Gig preparation

[markdavid]

Hi all

Playing a gig tomorrow, have done the necessary rehearsing and have practiced at home etc but wondering if there are any pre gig tips anyone has that they put into place the day before/ morning of the gig to make sure all goes smoothly , after any tips at all that could be helpful, there will be some bum notes in a 2 hr gig with a band that gigs probably once a month at the moment (lots more booked next month  ) but would be good to give the best performance i can , thanks

[Stylon Pilson]

Check all of your equipment. Check that it all works, and make sure you have everything packed and ready to go well in advance. Have some sort of a system, so that when you're gathering all your stuff up at the end of the night, you'll notice if something is missing.

Make sure you're well hydrated and fed (but nothing too greasy or heavy).

Know where you're going, where you're planning to park, that sort of thing.

Have "cheat sheets" with you, but hopefully you won't need to use them.

Most importantly, smile and have a good time.

S.P.

Edited September 20, 2019 by Stylon Pilson

[Akio Dāku]

Sleep right the night before, eat right throughout the day but leave it a good 40mins without food before you're set, exercise in the day time before hand, something like 40 mins cardio/20 mins free weights and if you've got to sing no smoking beforehand and run your full set at home prior on the day of the gig. That's my typical routine, oh and a I have 500ml energy drinks one for the drive there and one to get me home. Oh and bring a book if its an early sound check, or a pillow if you're the kinda person happy to catch a few winks while your waiting. Xx 

[Twigman]

Relax

Don't worry about it.

Getting in a fluster and overthinking will harm your performance.

Edited September 20, 2019 by Twigman

[BigRedX]

Turn up. Set up your gear. Play.

That is all.

[markdavid]

Thanks for the replies, I always get stage fright before a gig so these will help

[Crawford13]

A quick 10 min warm up routine always works for me, run some major scales, minor scales arpeggios etc up and down the neck. Get some blood into your hands.

[chris_b]

You know the songs, like playing with the drummer. . . . . err, that's it.

No one's going to die, so have fun.  Make sure you stop and start with the others, they probably won't notice what happens in the middle.

[jazzmanb]

1 hour ago, markdavid said:

Thanks for the replies, I always get stage fright before a gig so these will help

Normal mate even 100 gigs in ,that's where the rehearsing pays off .  I Make bits of errors every gig but you tend to spot immediately and the memory saves you.What sorts me is a nice easy opening song to ease you in .If your band has a tough one change it if you can 

[nightsun]

• Make sure everythig is stacked and packed and ready to load into the car
• Grab a bite to eat
• Programme the sat nav
• Any new numbers, re-listen on the way to the gig
• load in and set up
• Tune up
• Enjoy

[oldslapper]

Don’t practice beforehand, forget your set list, leads, and other crucial parts of your gear, don’t research venue parking, and leave home as late as possible, then take up as much of the sound check time getting your tone “just right” .

 

Oh hold on, you’re the bass player, sorry....as you were, follow all the above advice! 

[Wilson_51_]

usual gig goes:

• Check over equipment at home
• Pack it all up ready to go
• check everything is packed (especially strap, leads etc)
• Put into my own car or if i'm catching a lift theres.
• Have an energy drink/ Coffee on the way down (usually tired from work)
• Get to venue unload and find out whats going on
• Depending on the gig (if its my own band or working as a backing musician) grab a beer or two. never more than 2 before is my rule (or one if it's not my own band)
• Soundcheck if there is one
• find some food, if theres time
• Warm up hands, i find i sometimes get cramps in them on the occassions i don't
• Play gig
• pack down as fast as possible (i really hate bands that slowly pack down on stage whilst congratulating themselves when theres a band waiting to go on.)
• Watch other band if not on last
• Pack car, Do a Check of the room to make sure havent forgotten anything
• Drink energy drink on way home, if driving and knackered, find food on way home if not eaten
• Stay awake for 3 hours after getting in due to some wierd adrenaline thing

 

Edited September 20, 2019 by simon88wilson

[jacko]

have a fosters before you go on

[Newfoundfreedom]

Drink loads of vodka. You'll sound brilliant! Guarantee! At least I do. I can even dance. 

[Unknown_User]

54 minutes ago, jacko said:

have a fosters before you go on

I think the swear filter has probably changed this.  If I'm right then the post as it should have been is good advice!

[BrunoBass]

We have a private event to play tomorrow, we don’t do many functions and we are being paid handsomely for our time. 

We practise every Thursday night, and last night I was just leaving the house to go to rehearsal when our singer called saying he’d just found out the studio wasn’t available due to some overrunning refurbishment works. No notice, and no alternative. So tomorrow we are going into a gig with the least preparation we’ve ever had. We are all, as you’d imagine, unimpressed. 

We’ve managed to wangle an early load-in which means we can have a long soundcheck and run through several songs but it’s nowhere near a proper rehearsal. I’m sure in time honoured fashion ‘it’ll be alright on the night’, and we gig regularly enough to be able to do a good job, but I’m still not happy about the lack of preparation. 

Edited September 20, 2019 by BrunoBass

[Bluewine]

Get a good nights sleep and show up rested and focused.

Blue

[chris_b]

3 hours ago, BrunoBass said:

We practise every Thursday night, and last night I was just leaving the house to go to rehearsal when our singer called saying he’d just found out the studio wasn’t available due to some overrunning refurbishment works. No notice, and no alternative. So tomorrow we are going into a gig with the least preparation we’ve ever had.

Is your long term memory broken?

[BrunoBass]

8 minutes ago, chris_b said:

Is your long term memory broken?

No, which is why I said (in the piece of my post you didn’t quote): ‘we gig regularly enough to be able to do a good job’. 

Why distort my post to try and make a facile point? 

[Dan Dare]

10 hours ago, Newfoundfreedom said:

Drink loads of vodka. You'll sound brilliant! Guarantee! At least I do. I can even dance. 

At last. Sensible advice. Never mind all that practice your scales malarkey. Practice is for wimps. People won't notice a few fluffy notes. It's only a bass, after all. And you won't care anyway. Win, win 🤪

[Ricky 4000]

Take 2 paracetamol half an hour before you go on, and enjoy it! Paracetamol are AMAZING! 👌

[steve-bbb]

1. comfy chair
2. classy nibbles
3. your favourite aperitif

hope this helps 🙂

[FinnDave]

The one thing (pair of things) I wouldn't gig without (apart from my bass!) is my earplugs. There is no way I am going to let my ears be ruined by drummers and incompetent monitor mixes.

 

[Frank Blank]

Check your bow tie and monocle are straight and then a warm relaxing armful of heroin.

[wateroftyne]

20 hours ago, Akio Dāku said:

Sleep right the night before, eat right throughout the day but leave it a good 40mins without food before you're set, exercise in the day time before hand, something like 40 mins cardio/20 mins free weights and if you've got to sing no smoking beforehand and run your full set at home prior on the day of the gig. That's my typical routine, oh and a I have 500ml energy drinks one for the drive there and one to get me home. Oh and bring a book if its an early sound check, or a pillow if you're the kinda person happy to catch a few winks while your waiting. Xx 

I’m exhausted just reading that.

I do whatever I usually do through the day, then put my stuff in the car and go to the gig.