Heart rate will be up a little, but have no fear. It'll soon be over and then you'll be saying, it all ended too soon! So enjoy the moment.
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When you're practicing, set things up like you're performing a gig. Sometimes people get used to playing in a circle, sitting down or watching each other for cues etc. At a gig you'll be playing for the audience and the orientation may seem a little foreign if you haven't done it.
Keep a leash on the alcohol consumption and no party favors until after the show. Also remember to wear clean underwear, there is always the one cougar who................
madbass6
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Hi baddarryl
It is normal to be excited before the gig, just be prepared.
Know how to play your songs and make sure your equipment works!
What to expect?
I hope for a bunch of cute girls, dancing naked on the tables drool
and the bar owner serving more free drinks than you need after the show!
Relax and have fun!!!!
Wise(b)ass
The only thing that makes me nervous is that there are some parts that I struggle with. I can play them if I really concentrate on them at home but it seems like in the live I struggle. In some places I can simplify the bass line, but in others it simply drives the song. Try as I may the fingering is just not there especially if I am fatigued.
The adrenaline should help with the fatigue. It does for me. The song and performance is the important part, a bit of temporary physical discomfort is secondary.
Good luck, help with load in, get your equipment up and running and see if anything else needs to be done with setting up the PA. Then relax and talk to some customers, helps to make new fans and greet old ones.
LowNloud1
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- Jun 11, 2012
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I guess part of my question is how to deal with soundmen, bar owners etc. Our singer is really the lead guy that gets our gigs so I guess that will be in his hands mostly, but then again..............
Ah, easy peasey.
Sound engineer - for that night, they are on the team, or part of the family, however you want to look at it, they are part and parcel of the event, and may make the difference between a good performance and a great one,, or vicey versey... Keep that in mind, and that should take care of your interactions with them. If they start to get on your nerves, remind yourself the above, particularly the bit about "THAT NIGHT" it's easier to suffer fools and ignorance when you know it will all be over soon. Everyone has a story about the horror engineer, you'll have one someday too, don't go looking for one, it will find you soon enough...
Venue owner - small talk only. If they try to shift the conversation to pay, bookings, anything on the business side of things, refer them to the singer. Not your problem, stay well away from it, do not become the wedge that the venue owner tries to break the BL over...
Venue staff - be polite, be patient, tip very well - particularly if you lot are going to put out a tip jar! In three sets, someone better remind the patrons to tip their servers. In point of fact, you should probably do this in two, maybe all three sets, the audience is drinking and may need the reminder...
The only other thing I'm going to throw out there is:
Water, water, everywhere, get some down your neck.
Particularly if you are the type that is going to have a tipple to calm the nerves. Alcohol dries you out, sweating dries you out, but those infernal stage lights...they will dry you out from the inside...
My first gig definitely wasn't a church gig. I got flashed and mooned all night! Never know quite what to expect! Just have a good time.
Well here is my take away. First off it was fun! Pretty much all you guys were right on all of your points: It went too fast, there are no do overs, peeing sure helped etc. Unfortunately I came down with my daughters flu yesterday so needless to say I wasn't in the best shape to play a 3 set show. The first set went very well, the second set blistered and the third set I butchered. Actually only butchered one song, but did make a couple of big errors. I will attribute that to being tired and ill I guess. My rig sounded great, we have a good drummer, singer, and a kick ass guitar player. We got several complements and only one old drunk told us to turn down. We told him to leave!
The only frustrating part is how the heck do I forget parts to songs that I know inside and out? No problem in practice, no problem at home, but on stage it happened a couple of times. My guitar player said get used to it! I am hoping just a matter of nerves and the flu. I was a little nervous, but not really.
We are SubCitizen of Oak Island, NC. We Play Rock and Roll!
You might have butchered the third set but I wouldn't be surprised if the audience didn't notice or even thought it was the best of the three sets.
I remember my first public bar show. In the first song I know I was playing the notes right but something sounded off. I was pressing so hard on the strings that I was bending the notes up in pitch. That's how nervous I was.
Congrats on your first.
I remember my first public bar show. In the first song I know I was playing the notes right but something sounded off. I was pressing so hard on the strings that I was bending the notes up in pitch. That's how nervous I was.
Congrats on your first.
Congrats. Expect ALL your senses to be on overdrive. What you see, hear and how you interpret that info coming at you. Try NOT TO focus on what others may be thinking or doing. Focus on your job and you band mates’ playing.
Every stage sounds different, IF you & your band are well rehearsed, like the Marines say; “revert to your training” if you can’t hear other players too well. Stick with the arrangements. As long as you are all in sync with each other, don’t rush things and keep focused on what you know, you’ll be fine and probably get a lot out of the experience(s) on stage.
LowNloud1
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Great! Sounds like it went well! Once you hit the first note, it all falls into place, more or less! Glad you had the experience. I'm sure you learned a few things and it will be even better next time!
