What is your Gig day preparation?

[jamro217]

Well it all starts the day before - I like to do rock climbing. Really destroys your forearms and makes playing bass an absolute pain.
Then, day of, I consume salt tablets and hard alcohol. If you don't cramp while you're playing, you can't really feel the blues. And pain = the blues.
Also, during the gig, encourage the audience to toss rotten food at the band.
Did I say toss? I meant heave. Heave it at the band with all your anger.

Remember - stress, dehydrate, and disappoint!

Just kidding. Lots of lounging around, eating filling meals, and drink lots of water. Nothing too special.

I was with you right up until the "Just kidding" part. What was that all about?

 

[jamro217]

Double quarter pounder with cheese and large fries. Pretty much guarantees I won’t need to take a dump for at least 12 hours!

If I ate that it would be the opposite results in 12 minutes.

Yecch!!! I'd be belching imitation tort.​

 

[ToneMonkey]

One system I have is that any cord that goes to the gig gets a red cable tie. That ensures that they all make it into my accessory bag.

Generally, I try to be fully rehearsed a day ahead of time. So day of gig I pack everything up and take a nap before I load my vehicle.

 

[Obese Chess]

polish the bass, stretch. 15-20 minutes before set time I slam an energy drink and a shot of whiskey.

 

[Paulabass]

How NOT to do it-
Leaving work early. My replacement doesn't show. Phone my brother who is at the venue, and ask him to set up my stuff, I'm late.
Discover a Hyundai Accent will go 160 kph.
Directions says right at the donut shop, not that there are 2 donut shops.
RUN up to security at the arena. Wrong arena, I'm across town.
Abandon car in loading dock of correct arena.
Guy with clipboard says I'm on NOW.
Throw my coat off on-the-fly, and run onto stage, praying my brother has everything set up right.
Tuning while front man says Hello.....
Downbeat.

 

[jamro217]

How NOT to do it-
Leaving work early. My replacement doesn't show. Phone my brother who is at the venue, and ask him to set up my stuff, I'm late.
Discover a Hyundai Accent will go 160 kph.
Directions says right at the donut shop, not that there are 2 donut shops.
RUN up to security at the arena. Wrong arena, I'm across town.
Abandon car in loading dock of correct arena.
Guy with clipboard says I'm on NOW.
Throw my coat off on-the-fly, and run onto stage, praying my brother has everything set up right.
Tuning while front man says Hello.....
Downbeat.

That sounds too precise, like you may have had a similar experience.

 

[Paulabass]

That sounds too precise, like you may have had a similar experience.

Yup, that was a real one. The whole town was doing a music festival, and there were stages set up everywhere.

 

[Jeff Scott]

I sleep as long as possible; when I get up I call one of the others guys that I'll be late to the gig.

Of course, no matter how late I show up the drummer is still setting up.

Actually in my last pop/rock band it was always the rhythm guitarist who was like that.

 

[jamro217]

Yup, that was a real one. The whole town was doing a music festival, and there were stages set up everywhere.

That's awful. What a stressful way to start a gig. On a positive note, by the time you got ready it was over.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

Tell me about how you handle the day of a gig from when you rise to when you arrive. After last weekends gig day in which I handled horribly, I’m looking for pointers. I have been playing for years but will admit I’m not always organized on the day of a gig.
Sometimes it falls into place, but it seams anymore I’m turning around and it’s time to load the truck to leave, although it feels I just got out of bed.
Sometimes it’s my fault sometimes it’s work (seldom) or family that effect it. Do you practice before you leave for a a gig, lay low, rest, or pace the floor in anticipation?

Pretty much before I go to bed the night before, I have what I’m wearing hanging in the closet ready to go, all of my gear is througly gone through, cords at tested, new battery installed on the bass. Everything except my bass and clothes will be loaded in the truck ( it’s garaged). I’m an early riser, so after making sure I check in here for recent developents, and after my morning coffee, I’ll dust off my chops to make sure my fingers are working. If there are any kinks to work out, I’ll spend bout 20 minutes working them out.

