How to prepare for a gig. [Archive] - Music & Musician Forums

Kragen

03-07-2006, 02:10 PM

I've been playing for under a year, and our blues / rock band had a gig the other night. It went ok, but I have another much bigger gig in two weeks time (the last one was in a cellar bar with about 40 people - the next one will be uni battle of the bands!).

I really want to make sure it goes well - what's the best way to prepare at short notice? Obviously go over the songs we will be playing... but more specificly - any hints on how to prepare so that things go well when i on stage - really nervous and not able to hear what im playing!

The bits im really worried about are the imrovisation bits...

Led_Zeppelin678

03-07-2006, 02:18 PM

The best thing to do it to literally practice all the time for about a week to ten days before the gig. Literally. When you're not working, in school, or sleeping, be practicing with your band. My band did that from right after school until ten at night for over a week before our first gig, and we played great.

fleakeepr666

03-07-2006, 02:22 PM

Make sure to sound check. In my bands first gig at our school's talent show they didn't let us check, and our guitarist blew out the audiences ears. You couldn't hear anybody but him.

Just thought I should share that. And remember, there is no need to turn the amps up to 11.

Hardinge

03-07-2006, 02:30 PM

Just thought I should share that. And remember, there is no need to turn the amps up to 11.

where would we be without spinal tap

Linkinbassist

03-07-2006, 02:50 PM

I can't stress this enough...Tune, Tune and Tune again!

Hardinge

03-07-2006, 02:56 PM

put new strings on
check all ure battery operated things have working batteries in them

Chaos

03-07-2006, 02:57 PM

make sure you get your gear there, and practice a lot, get new strings like now

Chaos

03-07-2006, 02:58 PM

Munky_Jam

03-07-2006, 03:05 PM

Know that you're prepared for the other **** and the playing will take care of itself (but still practice thats not what i'm saying). Make sure you have duct tape, batteries, tools, spare set of strings (rarely needed but just incase) get there early etc if thats taken care of you won't have to worry about it.

bassist_for_a_band

03-07-2006, 03:05 PM

put new strings on
check all ure battery operated things have working batteries in them
but you want to give the strings time to break in, because when theyre still new they fall out of tune easy and whatnot

Hardinge

03-07-2006, 03:06 PM

but you want to give the strings time to break in, because when theyre still new they fall out of tune easy and whatnot

how long do u leave ure strings to break in

Munky_Jam

03-07-2006, 03:06 PM

also i disagree on the new strings theory. I love my old strings and if you like yours keep em. (on one bass i haven't changed strings in about 6 years and the other in about 2 and that one's just starting to sound right)

rage f*****g rule

03-07-2006, 03:12 PM

you want to be able to feel that you know the songs inside out/back to front etc... know them perfectly. practise till you can play without even thinking about what you are doing... that way you'll feel so comfortable that you'll be able to relax more on stage and **** about a bit more...
if you're doing some improv, you want to think beforehand about what you're gonna be doing otherwise when you get nervous and **** up it'll be so damn noticeable...

alexmonty12

03-07-2006, 03:22 PM

Check your sound levels, make sure you can be heard, it's oh too often when the bassist can't be heard at some shows, check everything works (pedals mainly), and if you have more than one guitar, it doesn't hurt to take it along :)

rage f*****g rule

03-07-2006, 03:24 PM

oh that reminds me... if you have a guitar stand take it... i tend to forget and then have to prop up my bass and hope to hell that noone's gonna knock it the **** over...

Phalanx

03-07-2006, 03:26 PM

try not to look at the other members of the band, it looks really unprofesional onstage when all the band members are staring at the guitars so they know when the chord changes are, i have a really bad habit of doing it and I find playing through all the songs the night before is the best thing

Jody LeCompte

03-07-2006, 03:32 PM

Stuff you need:

Power strips / surge protectors
Any pedals/pedalboard you want to use
Spare double and triple A batteries and a few spare 9 volts
A tuner
An extra strap
An old set of strings
Picks, capo, any other small accesories

The reason I say old strings is because if you've had the same set of strings on your bass for a few weeks and you break a string, replacing it with a brand new one is going to make your tone sound really bad. Youll have 3 dying strings and one super bright string.

Dont over-do it with practicing. Know your material well and make sure your band clicks when playing it, but don't work so hard that when the gig comes up you've got wrist and arm pains or blisters. Warming up before the show should only take 20 minutes or so. If you happen to play covers, bring a cd of hte covers and play along a few times a little while before the show to freshen up.

Lastly, dont act like a douche. Headbeang, mosh, stand completely still staring into space, fall asleep, whatever you feel you need to do, but don't do it just for the pure hell of having a stage presence. The idea of a stage presence is your personality coming out in the way your behaving on stage. Don't do anything the music your playing doesn't compell you to do.

fleakeepr666

03-07-2006, 03:32 PM

oh that reminds me... if you have a guitar stand take it... i tend to forget and then have to prop up my bass and hope to hell that noone's gonna knock it the **** over...

