toneknob Posted July 16, 2012 Share Posted July 16, 2012 I'm playing my first festival gig this week, at Secret Garden Party. Equally exciting and nerve-wracking stuff. Festival vets - Any tips? Plug: the band is The Penny Black Remedy, check out spotify and general googling for material. Their previous bassist left April/May time and they asked me to step in to help cover upcoming commitments. One is SGP, the other is Bestival. Hurray/yikes! Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silvia Bluejay Posted July 16, 2012 Share Posted July 16, 2012 Wow, sounds awesome. All the best! You'll be fine - what matters at such big events is the overall vibe and the connection the bands establish with the crowd. Nobody will notice any mistakes caused by first-time nerves Post pics and vids if/when you have them! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul torch Posted July 16, 2012 Share Posted July 16, 2012 My rule of thumb is. Work first, festival after. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fumps Posted July 16, 2012 Share Posted July 16, 2012 Awww i so want to go to the Secret garden party.....maybe going next year . hope you have a hoot mate Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toneknob Posted July 16, 2012 Author Share Posted July 16, 2012 [quote name='bluejay' timestamp='1342442618' post='1734937'] Post pics and vids if/when you have them! [/quote] We did a warm-up at the 12 Bar a couple of weeks ago. The photos show that my current choice of gig shirt is a big wardrobe fail, severe strap-tug over the left shoulder makes it looks rubbish. Need to update the gig threads. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mixingwithtom Posted July 16, 2012 Share Posted July 16, 2012 Be prepared for the mud - wellies!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fuzzbass2000 Posted July 16, 2012 Share Posted July 16, 2012 (edited) Yup... watch out for mud. 4-6 inches deep at Guilfest this weekend. Edited July 16, 2012 by Fuzzbass2000 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lojo Posted July 16, 2012 Share Posted July 16, 2012 [quote name='paul torch' timestamp='1342442672' post='1734939'] My rule of thumb is. Work first, festival after. [/quote] This is true, don't hit the beer tent to many bands before your on Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toneknob Posted July 16, 2012 Author Share Posted July 16, 2012 Mud, beer, beer, mud. Got it. Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nabba Posted July 17, 2012 Share Posted July 17, 2012 have fun and keep an eye on your gear at all times... leads and little things like that always seem to go missing at festivals for some reason. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dom in Dorset Posted July 17, 2012 Share Posted July 17, 2012 (edited) At the festival gigs I've done there's been plenty of carrying gear about ( if you're low down on the pecking order - no vehicle pass) so keep your equipment to a minimum. I noticed that our guitarist put his case into a bin bag at the last mudbath we attended, consequently he didn't spend the next week cleaning mud of his gear! On most small festival stages you get a very short set up/ sound check + it's not uncommon to be able to hear what's going on on other stages during your set. Expect the worst , anything else is a bonus.. You can end up playing to huge crowds or nobody, it's the luck of the draw, don't be disappointed if everyone is over at the enormo stage watching my band, or outside enjoying a rare glimpse of sunshine. As others have said have fun but remember that you have a job to do. Edited July 17, 2012 by Dom in Somerset Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted July 17, 2012 Share Posted July 17, 2012 As Dom says, chances are you`ll be setting up whilst another band is playing. I found that, as I was playing through a provided amp, rather than go for "my sound" I just set everything flat, as the soundman would do everything through the PA. It sounded fairly ropey on stage, but having heard other bands using the amp, I knew the soundman was good, so trusted a good sound would happen. Also, as others have said, you may have to walk a fair way with gear, so if it can be whittled down to one trip only, all the better. And take sun-cream with you. Better to take it, and not need it, than the other way round. I got burnt something rotten at the one I did - and it was cloudy/rainy for a lot of the day. The sun can still burn you, through clouds - especially with vampiric skin like mine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dom in Dorset Posted July 17, 2012 Share Posted July 17, 2012 Note the basic mistakes, too much gear, too heavy, inadequate mud protection. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul_5 Posted July 17, 2012 Share Posted July 17, 2012 tip for festival playing? tune up before you hit the stage, trust the sound engineer(s) to get it right, don't play when you're not supposed to - time is generally of the essence during change over between bands, so do it as quickly as you can. Be nice (sound man has probably got a much more difficult job than you) and polite, and have fun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dom in Dorset Posted July 17, 2012 Share Posted July 17, 2012 It can be worthwhile investing in a tour buss: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toneknob Posted July 18, 2012 Author Share Posted July 18, 2012 Thanks for the tips! Keep them coming. It's tomorrow! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul torch Posted July 18, 2012 Share Posted July 18, 2012 plenty of wet wipes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZMech Posted July 18, 2012 Share Posted July 18, 2012 (edited) Awesome, I'm stewarding at SGP so heading off this afternoon. Will try and check you guys out if it doesn't clash with a shift. If you see a short jewish student with a black backpack dancing like a nutter, it's probably me. Tip: If you have them, a decent pair of walking boots are much more comfortable than wellies to spend a weekend in. Edited July 18, 2012 by ZMech Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul torch Posted July 18, 2012 Share Posted July 18, 2012 [quote name='ZMech' timestamp='1342606295' post='1737628'] student with a black backpack dancing like a nutter, it's probably me. [/quote] that'll narrow it down. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toneknob Posted July 18, 2012 Author Share Posted July 18, 2012 [quote name='ZMech' timestamp='1342606295' post='1737628'] Awesome, I'm stewarding at SGP so heading off this afternoon. Will try and check you guys out if it doesn't clash with a shift. If you see a short jewish student with a black backpack dancing like a nutter, it's probably me. Tip: If you have them, a decent pair of walking boots are much more comfortable than wellies to spend a weekend in. [/quote] Come and say hi if you're around. Footwear - thanks for the tips all, but I don't have any wellies (and it's too late to get any) so it's road-worn DMs for me. They've seen action at Glastonbury 1998 (a simple google image search of "glastonbury 1998" will show that this summer is a heatwave in comparison) and various outdoors gigs/fests since. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toneknob Posted July 18, 2012 Author Share Posted July 18, 2012 [quote name='paul torch' timestamp='1342603833' post='1737560'] plenty of wet wipes [/quote] Yeah. I've already packed the anti-bac as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul torch Posted July 18, 2012 Share Posted July 18, 2012 [quote name='toneknob' timestamp='1342607691' post='1737677'] Come and say hi if you're around. Footwear - thanks for the tips all, but I don't have any wellies (and it's too late to get any) so it's road-worn DMs for me. They've seen action at Glastonbury 1998 (a simple google image search of "glastonbury 1998" will show that this summer is a heatwave in comparison) and various outdoors gigs/fests since. [/quote] a couple of carrier bags for your feet if it all gets too much. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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