This is all kinds of legit. I played a gig at a festival and some rando gave me a drink of water and said it was for the guitar player. I looked inside and saw a piece of paper in it and immediately recognized that it could be a tab of acid. I never gave it to my guitar player and got rid of it. He's sparingly involved with any altering substance and I knew it could have made his night pretty awful.
Thx for the rockumentary "Anvil". Didn't know this band and I just saw some of the biggest metal stars talking about them. I'll watch it entirely right now. Nice video by the way. Thx Mike.
i really love these kind of videos where you talk about the more "meta" aspects of music. of course the most essential part of playing music is, well, playing but i've never seen anyone talk about this other kind of stuff. as someone who just started their first band recently (hopefully we can gig next year!), i really value this. thanks!
Another bit of advice.. ALWAYS bring your own mic. I had a friend who played and I guess the night before there was a gg allin tribute band that played the night before ... I’ll leave it at that.
I'm 20 and I play in a Wedding Band since I was 17. Our oldest member is 62 and the others are in between that. At the same time I played in a Rockband and the things I learned in the Wedding Band from "the old guys" were all very useful for the Rockband where everyone was about my age. Every example you mentionend is 100% true! Great Video !
Dude exact same deal, although I’m a little older (28) spent most of my 20s in an Irish/Welsh Folk band and a Punk band, the difference in structure and a “get on with it” attitude the people from the Folk band had compared to the guys my age in the Punk band was hilarious, I became the old guy!
Dressing/looking professional as a musician =/= dressing nicely. It just means being deliberate and dressing according to what fits you, your music, and the venue. Rory Gallagher dressing in flannel, denim, and leather fits this perfect, because that's what his music sounds like.
Old dudes know the deal... I remember a show where I drank a full pint of SKOL and two beers---TERRIBLE idea. I was one-eyeing my pedal board and couldn't hear anything right. I walked off stage after two songs. Horribly embarrassing for my drummer and me. You BOOZE and you LOSE. Don't do it.... But, yes... Leave a tattoo of you in their minds!!!
I’ve owned a 1994 Peavey Bandit 112 Teal Stripe for years & it is loud as heck, & it keeps going & going & going. They make great foundation amps for pedals.
Still got mine! Mine is a 93 teal stripe bandit special 112. That little solid state amp really can be as loud as a marshall stack. Spinal Tap had an amp that goes to 11....Peavey makes an amp that goes to 13 LOL!
my band was looking for a bass amp that we could easily use for rehersal and on stage. We saw that Peavey TNT130 at a local music store that looked like at least 30 years old and completely beaten up, but it was only like 120 bucks. When we plugged it in we were blown away by the sound and volume of it. Since then, every sound guy at every venue told us that that was the best sounding bass amp he had ever heard. It just has some kind of magic to it
Peavey Scorpions are the only thing ime that even come close to Celestions. Awesome company with consistent high quality. I've honestly never heard horror stories about Peavey gear. 👍😎
I've dropped my Peavey combo out of the back of a truck/etc. several times in 20+ years of using it, and it was already a road worn hand me down. Yeah its beat to hell, but I always know it will still work.
Speaking of Anvil.... they played my stupid little town and my band opened. Lips is a total sweetheart and an absolute professional. They came back a second time about a year and a half later and they recognized us and remembered our names! I couldn't even believe it. They must take notes or something...lol
@The-Art-of-Guitar The "Old Guy Wisdom" I received was a bit different, Mike, regarding the gear you bring. In past touring punk bands I've played in, I played with crappy(er) guitars and crappy(er) amps instead of the high-end stuff I owned. My logic was "It doesn't matter if it's broken/stolen if it's crappy gear!" One time, an old timer (who I had known in the local scene for a while) came up to me and said "Dude, I *know* you are a Les Paul guy, and I *know* you have a matchless and a Larry, why are you playing the entry level squier strat and the joyo bantamp?" "Because what if it's stolen? Broken? I don't want to eat shit and lose my gear, even if it means struggling to play a crappy guitar." "Well the people out there who came to see you, doesnt what THEY hear matter? Even if it's just ONE dude out there, who is obsessed with your band, doesn't he deserve to see and hear the best 'you' you can put forward?" I had no good answer. if you have fans, don't they deserve to hear the BEST version of you? Meaning, not only the best gear you have, but the gear you feel most comfortable on? The gear you made your record with, that someone out there might love? I think the old dude was right. The fans (even if there are only a couple) deserve my best. Obviously I haven't gigged since COVID started, but when I do, I'm bringing the big guns. Even if that's running my matchless and my Larry Dino wet dry, or through an ABY box. That one person, out there in the crowd? He matters.
