First Gig !Tips!

[BLAH]

Got our bands first gig coming in the next few weeks

 

any tips , none of us have ever done a gig before.

 

Not nervous just hoping no one {censored}s up

[elbow]

 

Originally posted by BLAH Got our bands first gig coming in the next few weeks any tips , none of us have ever done a gig before. Not nervous just hoping no one {censored}s up

 

 

1. Have fun.

 

2. Own the stage.. It's yours, you own it.

 

3. You will probably have something "screwed up" happen. Play through it... go back to 1 and 2 above.

 

4. Make sure you get there in plenty of time to check out the place and get set up. Nothing is worse than new place, first gig, forgot something....

 

5. If you think it'll help.. have a drink.

[whiteroom]

 

Originally posted by BLAH Got our bands first gig coming in the next few weeks any tips , none of us have ever done a gig before. Not nervous just hoping no one {censored}s up

 

 

Tempo. It can Make you or break you.

[THB]

Relax.

 

 

Remember, If anyone in your audience could do any better, they would be.

 

[Cortfan]

Try not to puke on a monitor. Have fun. Play thru the mistakes, because everyone will make some.

[seahorse]

Tune up before you get on stage.

[RupertB]

 

Originally posted by seahorse Tune up before you get on stage.

 

...and when you take a break, do it again.

 

Get some serious practice time (individually & as a group) in over the next couple of weeks. Expect a few mistakes anyway, most will go unnoticed by your audience.

 

No matter how bad the screw-up don't make the "who farted" face and unless somebody actually dies, DON'T STOP.

 

Don't wait until the afternoon before the show to write up your set list, do it now. Make sure everybody is cool with the sets so there won't be last minute changes and/or grousing about playing this song after that one.

 

Short transitions between songs = good.

On-stage debates about which song to play next = bad.

[cozmicslop]

 

Originally posted by seahorse Tune up before you get on stage.

 

 

Can't be repeated enough.

 

As well as be on time (early).

 

Find a private place and warm up while imagining yourself kicking complete ass.

 

Practice it like you intend to play it. Same moves. Same stage positions if possible.

[zookie]

You'll have butterflies in the hours before you play. Just accept it. Don't try to talk yourself out of being nervous, but do channel that energy somewhere. Mow the lawn or something.

 

As others have said, someone (probably all of you) will screw something up. It'll sound huge to you, but likely won't even be noticed in the crowd.

 

When you're nervous the temptation is to play everything faster. Fight that urge. It sounds like a train wreck about to happen.

 

I find personally that I perform better if I don't rehearse the day before a gig. Don't know why, but the material comes off as fresher if I take a break the day before a gig.

 

I've gigged off an on for nearly 20 years (with big gaps in those years). I have a gig this evening. I can bet I'll space out on some chord change, some witty tale I have planned for the audience, or something I can't even see coming.

 

A performance happens in a moment. It is an event that you create that exists only for the time you are on stage. When all the elements click together, it's a magical experience for everyone in that space. It won't happen every night, but when it does, man, that's when you know why you're a musician.

 

Good luck and have a blast.

[ratthedd]

Originally posted by zookie When you're nervous the temptation is to play everything faster. Fight that urge. It sounds like a train wreck about to happen.

 

+1000

 

If you have access to a digital metronome or drum machine use it during practice to get your tempos and timing perfect.

 

Recognise that you will be hepped up on adrenoline and will want play every song in double time. Slow down--relax--making music is supposed to be fun, not a race to see who can get to the end of the song the quickest (unless your band is the Ramones ).

[Bones]

I'd have to second everything I've read so far. Good solid advice.

 

My 2 cents...

 

Make set lists and make sure everyone in the band has a copy. Don't waste time between tunes. Start the next tune immediately.

[uitar9]

Re-read all the above mentioned tips. Great advice.

 

Also:

 

put new strings on, stretch them out and keep yourself in tune.

 

Forget your on stage sound and trust the sound person

 

Keep smilin'

 

Make some eye contact with the crowd

 

Have fun

[GCDEF]

Silly as it may sound, be careful what you eat too. I've made it a point to avoid Thai and Mexican food before I play, for reasons you can probably figure out.

[uitar9]

BLAH-Good point.

 

A couple of years ago our singer threw up 3 times within half an hour of going on.

 

(She sounded awsome)

[doubleR]

 

Originally posted by uitar9 BLAH-Good point. A couple of years ago our singer threw up 3 times within half an hour of going on. (She sounded awsome)

 

 

 

I never get sick to my stomach, but I do have to pee about five gallons.

[Lee Knight]

Get really drunk first. Don't tune up before you play.... just don't tune up. When you take the stage, flip off the audience and start your feedback solo.

 

This works for me everytime!

[conquerorworm]

Originally posted by Lee Knight Get really drunk first. Don't tune up before you play.... just don't tune up. When you take the stage, flip off the audience and start your feedback solo. This works for me everytime!

 

man, how come there are no bands like that around here? that would ROCK!

[JBJ]

^ sounds like babyshambles.

 

anyways listen to what everyone's said.

 

I wouldn't go for the drink to be honest. If it's your 1st drink i'd imagine you're young-ish and if you're in the US, not really able to handle your drink at the present time.

