Gigging soon!

[FlyStraight99]

Hi all,

 

I’ve been rehearsing with a drummer and guitarist to which it’s been forecasted that we will begin gigging in October. I’m absolutely buzzing for it.

 

I picked up the bass for the first time in April and joined a 4 piece but they did not do well (drummer’s gear kept packing in and the guitarist was not very good so some time was lost between rehearsals looking for another guitarist so eventually I backed out as I was looking to develop and not spend time waiting for them to sort their stuff out) and I’ve currently got a good grasp of about 15-16 songs. A fairly small amount but 45-50 minutes worth of a setlist which we plan to do for pubs!

 

Anyway, enough of me rambling. What is everyone’s advice when preparing for gigs? The drummer has a PA system and all the relevant equipment needed, but any tips and advice would be of much appreciation.

[Lozz196]

Before you leave home check all of your gear to make sure it works.

 

Pack all of your gear up so you know exactly where everything is - a bag with separate compartments is a good purchase for this.

 

However long the journey time is to the venue allow half again (it’s no problem being early and having a coffee whilst waiting for setup time).

 

Make sure that whoever does the set lists takes into account the person in the band with the worst eyesight - they need to be seen when in the floor in semi darkness.

 

And probably no need to mention this, be nice, to staff/sound-person/audience.

[Mickeyboro]

Have a checklist pinned to the door of your gear cupboard. Use it!

[Maude]

Allow plenty of time to set up so you can chill for a bit before you start, or help out a bandmate who's having issues. Nothing worse than rushing to set up and then having to launch straight into your set without being happy.

Nerves are good but don't let them get the better of you, it's supposed to be fun. If you find it particularly difficult then take on the role of a character, then it's your character up there doing it, not you. 

Play the rock star (to a degree), look confident, have a bit of swagger. Move more than you think you should, movement needs to be exaggerated to be noticed on stage, (a video of you will prove this). 

If you mess up, keep going. People really don't notice as long as things keep flowing. 

Try to relax and make a conscious effort to keep to rehearsed tempos. Once the adrenaline kicks in your 45-50 minutes of material will end up as 30-35 minutes. 

Keep any messing about between songs to a minimum. If the singer is good working a crowd then fair play but band members looking at each other, constantly asking "are you ready?" looks bad. Agree that you will launch into the next song unless someone says they have a problem. 

Above all, enjoy it. Energy flows both ways. If you (the band) look like you're having fun then so will the audience. If the audience look like they're having fun then that will feed your confidence and make you perform better. The energy continues its circular flow. 

 

[Franticsmurf]

All of the above, with the emphasis on having fun.

 

Keep everything simple. I've been gigging for 35+years and I still colour code jack/speakon sockets for all but the most basic of connections. Look and act professional from the moment you turn up to the moment you leave as this might end up being a repeat booking and/or there may be people present who are looking to book a band. Have spare leads/batteries/strings and any easily breakable things, some mains fuses and a basic toolkit. The checklist mentioned above is a good idea - at my gig last night the experienced guitarist forgot his strap - it happens! Collect video and photos to use in future publicity.

 

If you run short of songs, you can always claim that you've had a request to play one of your main set songs again although don't milk it too much and ideally arrange for a mate in the audience to call it out. We always aim to have more songs than necessary to fill the agreed set times. I've fallen foul of the 'adrenaline rush' mentioned by @Maude above and we ended up having to do three of our songs again. Not an ideal situation to be in.  

 

It's a performance and no one is looking for perfection. Mistakes happen - move on without making a big deal of them. Particularly don't point out bandmates mistakes. The time to sort problems out is the next practice session, not the gig. The audience will pick up on the onstage mood - if you're having fun they will enjoy the performance more. Make eye contact with them. If you can, have a dress rehearsal with non-musician mates and video it - you can check out your stage presence and get some feedback before you step on stage. 

 

Enjoy the experience and make sure you post your update on the 'How was your gig...' thread here. 😀

[gjones]

2 hours ago, Lozz196 said:

 

 

Make sure that whoever does the set lists takes into account the person in the band with the worst eyesight - they need to be seen when in the floor in semi darkness.

 

 

Setlist is always a very good idea. I tend to put the key next to the song title too.

[Al Nico]

Drink plenty of spirits, tune by ear, and be as loud as possible.

[Lozz196]

55 minutes ago, gjones said:

 

Setlist is always a very good idea. I tend to put the key next to the song title too.

I used to do similar in my last band - either D for a dead stop or R for a ringing out ending. When questioned about it by a punter I said it was the key to the songs, “Cor you lot are really professional” was the response. To 5 songs in D and 5 in R 😂

Edited 22 hours ago by Lozz196

[Burns-bass]

Remember every person in the venue wants you to do well…!