Oh God, yes. I was playing a show for my school band once and I had to prop my guitar against the amp because I had to move the extension cord across the stage.

Guess what fell.

Yep.

Matthew2250

03-07-2006, 03:33 PM

You can look at other members of the band if you're rocking out though. Just don't look at them like a lost sheep!

I'd advise a warm up too just to get the hands moving.

I find that my best performances are live, better than anything I've done in the bedroom, you've just got to let it click and don't overthink everything, but never go unprepared!

rage f*****g rule

03-07-2006, 03:47 PM

Oh God, yes. I was playing a show for my school band once and I had to prop my guitar against the amp because I had to move the extension cord across the stage.

Guess what fell.

Yep.

ha, unlucky... i suppose you'll never forget your stand now though right?!

fleakeepr666

03-07-2006, 04:22 PM

Exactly.

Akira

03-07-2006, 04:34 PM

Most important thing: Extra everything. Extra strings, leads, pick, batteries, extension cords, even a backup bass if you have one. And duct tape is a necesity. Duct tape is the most holy thing ever.
Practice until you don't even have to think about playing.

Just don't even anything to chance.

bassist_for_a_band

03-07-2006, 05:50 PM

how long do u leave ure strings to break in
i dont really have a set time or anything, but i wouldn't prestring the night before a show or anything
unless one broke
cuz then itll be all out of tune and the strings are like unused.. and stuff

Mr_Soup

03-07-2006, 05:56 PM

Kragen

03-07-2006, 07:21 PM

awesome - thanks for the advice guys

I will change my strings tomorrow even if I change them back for the gig (I only have the set thats been on since the bass was new and a new set), and make sure I practice everything to make sure im really comfortable with it.

I just saw the second heat of battle of the bands (im in the 4th and final heat), and learnt a fair bit - the most important thing being to enjoy it and at the very least look like im enjoying it!

We are the third act on, so i will make sure I warm up while the band before us is playing, so im ready when we go onstage.

Yeah, im really looking forward to it, and we're playing stuf that is very different to what everyone else is playing (blues rather than grunge / punk / metal), so if it goes well... I really think we have a chance of winning! I'm just worried I'm gonna get nervous and show myself up :P

Just gonna practice lots and concentrate on enjoying it. :)

Linkinbassist

03-07-2006, 07:24 PM

Good stuff, man...Enjoy it to its fullest! I've got a gig next friday, and its our bands second gig. We are the act before the headlining band, so hopefully we'll have the floor filled and people moshing to our stuff again...Even though its relatively light...

www.purevolume.com/theinedibles

/Generic band plug...

doodooking

03-07-2006, 07:38 PM

You also might want to jump around a little to warm your legs up. Also stretch, even if you don't plan on jumping around or anything, it would look extremely stupid if you pull a cramp while you reach for something or if you're stepping over a chord.

I'd also bring superglue, you never know what you'll need it for. I don't know if anyone said this, but extra fuses as well, and if you have a tube amp, extra tubes.

Pluperfect_Arson

03-07-2006, 07:43 PM

I didn't read much of the other posts, but definitely make sure that your gear is in working order the night before or that morning of the gig.

It would be such a bummer to walk onstage, and then just have it go to crap from there because your equipment decided to crap out on you.

Weezer

03-07-2006, 07:43 PM

Duct Tape.

Jody LeCompte

03-08-2006, 11:12 AM

^ Duct tape fixes everything. I once had to negro-engineer my behringer amp with duct tape so I could use it a few more weeks until I could upgrade.

ScorpSath

03-08-2006, 12:21 PM

Just relax, make sure you're in tune. Make sure you are loose and all the amps are right.

StickNaving

03-08-2006, 12:35 PM

Aside from making sure everything works and knowing your stuff, the best advice I can give is: Don't worry about mistakes. You'll know, but odds are nobody else will. My band has had several shows where we've thought we played horribly only to realize we got one of the best responses of the night.

Also, don't pay too much attention to how much the crowd likes you. If the crowd isn't digging you, don't let up. Keep giving them your all. Sometimes you're bound to fail, but never let it be because you didn't give them 100%.

And I completely agree with whoever said to just be yourself on stage and not try to fake stage presence. Odds are when you get on stage, you'll move around, especially during intense parts. If you do something that isn't natural, you'll look like a douche.

lemoley

03-08-2006, 12:57 PM

practice and relax :thumb:

Akira

03-08-2006, 01:57 PM

And I completely agree with whoever said to just be yourself on stage and not try to fake stage presence.
Definately. You should rock out, but it should be natural. If you are copying someone elses moves, it will be obvious.

aarono

03-08-2006, 04:56 PM

Try cranking one out, it will calm you.

sixner

03-08-2006, 07:05 PM

i go kinda crazy on stage, so stretching is a MUST if you want to move the next day... neck especially.. Make sure you know your parts, but try to mix it up a bit.. keep things interesting. you tend to get tired playing the same old thing every gig, so work with fills and stuff, and try to mix up your songs if you have enough of them. Plus, it keeps the crowd interested...