 

the problem is you think hey we're gigigng man, we're a band lets have a beer or two and then you think {censored} it lets rattle a whole slab, then the shots come out and before you know it you have 4 or 5 nervous guys who've never done this before and don't really know what happens or the etiquette except now with the added bonus of being drunk or at least not on top of the game when you absolutely need to be.

 

btw don't be an arse either thinking you're a big shot. not a personal attack but you'd be surprised at how many guys who're doing their first couple of gigs in absolute {censored}holes, I mean places where you don't even want to touch the toilet door and these guys are swanning around acting like they've sold out a stadium being rude to people in the audeince, the promoter, the bar staff and most idiotically, the soundman. I don't like to boast but it's pretty easy for me to break them down a peg or two when I tell them to stop acting like arses because I've been there done it much bigger, better, nicer and bukkaked on their mums face backstage and they're impressing no one. I can and will do it if I'm involved in the gig in any way apart from being an audience member, chances are someone will do the same if you do it.

 

This doesnt just count for you either. if you're singer starts shouting at the spundman that hes crap (i'm prepared to bet the soundman knows more about live sound than a 1st time band) etc... beat their ass down for it.

 

 

again i'm sure it won't be a problem but it's one of the ugliest things new bands can, will and have done.

 

oh yeah don't come up with new songs when you dont have enough time to work them out, dont start {censored}ing around with new gear before the show when you've not had proper time to mess about with it and set it in the band situation and don't play anything outwith your bounds. I'd rather be humbled and admit I can't hit certain notes or nail the sultans of swing solo than try (and fail) onstage

 

good luck.

 

let us know how it goes.

[Thundercranium]

Dynamics!!!!!

 

Songs (at least most of them) are not meant to be played at the same volume throughout. You can usually spot an inexperienced band by listening for the dynamics. They might be the best players you've ever heard, but if they don't work together to serve the song, it's mostly noise!

 

Did I mention dynamics?

[GCDEF]

Also, don't play too loud. Bartenders need to be able to hear their customers.

 

Getting the bartender on your side is one of the smartest things you can do. Customers will let the bartender know if they like the band, and the bartender will let the owner know. Piss of the bartender and you won't be back.

 

Along those lines, after sound check or at a break, ask the bartenders how the volume is. Remind the audience to tip the them. Tip them yourself if they've been waiting on you just as if you were a customer. I've even used bartenders at one club use us as references for another.

[Knottyhed]

Originally posted by BLAH Got our bands first gig coming in the next few weeks any tips , none of us have ever done a gig before. Not nervous just hoping no one {censored}s up

 

You'll make mistakes, don't worry about it - probs nobody will notice/care (particularly if you're doing original material). You might be nervous, but it's kinda like a rollercoater - you crap yourself, get a real adrenaline rush and can't wait to get back on

 

The important thing is to prepare IMO, as the only thing that can really ruin a gig is an equipment failure.

 

- Check all your cables and take spares

- Replace any batteries in your effects etc.

- If at all possible make sure you have a backup guitar (you do not want to have to change strings mid-set if one breaks!)

- Tune up before you go on stage

 

As long as you get up there and enjoy yourself, your audience will too.

[Knottyhed]

 

Originally posted by zookie I find personally that I perform better if I don't rehearse the day before a gig. Don't know why, but the material comes off as fresher if I take a break the day before a gig.

 

 

+1

[Scafeets]

"No matter how bad the screw-up don't make the "who farted" face and unless somebody actually dies, DON'T STOP."

 

Rupert B. --- That's the best advice!

 

I'm playing in a band with a guy who has been gigging since the Nixon administration, and he STILL grimaces whenever he hears a clam.

 

No matter how monumental the screw up, keep smilin'!

[Knottyhed]

Originally posted by Scafeets "No matter how bad the screw-up don't make the "who farted" face and unless somebody actually dies, DON'T STOP." Rupert B. --- That's the best advice! I'm playing in a band with a guy who has been gigging since the Nixon administration, and he STILL grimaces whenever he hears a clam. No matter how monumental the screw up, keep smilin'!

 

Yeh - so long as you're general standard is good, the audience don't mind or even notice a few f*&kups, but if you stop a song and restart it the gig will loose momentum. I've seen countless bands make this mistake and loose some of the atmosphere they'd built up because of it.

 

What's more important is how you engage the audience, like you say - keep smiling and look like you're enjoying yourself. If you're having a good time, it'll rub off on your audience

 

The worst thing you can do is faff about on stage; that includes tuning your guitar on stage, talking too much between songs (unless you're a natural born comedian) and playing the first verse of a song, stopping and playing the first verse of a song again cos somebody missed a chord change...

[SunRaFan]

I've actually gone against the don't ever stop advice a number of times. The last time it happened, we were trying to debut a new original, and it just didn't come together out of the intro. We played a few completely jumbled bars before final stopping.

 

We just started the song over, and I had people from the crowd tell me they were glad we started the song over, and that it sounded good.

 

My main advice would be don't expect your going to be able hear either yourself or anybody else up on stage. Assuming you don't have a top notch monitor engineer at your first gig, it's going to be tougher to here stuff than it is at rehearsal. At some point you need to just accept it and make the best of the situation. People don't come to shows to see the performers complain about monitors and adjust settings on amps endlessly.