Gigging soon!

[Franticsmurf]

49 minutes ago, asingardenof said:

Yeah, I think I need to look into doing this

A bit of paper or beer mat will do at a pinch but I'd rather have the matchsticks. 

[Merton]

2 hours ago, asingardenof said:

If you use something like a Shaller then make sure that the strap buttons are solidly attached. Mine have a tendency to work themselves loose but haven't yet (touch wood) come out. @Merton can attest to what happens when they do!

Ironically it wasn’t the Schallers which failed on me. I have just replaced all the Schaller locks with the Dunlop locks as I feel they are a superior solution. Last week I just didn’t pop the strap part into the button properly, and it fell out during the first song 😆

I think Dunlops are a better design (despite my ineptitude) and should have listened to @skelf 11 years ago when I got my first ACG; better late than never I have seen the light and learnt how to use them properly 🤣

Edited Tuesday at 15:09 by Merton

[BillyBass]

Don't look at each other and wince when you mess up a bit.  Chances are most or all of the audience weren't aware of your mistake and you just told them.

[Geek99]

11 minutes ago, BillyBass said:

Don't look at each other and wince when you mess up a bit.  Chances are most or all of the audience weren't aware of your mistake and you just told them.

This … if you lose your place reduce volume until you find it again 

 

[Jack]

Take spares of anything you need to get through a gig. For me that's bass, 1/4" cable, xlr cable, tuner, di box. For you it might be a different list.

 

Mark your stuff somehow. I put a blue cable tie around everything I own. It doesn't stop someone walking away with it, but it means I can categorically say "that's mine, give it back".

 

Do a technical rehearsal before hand. What's a technical rehearsal? A practice gig. Rent a large space like a village hall or a social club, take all your gear and play a whole fake gig. Fake setup, facing a fake audience, fake soundcheck, play a fake set as if there was an audience. A normal rehearsal is for solving problems like "what key should we play this song in?" or "how long should we make the middle 8 break?". A technical rehearsal is for solving problems like "I have used my gear rather than the stuff in the rehearsal studio, I have just realised I don't have the right cable to plug x into y" or "if I stand here, where I thought was sensible, it turns out I can't see Z, I need to remember to stand closer". And most commonly: "we thought we had enough songs for 45 minutes, turns out they only last for 30".  

Edited 3 hours ago by Jack

[Al Nico]

Welcome and embrace the many boisterous allures from audience members struck by your sudden celebrity status.

As always, preparation is the key. Put a security lock on your phone, don't take your wallet, just keys, cash and condoms, cigs and lighter if needed.

[SimonK]

...if their are ladies in the band have a discussion about what to wear (or at least what colour shirt!)... I know it's a stereotype but I've never had that discussion forced on me by male band members!