Check your tuning too... things can get messy if your out of tune.

Be aware of your surroundings... a techie can come onstage with out you knowing, and you can trip over him or something. Plus you dont want to be bashing your singer in the mouth with the head of your bass... i've seen it happen alot.

check the stage prior to playing... look for any 'dead spots'... (ie - uneven ground, tangle of wires, ect...)

-sixner

Munky_Jam

03-08-2006, 07:18 PM

i

Be aware of your surroundings... a techie can come onstage with out you knowing, and you can trip over him or something. Plus you dont want to be bashing your singer in the mouth with the head of your bass... i've seen it happen alot.
-sixner
I've done both of these (especially pissed off the guitarist - not vocalist - when smacked him in the side of the head drawing blood out of the temple to his credit he didn't miss a note and never stopped the bleeding until after the show)
seen a bassist lose a tooth from an over active guitarist too in the past

VAinE

03-09-2006, 03:29 AM

All of advices above are IMO great..

BUT, what about mental preparation?

Before every gig I've ever played, I listen to my mp3 player for about 20-30 min. to really get in the right state of mind...
I usually run rampant on stage, so I mostly hear metal to get my blood pumping!

#VAinE

Az_Holl

03-09-2006, 03:35 AM

Amen.

Never assume Murphy's Law is taking the day off.
I prefer O'Toole's theory: Murphy was an optimist.

sixner

03-09-2006, 09:39 AM

As for the Mental state... it varies person to person.... i forget who, but i remember some heavy metal guitarist saying he listens to Mr. Cash before he goes on stage... kind of odd IMO... some get massages and light incense... personally... i've tried several thing's. If im not playing first, i try to stay out and listen to the first bands out of respect... you dont want to piss off a band your playing with, things can get messy backstage.

just before i go on, i listen to some music... drink lots of water. kind of get the feel of my bass for the night, hold it, squeeze it... kind of odd, but i just feel better after running my hand up and down the neck a bit

-Sixner

d-basser

03-09-2006, 10:47 AM

double check every jack socket and then check it again, it aint good to get that fartin electrical fuzz coz one of your pedals is a teeny tiny bit unplugged.

also threatin to beat the livin s'hite outa anyone who trys to nick your tuner, someone borrowed mine b4 a gig and took in on stage so i couldn't use it without running on during their set. i was so stressed that i was outta tune cos i couldn't even tune by ear cos i was unplugged.

also i like it when my girlfriend is there, she kinda takes my mind of it (if you kno what i mean) an i dont get so stressed.

Jody LeCompte

03-09-2006, 11:15 AM

Slipping your sound guy 10 bucks isn't a bad place to start, mind you.

thehobogrande

03-09-2006, 11:50 AM

ok gig Stuff:
EXTRA STRINGS!!! new or old it dosent matter. Its better to have an extra set of strings.
Backup Bass: I once went to a gig and during warm up i broke a string. Stupid me didnt have a back up set. but i had a backup bass
Tuner Gotta Stay in tune
StandIt SUCKS when u put ur bass or guitar balancing on a wall or table. ESPECIALLY at house partys

Warmups: Practice Hammers and Pulloffs. If u live in a cold place or its cold out keep ur hands warm. Playing with frozen hands is like trying to button a shirt with ur foot.

thehobogrande

03-09-2006, 11:50 AM

Bass_ment

03-09-2006, 12:35 PM

make sure you are occupied with something 4 hours before the show.
Once I had to go do soundcheck for a show at 8. All these douche hardcore straight edge fifteen year olds were skateboard in fron of the stage!
So very annoying as it took longer to set everything up and when we finally did set everything up.....other bands weren't there. Since we were playing first, we needed to souncheck last.
All this to boot with the fact that we were the opening band for my town's hardcore festival....

We play Ska.

Anyways moral of the story is:
-If you have to much time on your hand. You will think of everything that could possibly go wrong and totally get your nerves flowing. Thats what I did..
-Don't get psyched about the crowd response especially if they are not your scene. Like ours was.
- CHECK THE MONITORS!!! Make sure all the levels are fine! When I went to sing back up vocals I couldnt hear my bass! Forgot to check that.
-If you are a fifteen year old straight edge kid who thinks that straight edge is about veganism and animal liberation, skateboard, and have probably never heard of Minor Threat: You annoy me. And who cares if you are straight edge, you couldnt buy booze if you wanted to!

Basically don't get nervous.

/ramble