 

I don’t really get nerves anymore because over time you realise that confidence is a veneer. 

 

Enjoy every minute and play the best you can and you’ll be fine.

[woodyratm]

Yeah - to reiterate, have fun, don’t panic and if you flub a bit - don’t panic. It happens! 

[ardi100]

If you are intimidated by looking at the audience (if you can see them with the lighting), look out over the back row's heads. No one will know you're not looking at them and it looks like you're really confident.

 

That's when your eyes aren't glued to the neck trying to work out where you are!

[Burns-bass]

3 minutes ago, ardi100 said:

If you are intimidated by looking at the audience (if you can see them with the lighting), look out over the back row's heads. No one will know you're not looking at them and it looks like you're really confident.

 

That's when your eyes aren't glued to the neck trying to work out where you are!

Good advice. If you look like you’re having fun, they’ll have fun.

[Bassman1974]

Just wait until that first gig buzz kicks in. You'll not believe you're doing it.

 

Good luck man, you'll crush it !

[Staggering on]

1 hour ago, Burns-bass said:

Good advice. If you look like you’re having fun, they’ll have fun.

 

Absolutely, people watching a band hear with their ears and their eyes. if you are having a bad night suck it up and look like you are having fun, they are paying you to entertain them. (may vary with certain genres of course😊)

[HeadlessBassist]

Mainly, don't spend half your life rehearsing. Make sure everyone has independently done their homework and learned the material, then have a couple of run throughs together and gig it asap. Endless rehearsals don't achieve a lot generally. Your arrangements of songs will develop with your own style the more you gig them.

 

Also, always get to the venue at least an hour (or more if you can) before soundcheck. That way you have time to set up and relax and have a tea/coffee before you're needed to play.

 

And the last and perhaps most important one - Don't drink alcohol on a gig. Afterwards, fair enough. But drinking alcohol before or during playing is seen as seriously unprofessional these days.

Edited 2 hours ago by HeadlessBassist

[Mrbigstuff]

If you mess up or forget a line, just don’t play for a bar or two until you remember again. 

[fretmeister]

If you print out set lists then do it in Black Ink on white paper only.

 

If you play anywhere with any coloured lights, even just pub ambience then if you have used the same colour for text it will disappear on the page!

Plan the set list carefully. A group of amazing songs can lose impact if the pacing of the show doesn't work. First and last 3 should be high energy. The middle is for a ballad or two (if you want) and other mid paced stuff.

 

If this is your first band, then you are probably rehearsing mostly facing each other. That's fine to working on songs but it is not an act.

Rehearse as if you are in front of an audience. You might feel silly, but this is where you remove any cringy stuff. Actually work on banter for between songs - especially until you get experienced.

 

Segue the first 3 songs into each other. Don't give the audience a break - they WILL enjoy you!  then say hello, but only briefly then get stuck in again.

 

Then after another 2 or three thank the bar staff and the punters for being there.

 

Always have an encore number in the back pocket. Make it something that all ages could sing along with. When I started Teenage Kicks was a good choice but I suspect it's not as well known these days!

 

Take spares. Equipment failure happens. But being prepared to continue with the show is vital, especially when you start getting paid.

Some people only take spare strings - but a 5 min string change in the relaxed environment at home can turn into 10 mins of dead space under the pressure of the gaze of the audience. And the singer will end up telling Knock Knock jokes. I always take a spare instrument, and a spare amp head. If the cab dies then either of my heads can be used DI straight into the PA. Not perfect but I can finish the gig.

 

If you can get someone to film the show - that is such a great learning tool for seeing what worked and didn't.

 

Now - get out there and have fun! If you look like you are having fun, then the audience will have fun. Even if you are only doing Morrissey covers, leave the Morrissey glumness at home. Smile, eye contact etc. The audience needs to know it's not just a rehearsal.

 

Finally...

 

If there is 1 person in the audience or 500 - give it full beans. That 1 person who came along deserves the same effort as a full room. I hate people who view low attendance numbers as just a rehearsal. It isn't: someone pitched up to see a show. Do it right and that word of mouth is worth so much. That solitary punter could end up being the best advertising you ever get.

[fretmeister]

2 extra things:

 

1: Ear Plugs. ACS off the shelf ones will do to start with. They will knock the volume down while keeping the EQ roughly flat. No more foam rubber things making it feel like you are on a submarine. Wear them all night. You won't get a post gig volume headache and you'll save your ears. Then in due time get some ACS custom moulded ones that will be even better.

 

2: Make sure you tell everyone on here when your first gig is. If you get one of the experienced regulars coming to the show then if something does go tits up then you've got someone in the audience ready to help. Unless it's a singer problem, obviously. Nothing can help them. Sad.