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Yes or no ?
- Thread starter Chris cook
- Start date
I would definitely not do it. I have a full-time job, and am way too lazy to cram that much homework into one week, just to open for a local band.
If it was opening for a popular national act, some sort of rare opportunity, maybe... but I would probably have to take off from work a few days to make it happen. That's just me, a medium skills amateur. I'm sure there are pros here on TB that could get up to speed on 40 new songs in a couple of days without much trouble.
If this is your first gig, I would be concerned that you're putting yourself in danger of a public trainwreck in front of a fairly sizable audience. I'd avoid that, and try to enter the world of live gigging in a low pressure way.
If I'd played seriously for 10+ years prior, and this was just my first BAND, I'd do it. Might be tough to get over that stage fright on the first gig though. My better judgement says "No".
Sorry but I have to add some comic relief.
As others have mentioned, this can't be a real request.
And to answer the OP, yes I would.
As others have mentioned, this can't be a real request.
And to answer the OP, yes I would.
If you think you have the time to learn them... go for it! It'll be stressful, but also fun.
My very first gig was like this:
1) audition, an originals band, funk/hip hop type mix. It went ok, I had learnt 3 songs and we spent another hour playing some of their other material
2) hear nothing for a couple of weeks, I was clearly not #1 or at least not a clear #1. I assumed I didn't get it.
3) Phone call "hey, would you still be interested in joining us, if so you're in, by the way, we've got a gig in 10 days"
4) Had a single practice at the main vocalist's house, I took my Zoom recorder. "No need to bring anything, even a bass, we've got everything".
5) I show up without a bass (I didn't drive, and why not, they have a bass I can use right?). They give me an acoustic bass... big beast with high tension strings. A 5 string bass (I played 4s). Fretless.
I figured, if I survive this, what can possibly go wrong?
Practice was on a Monday, gig on a Friday, and I had about 15 songs to learn, 75% of which I had never heard until the practice.
I was sweating buckets, but it was a lot of fun although very stressful until I got there
If you at least are familiar with a good proportion of the covers, it may not be that much work. It'll be a lot of work, for sure, but could be doable, only you can say. If you think you could manage, just do it.
A lot of my best experiences have come from putting myself out of my comfort zone. Have fun!
BobDeRosa
Commercial User
- May 16, 2012
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I completely agree with @john m and @socialleper. Opening bands never play 40 songs. With such short notice, I'd get the band to create a tune list (5-10 tunes, depending on the length of time you're playing) for that gig, so you can at least focus your efforts. The other part that concerns me is that you've never played in front of a crowd before. Only you can determine if you're ready for that, but I assume that if the band hired you, they think you can do it. Take your own pulse on that one.
I'm not into the hard-rock genre, but I got a message on this past Christmas Eve for a multi-decade pop/rock/country gig on New Year's Eve . . . 40 songs, only half of which I'd ever heard, some in alternate keys. I did it, but it took work and focus. Worth the pay. I'd do it if interested in being with the band moving forward.
If they provided the chord charts yes. I'd put them on my tablet and should get through the night just fine. I would be watching the guitar player like a hawk though to make sure I was in the right spot of the song with him and we were in sync with the changes.
Smooth_bass88
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- Oct 31, 2006
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If it’s your first band, then presumably you’re somewhat new to the bass. Unless you’re some sort of prodigy, and don’t go to school or have a job, then it’s “no way”. This seems like an impossible (and utterly ridiculous) task.
I could absolutely get a set of music up and ready in a week. I do that kind of thing in a regular basis - learning songs is something I do a lot. You probably aren’t as experienced, so that’s an issue.
Back to the point, you’re an opening act, that’s 1 set. The fact that the band expects to play 40 songs as an opening act is a second issue. Either that, or they can’t make decisions, so they’re expecting you to learn 40 songs because they can’t commit to a set list a week in advance. Either way, there’s a lack of clear thinking here. Their inability to plan ahead should not be a reason to dump a Herculean task on someone who isn’t experienced enough to pull it off.
The point is: this band doesn’t know what they’re doing. That is probably why I’d decline. Your answer, and the reasons behind it will probably be different. If you haven’t done anything like this, I’d strongly suggest you decline. Your first public performance is, if you do this, is almost certain to be a train wreck.
If you do the gig, definitely record it. There will be some points that illustrate the naïveté and inexperience of everyone involved, and you’d hate to not have that stuff on a recording.
Back to the point, you’re an opening act, that’s 1 set. The fact that the band expects to play 40 songs as an opening act is a second issue. Either that, or they can’t make decisions, so they’re expecting you to learn 40 songs because they can’t commit to a set list a week in advance. Either way, there’s a lack of clear thinking here. Their inability to plan ahead should not be a reason to dump a Herculean task on someone who isn’t experienced enough to pull it off.
The point is: this band doesn’t know what they’re doing. That is probably why I’d decline. Your answer, and the reasons behind it will probably be different. If you haven’t done anything like this, I’d strongly suggest you decline. Your first public performance is, if you do this, is almost certain to be a train wreck.
If you do the gig, definitely record it. There will be some points that illustrate the naïveté and inexperience of everyone involved, and you’d hate to not have that stuff on a recording.
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Absolute NO for me. I've turned down several offers like this. If all the musicians haven't played together long enough to get the tunes down tight, I'm not interested. I want to have my parts down exact. Nothing worse IMHO than a band that is sloppy and sounds like 
.
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Yes.
Look at it as something to be grateful for. There is no better way to get gig-ready.
And I'd add a couple hours each day before or after practices woodshedding on my own. It'll be a sacrifice, though one you'll be glad you made.
In the 70's, I played a few gigs on guitar with a jazz quartet, with whom I was in way over my depth, though my band-mates were extremely patient with me over many, many practices.
Then I got offered a gig with a southern rock band with only 3-4 rehearsals before the first show. It was intense, and turned out to be an incredible learning experience. We ended up working a lot.
Just a few of many lessons I've learned out of this and other similar deals:
- Fear is corrosive to production, and counterintuitive to the creative process. If the wheels don't come off every now and then, you're not pushing yourself hard enough.
- Suiting up and showing up is 95% of the game.
- Comfort in my own skin just getting out there.
- Comfort in my ability to learn more, and more quickly the more I do it.
- Bigger ears for adaptive playing and being part of a musical conversation rather than simply playing over others.
