OldGit Posted May 26, 2009 Share Posted May 26, 2009 (edited) Listening to the James Taylor programme on wireless 2 yesterday he referred to PMT - what he calls Pre-Minstrel Tension. That's the tetchy time before he takes the stage... and his routines and superstitions.. He does a handstand against the wall to clear his head, amongst other things .. I have to put on my stage clothes and stage head ... What do you do? Edited May 26, 2009 by OldGit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean-Luc Pickguard Posted May 26, 2009 Share Posted May 26, 2009 Usually my jitters have gone by the time I've managed to arrive at the venue on time & loaded in. Although I do have an elaborate ritual of uncoiling cables and plugging them into various pieces of PA gear. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gafbass02 Posted May 26, 2009 Share Posted May 26, 2009 I pride myself on an über quick, tidy and fuss free set upwhich distracts for a few minutes. After that it's smoke a lot lol. I know it's no good thing but I never really get nerves, never really have. Only about things like interviews rather than playing. I guess one important pre gig ritual I've stuck to since 17 is offer to buy the soundguy a beer! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
High score Posted May 26, 2009 Share Posted May 26, 2009 [quote name='gafbass02' post='497836' date='May 26 2009, 10:39 AM']I guess one important pre gig ritual I've stuck to since 17 is offer to buy the soundguy a beer![/quote] Hey Si, I could work with this guy - no problem Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buzz Posted May 26, 2009 Share Posted May 26, 2009 I honestly thought this was going to be about the sweeties and the build up before launching into a packet. I'm slightly dissapointed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johngh Posted May 26, 2009 Share Posted May 26, 2009 Never really suffered from nerves just before I go on to do a gig. I just like to get there and get set up, tune up the basses, and then re-check them again about 10 minutes before we are due to go on. I hate hanging about though, I like to get on and play asap. ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassace Posted May 26, 2009 Share Posted May 26, 2009 Like many of you guys I don't get the jitters and can't remember the last time I did. Is it because we have the relatively easy job of being at the back? Even the drummer, IMO, has to watch his cues more carefully that we do. Different for JT, right out at the front, nowhere to hide. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stylon Pilson Posted May 26, 2009 Share Posted May 26, 2009 [quote name='bassace' post='497949' date='May 26 2009, 01:02 PM']Like many of you guys I don't get the jitters and can't remember the last time I did. Is it because we have the relatively easy job of being at the back? Even the drummer, IMO, has to watch his cues more carefully that we do. Different for JT, right out at the front, nowhere to hide.[/quote] I reckon you're onto something here. I haven't had jitters for a long time, but then I haven't sung lead vocals for a long time either. It's probably no coincidence. S.P. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
casapete Posted May 26, 2009 Share Posted May 26, 2009 I only ever get jittery if someone else in the band is! Also especially when we have a dep singer! Am so used to waiting to play (functions eh!) that getting nervous would be a potential few hours nightmare every gig, so I usually eat/drink/listen to MP3/go for a walk etc to kill the time. Think it was Charlie Watts (or maybe Bill Wyman?) who said the being in the Stones had been over 40 years of rushing to end up then hanging around for gig time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greene-Mann Posted May 26, 2009 Share Posted May 26, 2009 I find 2 pints of guiness is just the right about to remove the jitters and still be able to play properly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldGit Posted May 26, 2009 Author Share Posted May 26, 2009 [quote name='casapete' post='498059' date='May 26 2009, 03:38 PM']I only ever get jittery if someone else in the band is! Also especially when we have a dep singer! Am so used to waiting to play (functions eh!) that getting nervous would be a potential few hours nightmare every gig, so I usually eat/drink/listen to MP3/go for a walk etc to kill the time. Think it was Charlie Watts (or maybe Bill Wyman?) who said the being in the Stones had been over 40 years of rushing to end up then hanging around for gig time.[/quote] Bill Wyman: 25 years of playing in the Stones was 5 years of playing and 20 years of hanging around .. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M4L666 Posted May 26, 2009 Share Posted May 26, 2009 In the hours beforehand, I tend to just chill/chat/argue with the other bands and noodle unplugged till the crowd arrives. Then before I go onstage, I do get a bit tense, but I just deal. Even if I was old enough to drink legally, I wouldn't before going onstage, it's unfair on the crowd. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr.Dave Posted May 26, 2009 Share Posted May 26, 2009 Snort coke off a mucky bird's arse. If there's no mucky bird available - I go to the nearest other pub , sip shandy , smoke a cig and generally stretch my arms and legs a bit. Anywhere quiet really. Our drummer texts his family sitting in his car and our guitar player wanders about being grumpy. It doesn't happen too often these days - just at gigs that are out of our comfort zone in some way or other. We never talk about the gig after about an hour before it starts. Never. Kiss of death - you end up altering something in the set and then making a pig's ear of it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kiwi Posted May 26, 2009 Share Posted May 26, 2009 [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=30802&st=0&start=0"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=...t=0&start=0[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldGit Posted May 27, 2009 Author Share Posted May 27, 2009 [quote name='Crazykiwi' post='498276' date='May 26 2009, 08:27 PM'][url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=30802&st=0&start=0"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=...t=0&start=0[/url] [/quote] Sorry Sir, I do try to keep up ...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Golchen Posted May 27, 2009 Share Posted May 27, 2009 Works every time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stag Posted May 28, 2009 Share Posted May 28, 2009 I think my routine is very similar to gafbass's - set up quickly then drink and smoke. Talk to the audience etc... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
risingson Posted May 28, 2009 Share Posted May 28, 2009 I've never been nervous before a gig, or very rarely, though to be honest I am bricking myself about going up in front of 7000 people next month at a festival in Sweden!! I usually just grab a smoke and a beer. It's more or less essential I have a Guinness on stage at all times though, that is sort of a deal breaker. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
d-basser Posted May 28, 2009 Share Posted May 28, 2009 I don't really get nervous, even Tuesday when I was doing my first gig in 3yrs with minimal practice and prep I was just excited. Like many others on here a Guinness does no harm. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stag Posted May 28, 2009 Share Posted May 28, 2009 +1 to the Guinness approach. Although I found that having three bottles of Newky Brown on stage last week was rather pleasant. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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