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Things that you've learned from gigging... that you feel should be passed on


EBS_freak

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I'd put the songs you are playing way down the list from 

Do the band get regular (paid ) gigs 

Are they a good bunch

How much input you have to put in to make a gig happen (pick people up ,lug most of the gear etc ,find ,book gigs ,sort payment )

Getting by on the best but least gear possible 

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Keep leads tidy. Coil them properly, velcro-tie them.

 

If you use wall warts or similar PSUs, don't wrap the leads round the body of the wall-wart. Wrap them round your hand and use velcro ties on them. And if you use more than one wall-wart, put some coloured heat-shrink on the plug so you know which is which without having to go back to the wall-wart itself.

 

Periodically go through the leads bag and weed out anything you don't need. You will need: 1) all the leads to connect your gear up (you're probably doing the PA too, so those leads too) 2) spare leads for all of 1) 3) spare lead(s) for the guitarist(s) (which should be bright yellow)

 

Besides the set list being in big enough letters, make sure it's in black ink and that you've made any necessary additional notes (like which key it's in or which note to start on or if it's one of these modern tunings like drop-D)

 

Make sure that at least one person other than the singer reads the setlist and tells the singer if he/she has suddenly skipped two songs (adult supervision). Please feel free to have a 20-page discussion if you are a singer who is offended by this.

 

Have a checklist for car loading and make sure that everything is in

 

Make sure there's enough extension leads

 

Colour coding leads can be handy if you're doing the PA

 

If you're running a pedalboard with separate PSU, get a DC extension lead the same length as the jack-jack lead from the pedalboard to the amp, cable-tie the two together, and keep the pedalboard PSU by your amp

 

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PHOTOCOPY SETLISTS! This goes a long way to eliminating the possibility of counting a song in and the guitarist playing a completely different song from the rest of the band. It's quite staggering how long a band will glare at each other in a confused state... while continuing to play.

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9 hours ago, tauzero said:

If you're running a pedalboard with separate PSU, get a DC extension lead the same length as the jack-jack lead from the pedalboard to the amp, cable-tie the two together, and keep the pedalboard PSU by your amp

 

Had to read that slowly a couple of times to get what you meant 0-o

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2 hours ago, sprocketflup said:

Had to read that slowly a couple of times to get what you meant 0-o

 

 A picture's worth a thousand words, so here's a couple of kilowords.

 

The basic jack-jack plus one DC extension:

 

leads_1.jpg.b48b0999924b673c97c8bde9ac1e7c32.jpg

 

I have another one to power an MS-60B (centre negative) and a Smoothhound (annoyingly, centre positive), for which I use two wall-warts. Colour coded, as are the wall-wart plugs, and put into a braided sleeve (took ages but it's lovely and neat):

 

leads_2.jpg.77be093eecda4101287fd89bcae195ca.jpg

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1 hour ago, tauzero said:

...The basic jack-jack plus one DC extension...

 

A sound idea, but beware of voltage drop with such a length of DC. Depending on the current drawn by the equipment, and the gauge of the DC wire, it could cause issues. Not necessarilly, but needs checking.

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The biggest lesson I've learnt from gigging. . . is that it's the biggest turn on, greatest fun, most satisfying thing that I've ever done.

 

Selecting your gear, practising the songs, loading the car, driving around the M25 at 20mph, putting up with drunk punters, the drive home, all worth it for a good gig.

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Never. Never!! "Borrow" some disco lights on a whirly thing and think it would be cool to have the mains plug sat almost in an extension lead ready for you to press it down with your foot at the end of the intro to the first song and send coloured lights swirling round everywhere like a budget Jean Michelle Jarre show. It will most probably look cheesy, but it 100% will result in your instrument cable being drawn into the whirly mechanism and being yanked out of your bass, making you look like a bellend. Kicking the lights to death doesn't help get your cable back either or continue the song.

 

I learned this lesson so you don't have to. 

Edited by uk_lefty
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Look after your leads 

 

Don't fosters about on your instrument between songs 

 

Keep the set flowing, don't stop after every tune for a chat and a sip of your pint

 

Get ear plugs 

 

Keep stage volumes as low as possible 

 

Don't flip about at sound check

 

I'm sure there's plenty more. 

 

 

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On multi band bills be accommodating with gear, what goes around comes around, do someone a favour at some point and it’s likely you will be repaid. Not saying loan basses or amps but def cabs, makes changeovers much easier if the bands agree amongst them beforehand who is bringing what, ideally one bit of backline each.

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