Rituals before gigs and shows?

[Igital]

1. Wait for drummer to arrive to load gear into van (he hopes we will do his gear if he is late)
2) Set up as fast as possible, finished long before guitar players have found the bags with their pedals in, they always put them behind a curtain or something similar. Always trying to do the setup a bit faster.
3) Have a beer and perhaps going for a walk while waiting for soundcheck to actually begin
4) Bitch guitar players for endless noodling and drummer for mindless banging during soundcheck (our sound guy loves me!)
5) Bitch bandmembers who always wants to play a few more songs at soundcheck even when it isn't necessary
6) Eat something light
7) Write setlist
8) Chill out with a few beers
9) Start looking for drummer who is usually missing when its getting close to showtime (he might actually be in a different part of town at that point - we have considered tying him to a chair backstage...)
10) Remind lead singer how first song starts
11) Check tuning
12) Warm up fingers

We have been gigging for 20+ years...

 

[groooooove]

the drummer and i used to always get chineese food from this one place before we played shows at a venue near it.. new ownership, we dont play there anymore, no more ritual.

 

[kpeluso]

im just trying not to vomit =D
first gig ever 6 hours from now.

 

[bluewine]

My ritual is knowing the material blind folded.

 

[cavemanbass0805]

excluding the obvious set up stuff...

stretch, keep hands warm, and breathing exercises

and then the band shares what we call a "grog-bowl". it's usually monster or rockstar, a guinness or newcastle, some jager (if we can afford it), and some az green tea. kinda nasty, but it'll give you energy but take the nervous edge down a bit. i don't know what the tea is for....

 

[mward69]

Me and the drummer get there kinda early, order wings XX Crispy...shot of a water moccasin {Crown, peach, sweet/sour} just before stage time...Jagerbomb {sp} put Pantera Primal Concrete Sledge on Ipod and jump for a few min. to get blood pumping, re-check tuning and go!!! During 1st song, start looking for the hot chics that are getting drunk Do this EVERY time for the last 4 yrs with this band.

 

[T-MOST]

I Run a few scales and pray.

 

[mrpackerguy]

Entire band - Korbel old fashioned sweet. Fruit or olives.

 

[funkout5]

just had my first gig last friday...

didn't have time to do a soundcheck, drummer broke a stick, lead guitarist was way to loud, and came in late for our last song

but it was still freaking amazing and fun as hell, and i even got a quick little slap solo between 2 songs

 

[Stumbo]

Drive to gig.
Load-in
Set up.
Tune-up.
Review setlist.
Sound check.
Bathroom break.
Check out venue.
Get on stage about 5 min. before starting.

 

[rtslinger]

I play scales and modes for 1 hour then go through most of the set lists so about 3 hours of noodling before leaving for the show and I eat nothing (no dinner) till I come home that morning this works for me
RTS

 

[Handreas]

Before get in/set up/soundcheck I chill at home (or wherever I'm staying) with a can of coffee and a pack of cigarettes.

After soundcheck I go back home and have a beer or two while listening to London Calling (my pre gig album) on vinyl if I'm home, or on the mp3 player if I'm out of town, while walking in circles. I get very restless when I'm wating for the gig to start.
Last thing I do before I head out the door is to check if I need to eat or poop. Most times I'll do both.

I guess the only "ritual" is having to listen to London Calling before a gig. Unless you count drinking vast amounts of coffee and chain smoking a ritual.

 

[thebassspace]

tidy or gaffer leads up. I'm a great one for getting my feet wrapped up in leads!

I'm the organised one that writes out and distributes the set lists before the set.

 

[thebassspace]

I like to get a copy of the set list, grab it like I'm choking it, get a wild stare in my eyes, and shout, "I've never even HEARD of these songs!"

Then the rest of the band goes: :scowl:

hahahah!!!

 

[debassr]

Some people like to rock a lucky rabbit’s foot, but I like to rock a pocket of puke.