From: dcampbel@timshel.austin.ibm.com (David L. Campbell)
Newsgroups: rec.music.makers
Subject: Re: Show tips & tricks
Date: 2 Sep 92 15:22:54 GMT
Organization: IBM Austin, TX


In article <1992Aug31.172300.11237@socrates.umd.edu> jimbo@socrates.umd.edu (Jim Bogard) writes:
>
>Well, the band is finally rolling... after a few preliminary jobs, we
>have 5 in the month of Sept and expect more.  What I would like to hear from
>you are 'gig tips'...  Those little things you have picked up over the 
>years that make everything go smoothly and contribute to a better show.

Here's some that I've found to be very important:

   1.  Keep things moving from one song to the next.  People hate it when
       you take a minute break between every song to tune your guitars or
       figure out what you're going to play next, etc.

   2.  If you talk to the audience, which you should, avoid "inside" jokes
       that nobody but the band understands.  Audiences don't like to be
       left out.  One of my favorite Texas regional bands, Ten Hands, is
       really great at making the audience feel that its sharing an inside
       joke with the band.  Kind of like Letterman when he's on.  Its hard
       to explain, but their humor is very witty and clever and it doesn't
       put people off.

   3.  Don't be a shameless showoff.  You want to look special of course,
       but it shouldn't be obvious.  If your guitarist is hot, let him have
       his solos and all, but don't let him run out into the audience with his
       wireless at every opportunity.  I once saw a guitarist in a band that
       did that, and it became a joke with the audience.  And he never knew
       it.  How embarrassing.

   4.  You've already mentioned this, but I'll say it again.  Look at the
       audience and try not to stare at your instrument.  It looks unpro-
       fessional.

   5.  My favorite players have at least one thing in common:  they make
       it look easy.

   6.  During your breaks, go out and mingle and be friendly and outgoing.
       If somebody likes your music, but also finds out that you're a really
       nice person as well, you can bet that you'll see that person at a
       future gig.

   7.  This one some folks might not agree with:  Don't apologize to the
       audience for your performance.  If the PA is having problems, make a
       light-hearted joke or something, but don't get angry, moany or bitchy
       about it.  The audience will be on your side in situations like that
       unless you look like a poor sport about it.  If you're not playing
       well, don't apologize for that either -- most of the time, an
       audience doesn't consciously realize that you've messed up unless you
       let them know it (that includes making an ugly grimace when you blow
       a note in your solo).  Look like you know what you're doing even when
       you don't.

   8.  Don't compete with other bands playing on the same bill.  The people
       you kick on your way up are the people you kiss on your way down.

   9.  Be friendly with club owners even if they are slime.

  10.  Don't blame the audience if there's no excitement being generated.
       That's your job.  Figuring out what will light their fire is much
       harder than delivering it to them.

  11.  Don't forget to mention your next gig when the audience is really
       responding to you...

  12.  Some more pragmatic tips:  Have your equipment together before you
       get to the gig.  The more time you can save setting up, the more
       likely you'll actually get to have a sound check.  Bring extra
       cables, picks, strings, sticks, heads, etc.  Be able to set it
       up fast.  That brings up something else:  unless the venue hasn't
       filled, try to start on time.

  13.  Make a large copy of your set list for each member of the band and
       have them tape it to the floor in front of them.  Don't huddle
       together between songs to figure out what you're going to play
       next.  I remember seeing Stevie Ray Vaughn once and he played at
       least a dozen songs, one right after the other like a juke box,
       before saying one word to the audience.  That was cool.

  14.  Never leave your equipment unattended.  So much stuff gets stolen
       right off the stage its unbelieveable.


David.
--
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| David L. Campbell, IBM PSP Austin       | "The comfort you have demanded |
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| IBM TR: dcampbel@timshel.austin.ibm.com |               Jello Biafra     |