About an hour before leaving the gig, I’ll shower, pop a couple of Aleves, brew a cup of coffee for the drive to the gig.

 

[glocke1]

Tell me about how you handle the day of a gig from when you rise to when you arrive. After last weekends gig day in which I handled horribly, I’m looking for pointers. I have been playing for years but will admit I’m not always organized on the day of a gig.
Sometimes it falls into place, but it seams anymore I’m turning around and it’s time to load the truck to leave, although it feels I just got out of bed.
Sometimes it’s my fault sometimes it’s work (seldom) or family that effect it. Do you practice before you leave for a a gig, lay low, rest, or pace the floor in anticipation?

hmmm...Friday night gigs I'll take the day off from work and essentially spend the day practicing and going over tunes we will be playing, this is interspersed with some naps so Im well rested for the gig.

Saturday night gigs are essentially the same routine.

 

[pjbassist]

This is a great read! I am somewhat surprised at all the napping and the pre-show movement of bowels!

 

[DirtDog]

This is a great read! I am somewhat surprised at all the napping and the pre-show movement of bowels!

Just like pro athletes!

One thing I forgot to mention is I'll throw some of our tunes on my phone and play them in the car on the way to the venue - partially to get myself in the mood, but mostly to warm up my vocal chords. Once I'm done chowing down on that burger and fries!

 

[Rickter]

Usually, if the gig is during the week (which most lately have been) I try to take a PTO day so I don't feel rushed the day of. Aside from that I plan ahead what clothes I plan to wear, make sure that I have all necessary batteries and backup batteries, pack my toolkit, pack extra cables in case the wireless fails, restring the bass 48 hours ahead of time to give strings some settling time. Always carry a roll of duct tape.

The most recent gig was probably the most stress free gig in recent memory. That was likely because we took the time to meet at the rehearsal space before the gig and do 2 full set rehearsals. Got us all warmed up, and tested the gear. Then we loaded the van and made the trip to the venue. Once at the venue, get everything backlined as best we can then hydrate, stretch, take bathroom breaks prior to our set. Beyond that, the only things that could have surprised us were likely things that we couldn't have prepared for anyways.

 

[RustyAxe]

I'm thinking we're about 2 months out from our first gig (as a band)... I will definitely bookmark this thread, coming back to it... and not the day of the gig, either! The other members are already actively playing out, so they will be a great resource, as well...

... I will try and remember to 'bring the fun'!

And remember that many of us here gig regularly/weekly. Our prep is gonna be different from the people who play much less often. For example, I have two complete gig kits ... small one when I play with the band and they have the PA, and a larger one when I supply the PA. Both are self contained, and I don't "borrow" gear from one to supply the other. Because we gig often things like guitar maintenance, cables in good order, assuring our gear is in good condition, etc ... is something we take care of between gigs, so don't have to sweat it the day of. And most of us learned what we needed at the gig the hard way ...

 

[Spidey2112]

And remember that many of us here gig regularly/weekly. Our prep is gonna be different from the people who play much less often. For example, I have two complete gig kits ... small one when I play with the band and they have the PA, and a larger one when I supply the PA. Both are self contained, and I don't "borrow" gear from one to supply the other. Because we gig often things like guitar maintenance, cables in good order, assuring our gear is in good condition, etc ... is something we take care of between gigs, so don't have to sweat it the day of. And most of us learned what we needed at the gig the hard way ...

"And most of us learned what we needed at the gig the hard way ... "

Sometimes, the best way to learn, and it sticks with you longer, too! Thanks!

 

[MD]

I wake up, do stuff, load gear, go to gig, go home, unload gear, go to sleep. Repeat as required.

Yeah, pretty much this. It's not like I'm getting on the space shuttle...
I do make sure I don't wake up gig day morning with a hangover. I've done it, it ain't pretty.