Cell phone charger - I keep one in each of my rides. You never know when you will get a long phone call and need to get your phone some more juice.
60. Carry a personal hygiene kit (toothbrush, t-paste, floss, etc.) Talking to a the club manager/groupies/potential clients with foul breath or crap lodged in your teeth is bad news. Get your teeth cleaned/inspected by a dentist at least twice a year.
61. How to keep your teeth/breath from betraying you: I go through the following six steps before hitting the sack. I use the toothbrush/floss/dental brush as needed during the day. Best to brush within 1/2 hour of eating. Keep a kit at your day job to use after lunch or snacks. If you can use it before you go home or a gig, your wife/gf/bf will thank you. You'll save your teeth, gums, money and best of all, have have great breath.
a) Pickup one the new ultra-hi-speed rotary tooth brushes (not the $5 kind - I use Oral B Professional Link Removed)
b) dental brushes (not a tooth brush) Great for the older guys who have gum recession.
c) regular floss
d) electric flosser ( I use WaterPick Power Flosser - this is not a water jet type product.) Check it out. It cleans below the gum line to help reduce/prevent gum disease. It takes a bit of practice to use it but it's the best thing I've done recently for my dental care. My gums are picture perfect now (saved over $400 because no deep cleaning was needed): [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
e) stainless steel dental pick for between teeth that are close together and plaque builds up
e) mouth wash - I use Crest Pro-Health
f) check out: Link Removed for more info
Disclaimer: YMMV, I am not a dentist just an experienced dental patient. Check all this out with a professional. Use at your own risk. Read all instructions before using this stuff.
62. Carry a good electric shaver with you if you have to go from a day job to a gig. It's quick and easy and will clean you up real quick. The trick to using an electric shaver to use it when your beard in not longer than a 5 o'clock shadow.. If you use it in the morning (7am) and then before you leave for home (5pm) you will always be clean shaven. Your wife/gf/bf and your kids will thank you.
63. Don't use foul language on stage. The mikes will pick it up and broadcast it for all to hear, especially the club owner.
64. If a song falls apart (someone looses their place or breaks two strings or some other disaster) stop playing and apologize to the audience. Take care of the problem and start again. I know others have said to not stop playing but sometimes it can't be helped (reality).
65. If you're gigging where there's a ceremony (like an awards program), find out what's happening before you go on stage. Don't go on stage until the last speech is done. I've attended programs where the band goes on stage before the ceremony is done and no matter how quiet they are, there's always too much noise and in the worst case, amps popping, cymbals clanging, etc. The problem with ceremonies is that they tend to run long. If the client wants you to start as soon as possible because you're getting paid to start at 9 and the program has not ended at 9:30, I suggest that you let them know that you'll start within 2-3 minutes of the end of the program. Possibly write something like this into your contract because the whole situation is not under your control.
66. Wear ear plugs.
67. Tune your guitar/bass before going to the gig. Recheck it at the start of the gig. Tune quietly if you have to retune during the gig. Yeah for lighted tuners.
68. Keep your shoes clean/polished.
69. Write a band partnership agreement. Who gets what, when, etc. This will save you when your band breaks up. Under 18 cannot legally sign a contract. Still might be helpful at least so everyone understands the rules.
70. Record your practices for later analysis. Save your recordings for when you're old and decrepit so you can remember how much fun you use to have.
71. Record your gigs whenever possible. Save your recordings for when you're old and decrepit so you can remember how much fun you use to have.
72. If someone won't put in writing what they verbally tell you, then it will mostly likely be changed/morphed along the way without you knowing about it ahead of time. You also set yourself up for the biggest b.s. line of all "You must of misunderstood".
73. If you won't have time to change after a load in, you can wear your shirt inside out during the load in and then change it right before the start so you won't show up on stage with crap on your shirt when you rubbed against the van door that had some grease on it or some other junk from an accident.
74. Carry a couple of cheap hardware store aluminum spot lights with you (not that you use them regularly) but just in case the lighting is so crappy at the venue that anything will be better than nothing. You can even put a couple of colored bulbs in them and you'll be amazed at what they can do for the stage setup.
75. If you happen to play on different size stages, be careful not to set up too far apart just because you have the room. If you're used to playing with a certain spacing on stage, try to maintain it. You'll be more comfortable when you can see the other members like you're used to. And depending on the monitor situation, if you spread out too much, you won't hear everything like you're used to.
76. Anything in your bandmates personal lives will affect your band:
Drugs, alcohol, bad temper, tardiness, ego, narcissism, depression, poor communication skills, poor problem solving skills, poor money management skills....basically any human frailty. The kicker is that most people don't change and don't listen to other's advice. Just depends on where you draw the line as to what you will accept before you move on.
77. Regardless if you're in a band or not, your song book should be getting bigger. It's helpful to have all the songs you know available to any band you join.
78. A band is a partnership, in the business sense. If you read up how business partnerships are formed, their liabilities, pros and cons, it all applies to a band.
79. Keep a journal of all your gigs: location, owner, manager, telephone #, total $, individual $, expenses, contacts, and anything else you can think of. First, it's helpful for filing your tax return, second, when you get old and decrepit, you'll be happy to be able to recall all the cool gigs you played and all the stories that go along with them.
80. Take pictures regularly. Keep them somewhere safe.
81. Be sure to raise the medical payment limits of your car insurance as high as you can afford in case someone hits you out on the road. It's not expensive to do this. If you get seriously injured and have no health insurance, it
always helps to have an extra $50 or $100k available to help you heal.
82. Be quiet between songs. No practicing/showing off your licks. If you have to tune, mute your amp and do it with a lighted tuner. Also, don't turn your back on the audience and start chatting with the drummer or someone else about some jive thing. It's the worst thing to start counting out a song and look over at the guitar player and find out he/she's not ready and have get his/her attention to start counting again.
83. Be sure and buy some very good covers for your rig. You never know when you'll have to load in and it starts raining. They'll also keep the knobs and other things from breaking off and possibly ruining a gig.
84. If you carry most of the equipment, have a check list or at least count everything out so you show up at the gig and are not missing an important piece of equipment e.g., (not enough mic stands).
