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Long gig coming up with little practice

Jhu32

Jhu32

Dec 14, 2016
44
67
Orlando, Florida
#1
So i’ve recently joined a pretty popular regional/local jam band. I’m being thrown right into it, which is usually no problem, but this has me worried. We’ve practiced 3 times (2 all together, one with no drummer) and we have a 4 hour set coming up this weekend.
I’m trying my absolute best to memorize everything but I’ve also had to get a set list printed with the chord charts and what not. Is there anything else to help memorize the material?
 
#2
Jhu32 said:
So i’ve recently joined a pretty popular regional/local jam band. I’m being thrown right into it, which is usually no problem, but this has me worried. We’ve practiced 3 times (2 all together, one with no drummer) and we have a 4 hour set coming up this weekend.
I’m trying my absolute best to memorize everything but I’ve also had to get a set list printed with the chord charts and what not. Is there anything else to help memorize the material?
Click to expand...
Wear black clothes/shoes and Use a black music stand set kinda low and tilted back.

If they say anything tell them it's not a crutch. You'll play everything from memory that you can and the others you'll do what's needed to make the band sound good and keep working to memorize the rest as soon as possible.

Good luck!:thumbsup:
 
#4
If you can sing the song you'll be fine. If you can hum the song you'll be fine.

Look, in my experience too much rehearsal before a gig like this just tires everyone out and causes confusion.
We used to do the same thing, book a gig, rehearse three times a week leading up to it and it was OK but I found that when we just went in cold we played better, we were just more relaxed I guess and looking forward to playing. Over-rehearsal just makes you second guess all the form/changes/fills and you get confused.

Just listen to the songs in the car or at home but don't focus on trying to remember them, just let them soak in, and they will soak in subconsciously if you're not working hard to memorise them.
 
#5
Samatza said:
If you can sing the song you'll be fine. If you can hum the song you'll be fine.

Look, in my experience too much rehearsal before a gig like this just tires everyone out and causes confusion.
We used to do the same thing, book a gig, rehearse three times a week leading up to it and it was OK but I found that when we just went in cold we played better, we were just more relaxed I guess and looking forward to playing. Over-rehearsal just makes you second guess all the form/changes/fills and you get confused.

Just listen to the songs in the car or at home but don't focus on trying to remember them, just let them soak in, and they will soak in subconsciously if you're not working hard to memorise them.
Click to expand...
The thing is... they booked this knowing that I don’t know every song we are playing...
 

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