Upcoming gig worries...

[7bridges]

An iPad running OnSong can be your friend. You can mount it to your mike stand and be less conspicuous than a full music stand. Use the low light settings for a white font on black background. I download lyrics on my Mac then transfer them to the iPad, extract them from the word file and annotate with chord/note names where necessary. Use the scroll feature for longer songs. It's also easy to share by simply beaming your set list to anyone with the same software on their iPad. Then you can relax and play.

 

[jamro217]

I used to bring an old wedge monitor and place a board on it with the changes. On rushed gigs, I'd have to bend down and turn the pages. It must have looked like I was adjusting the monitor. Might be a bit tacky at a wedding, though.

 

[Spent]

Agree with the notes idea. I recently played a gig with my old band that I left three years ago. I had a few weeks to learn 35 songs, most of which I had never heard before. To make matters worse, I got home exhausted on a Monday (I work in a middle school) and just as I was about to settle down, the drummer called and asked if I could practice that night. The night we agreed on was not going to work. I hadn’t even listened to a few of the songs yet. Needless to say, it was a disaster. I wrote a lot of notes on my set list and the gig went off without a hitch. I don’t know about you, but my nerves initially worked against me, but the energy I got from being on stage was all I needed.

 

[JimmyM]

While it would look better if you could memorize all of your lyrics, I know a fair amount of wedding band singers who will use notes or tablets when their band has a large repertoire of songs. And they are singers who don't play instruments who front the bands. It's much easier to get away with it if you play an instrument. So use them and don't even worry about it.

 

[drumandstage]

forScore

 

[Scoops]

The more energy you spend on your fear, the less energy you have to focus on things that are more important than your fears.

 

[soulman969]

Get recordings of the songs on the list and listen to them every chance you get - commuting in the car is great song-absorption time

This has always been a key technique for me. Our Keyboardist would make a tape (old days) or a CD (more current) of the cover arrangements we'd be working from to improvise our own cover.

Wherever I drove I would have those playing learning my bass line or guitar part, my lead vocals when applicable, and any harmonies and I would learn every part of those harmonies in the event we had to switch off.

It worked like magic and to this day I still do it that same way.

 

[redwingxix]

For songs I had a tough time remembering I would write the chord progressions on the back of my headstock. That wouldn't work for lyrics though.

Also, I agree that an ipad is much less lame than a music stand. Can't really explain why, just how I feel.

 

[tycobb73]

I think you need to know the setting. For a bar band i hate music stands. But for a wedding who cares. You are definitely not the center of attention at a wedding.