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Superstitions & rituals
- Thread starter Edinburgh_Bass
- Start date
I'm fairly superstitious so I always tune my bass beforehand as I have the belief this will make the gig better. Bit like a good luck charm. I've also got strange other superstitions like learning the songs and wearing pants, but they're not obligatory...
I'm a ritualistic drinker anyway so that goes without saying.
I'm a ritualistic drinker anyway so that goes without saying.
I don't like to have my bass up on a stage any longer than necessary to reduce the likelihood of anything happening to it. The bass stays in its case (lid open) until ALL of the other band gear has been set-up on the stage. Then gets plugged in, tuned and set on its stand no more than 15 mins before we play the first note. If we are soundchecking first and then going somewhere else to eat or whatever, the bass comes with me. I will not leave my bass anywhere for any amount of time where I can't keep my eyes directly on it. Same deal if we are at festival gigs or whatever, the bass might stay on its stand backstage but I am right there with it.
Conversely, end of the night, the bass comes off the stage first thing, gets wiped down and put in its case before I start doing any other tear-down. Last thing I want is a cymbal landing on my axe or a mic stand tipping over on it.
Also, I never ever put on new strings the same day as a show. They go on at least 24 hours before the gig and I try to play them for at least a half-hour before show time to wear off a bit of the "zing". That might be more common-sense than superstition, though.
Conversely, end of the night, the bass comes off the stage first thing, gets wiped down and put in its case before I start doing any other tear-down. Last thing I want is a cymbal landing on my axe or a mic stand tipping over on it.
Also, I never ever put on new strings the same day as a show. They go on at least 24 hours before the gig and I try to play them for at least a half-hour before show time to wear off a bit of the "zing". That might be more common-sense than superstition, though.
Usually go over something a friend told me on my first gig.. it went like this: "don't get nervous... when you're on stage.. everybody else just sucks... you're the man!"
Cool when you're 15
Cool when you're 15
Before a gig i drink but not loads, i can barely play sober, thats why when we gig/tour with other bands we go on early so we can drink and party 
as for habits i dont have any personal ones apart from i find myself playing the same little riffs to warm up, but as a band we just sit around and talk for a bout 4-5 mins before we go on.
as for habits i dont have any personal ones apart from i find myself playing the same little riffs to warm up, but as a band we just sit around and talk for a bout 4-5 mins before we go on.
Before any gig, finish setup & tune up. Chug a beer and go out to the car and put in your favorite mp3 and friggin rock your a$$ off! Totally motivate yourself to give the best performance you can. Cuz everybody knows you carry the band....
let's see.
after the gear load in.
get everything out of my gig box that i need
(headlamp, e-bow, cables)
get pedalboard ready... put all that stuff on the pedalboard (for easy transportation to stage)
stretch. a lot. backbends, shoulder rolls, jumping - trying to touch my knees to my chin, leg stretches... etc.
do some vocal warm ups... scales and such.
take out bass... wipe down.
walk four-fret intervals on all six strings up to the 12th fret to moderately stretch out the strings and to warm up the fingers.
get two waters, one pre-stage, one for stage.
i'm usually the first one set up anyways (guitarist is slow, and drummer... has more loose equipment... vocalist is stuck with setting up our lighting system) so then i tune.
and i'm good to go.
[spunj13]
after the gear load in.
get everything out of my gig box that i need
(headlamp, e-bow, cables)
get pedalboard ready... put all that stuff on the pedalboard (for easy transportation to stage)
stretch. a lot. backbends, shoulder rolls, jumping - trying to touch my knees to my chin, leg stretches... etc.
do some vocal warm ups... scales and such.
take out bass... wipe down.
walk four-fret intervals on all six strings up to the 12th fret to moderately stretch out the strings and to warm up the fingers.
get two waters, one pre-stage, one for stage.
i'm usually the first one set up anyways (guitarist is slow, and drummer... has more loose equipment... vocalist is stuck with setting up our lighting system) so then i tune.
and i'm good to go.
[spunj13]
i have two good luck charms that MUST be present before a show happens. 1st a stuffed Brian the dag from family guy that hangs from my amp cable (he has to be able to hear, or I can't play), and 2nd the headstock of my old Schectermust be appeased with a shot of jager and a cig before i start, or the soul of the old bass will twwist my machinheads out of tune whilst I'm playing.
I cant play live without warming up for at least 30 minutes, an hour Ideally. Drinking a beer or 2 is good for stage presence and just so you can let loose, but drinking one too many only makes me think I sound great but when in all reality just makes me sound like ass.
If its a local weekend gig following set up I like a 1hr nap in the afternoon.
Then a couple of beers before the gig.
Once on stage I tune up, then clean up the area between my mic stand and amp, if theres one thing that'll drive me to distraction mid-song its feeling a damned cable underfoot while trying to sing and play.
Then I'm good to go
Then a couple of beers before the gig.
Once on stage I tune up, then clean up the area between my mic stand and amp, if theres one thing that'll drive me to distraction mid-song its feeling a damned cable underfoot while trying to sing and play.
Then I'm good to go
- Dec 21, 2007
- 15,222
- 45,010
- Disclosures
- Lark in the Morning Instructional Videos; Audix Microphones
HA! I thought it was just me. I have 6 basses, 5 guys and 1 lady...my favorite Fender J. Her name is Melody by the way.I feel as though my basses have personalities. Any time I've been in a crap mood and went to play them, they sound crap. Any time I'm in a good mood and treat them with the respect they deserve, they sound awesome for me. Works with other people too. Someone who hated my bass picked it up just out of curiosity and it sounded terrible. I picked it up and it sounded nice and sexy.
So yeah...respecting my bassesvery important!!
I have two, Carmen and Jessica. Carmen is my first love, we've been together for years and she's always been there for me no matter how I mistreated her. She wouldn't stand out in the P crowd normally, it's when you sit down and really get to know her that you see how special she is. But things do change...
Jessica entered the picture about a month ago and totally upstaged poor old Carmen. Possessing natural abilities such as a neck thru body, active EQ, and 24 frets. She's sleek and sexy, filled out in all the right areas, and she's incredibly flexible as well.
I love them both dearly, but ever since Jessica was introduced, I've noticed a lot of jealously between them. Carmen thinks I only care about Jessica for her looks, and Jessica thinks I could never really love her like I love Carmen. As much as I hate to admit it, Jessica has indeed taken over as my #1.
So Carmen has decided she wants to get some uh... enchantments. She's currently going under the knife for major reconstructive and cosmetic surgery in an effort to regain my attention and fix some minor flaws she's had ever since we met. She also wants to show Jessica that even and old girl can hang with something half her age.
Sometimes I hear the guys whining that we dont go out as much as we used to...before Melody came along, but they know shes my girl and mostly understand. I still like to get out with the guys when I feel it. Melody is my#1 and I think she knows it.
