Hello fellow TBer's! I have managed to find my way into a cover band, we're playing our (meaning my) first show together towards the end of next month. I'm 18 years old, and all these guys are in their mid 40's to upper 50's. I'm extremely excited, but they have a lot more experience than me. There's two sets I need to have down by then, which is a breeze for these dudes. The longest I've ever been on stage was about 30 minutes tops. How do you guys keep the energy going, and how do you recommend I go about learning all these songs? It's pretty much all classic rock, with a decent amount of Free stuff in there. Thanks ahead of time for any feedback, I'm aware I was rambling!
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Playing multiple sets
- Thread starter Gilsdorf
- Start date
- Oct 18, 2012
- 6,683
- 5,538
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- Endorsing Artist: Fender, Spector, Ampeg, Curt Mangan, Nordstrand Pickups, Korg , Conquest Sound
Listen to the songs as much as possible, even if they are just playing in the background while you are doing something else. That way you will learn where all the changes are. When you start to learn the songs start with the roots first and build from there. It is really going to come down to repetition.
DiabolusInMusic
Functionless Art is Merely Tolerated Vandalism
Practice makes perfect. You really need to stay mentally on top of everything, never forget you are there to entertain as well as play music. Just don't let your mind wander and try to stay focused. You will develop "moves" as you go, trust me.
Practice in front of a mirror, if you cannot see your eyes then the audience cannot either. Eye contact is key, at the least do not fretboard watch.
If you make an error never, ever, ever make a visible response to it. Most people will have no idea you fudged unless you tell them.
Don't forget to smile (and have fun or at least pretend to.)
Practice in front of a mirror, if you cannot see your eyes then the audience cannot either. Eye contact is key, at the least do not fretboard watch.
If you make an error never, ever, ever make a visible response to it. Most people will have no idea you fudged unless you tell them.
Don't forget to smile (and have fun or at least pretend to.)
Thanks a ton guys! I'll definitely keep all of this in mind. Also, charts at practice are definitely something I'm going to have, but what are some opinions on live use (mainly if I end up being the only one up there with them)? I plan on having this all down by then, but you never know.
Congratulations on the gig. You'll learn a lot fast playing with more experienced players. Don't forget to have fun.
At your age, you should have no problem keeping up your energy. I'm 51, and some of my gig days start around 1:00, when I load the truck. Start playing at 9 or 10, play until 1 or 2, and then load up and back to the house. I might drink an energy drink, or have some coffee around the middle of set 2, but it's not necessary. The adrenaline of playing live should keep you going, and again, you're just a kid, so you should have no problems. Keep moving, keep playing, and make sure you're having fun.
Get the songs down cold to the point that you have no doubts about playing them right every time. Once you have that down, you can focus on other thing, but not until.
Good going, congrats.
You are playing with seasoned veterans.
ASK FOR HELP.
You are playing with seasoned veterans.
ASK FOR HELP.
Download the charts and MP3 files and learn the songs, then just relax, follow their lead and have fun at the gig. Cheers
On your set list next to each song title write the chords that start the song and the chords of any changes. Something like A, D, E - Bridge F,G,A. This will just remind you where the song is played. I still do this for new songs we add to our set. Once I start playing I am fine, but I just need a little reminder before I get started until I have the song down cold.
As far as energy, you will have way more energy than those old dudes
Don't worry about moving around like a wild man until you have the songs down. Just take a few steps back, rock side to side, take a few steps forward, rock side to side, step to the right, Etc. Repeat. ZZ Top are masters of this. They don't move much but are still entertaining to watch.
As far as energy, you will have way more energy than those old dudes
Don't worry about moving around like a wild man until you have the songs down. Just take a few steps back, rock side to side, take a few steps forward, rock side to side, step to the right, Etc. Repeat. ZZ Top are masters of this. They don't move much but are still entertaining to watch.
I was going to say "Don't drink any alcohol",then I saw you were 18,so no worries. Just have fun. Don't dwell on any mistakes you might make,just trust your ability.
As you're concerned about the length of you'll be playing, plan several practices a week for yourself that will keep you up on your feet playing longer than that. If you're expecting two 45 min sets, practice for two hours straight, on your feet. A couple of times before the first gig. And don't forget, practice like you're going to be playing.
Raf
Raf
How things change! When I was 18 I was in a band playing 6 nighters. Most clubs played 5 sets on the weekend, but we played at a dive in DC called Chances Are that played 6 sets on Friday and Saturday. Kids today are too soft!
Conservation of energy. IOW, don't blow out your chops within the first 20" into the first set.
Riis
Riis
Gaolee
Official leathers tester and crash dummy
Playing is one of the best energy generators I know. After a long night, I'm all wound up and it takes a while to unwind. I'm older than mellowinman, too, so take that for what its worth. I always feel lousy at my day job the next day, but never have a problem getting through as many sets as the evening calls for.
Eat, drink and sleep properly before the gig, refill a bit between sets (water, coffee, bananas, chocolate ...), have a water bottle on stage, know the songs and have fun.
EDIT: Another thing; easy to say but maybe less easy to do, try to be as relaxed as possible when playing. I tend to tense up a bit and that can make the hands tired quicker than necessary, and you need to last the whole gig.
EDIT: Another thing; easy to say but maybe less easy to do, try to be as relaxed as possible when playing. I tend to tense up a bit and that can make the hands tired quicker than necessary, and you need to last the whole gig.
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I remember those days. Toughest gig I ever played was in 1976 in Reno Nevada at a casino cabaret room. We were booked to play for 4 weeks 6 nights a week. We started at 10pm and ended at 4am. Hard work but the money was pretty good and at the end of the 4 weeks the band was a well oiled machine. After that we got an easy gig with the Holiday Inn playing the west coast circuit for 6 months. That was only 5 nights a week from 9pm until 2am playing a different location every week.