I've got a video idea: "Bad Tones''. It'll be like your whacky musician vs good musician videos. You play a part of a song with a good tone, then you do the same part but with a horrible tone and see how much of a difference it can make.
The problem with that is, there's no such thing as a bad tone. Even the worst tone can be good if used in the right context. A good example is all distortion which was considered a bad tone until people started playing music that fit it or the entirety of the noise genre.
@@ViviSectia You can actually have an objective worse tone in sound quality than others. By the way, he said, a song with a good and a bad tone, so a bad tone for the song specific
@@ViviSectia Even as someone who loves harsh, noisy textures that most people detest, there are definitely good tones for the situation and bad tones. Keiji Haino doesn't leave his fuzzboxes at home when he's doing a big droning wall-of-noise gig - and he doesn't even use an electric guitar when he's trying to be intimate and folky. If you want a buzzsaw fizzy crunch, turn up that gain knob - but you'd better hope you aren't relying on melody lines where you can hear all the notes.
Put on the same show for 20 people that you would for Twenty thousand. People will connect to you, and will remember you. It worked for Bruce Springsteen.
Saw Testament on Slayers farewell tour in 2018, out of the dozens maybe close to a hundred of shows I've seen, I've never saw anyone look like they were having as much fun as Alex Skolnik was while he was soloing. Put a huge smile on my face for the entire show.
Dress the part ... I immediately think: Rammstein, Wes Borland, Fred Durst (recently), Manson, Powerwolf (the lot), Sabaton (same), Lord of the Lost, Ghost, Slipknot, Eskimo Callboy, Hannes Braun, Malmsteen, Wylde, Angus Young, ...
There are songs YOU WILL PLAY..AND SONGS YOU WON'T..ie. you wont play Yngwie....But you may Play...Rock and Roll...Led Zeppelin..you wont play Guthrie Govan..but..YOU WILL PLAY.ZZ Top...You wont play..Beat..it..but you will play Billie Jean...or Brick house..so learn them..and Beatles
Have you played a gig 1000 miles from home for no one but the sound man and a waitress with an ankle monitor? If you can have fun at that gig is when you know you’ve achieved salty veteran status. Or you open for Enuff z nuff and Britney Fox and you’re the only ones there while they play? That’s another indication that you’ve made it. Especially when Chip znuff smokes all your weed after the show and you still have 10 days on the road before you go home.
Thats awesome lol thanks for sharing! To be honest i always dug the leas singers voice in Britney. Guy had a great rock voice. Also the solo in Long way to love. Good melodic playing. Its a bitch you guys were the only ones at the gig lol
Related to the contract thing: It's possible that the promoter, the venue or the manager doesn't wanna write up a contract. First of all, that's a red flag, but if you decide to go on and play the show regardless, here's what you can do: 1. There are contract templates online specifically for bands. Read some of them and edit them to your specifications (also: read a lot of band contracts so you don't mess up accidentally when editing them). That way, if the promoter says they won't do contracts, you can say: "That's okay, we have our own. Here. You can sign it." 2. If you're not confident on your contract writing skills (which is a skill in and of itself), make sure to ALWAYS communicate via email or text messages with the promoter/manager/venue. That's a way to leave a trace of the negotiations. If they wanna change the conditions at some point, you can pull up the emails or texts and say: "No, that's not what we agreed upon." Always treat promoters/managers/venues with the appropriate level of respect and professionalism, of course. But never forget this: not everyone will try to stiff you, but some people will. Always have an eye out for red flags, and take extra precautions.
Awesome 👍 YES YES YES!! Play with better, older, more experienced players and accept their wisdom!! When it comes to music (and life) remember you can never know everything, but someone knows something important that you don't know! Find those people!! And yeah, like geriwardmusic said, never pay to play!! It will set you apart and make you more professional. Love your channel man!! Rawk on!!
The best one is the "paid rehearsal " if there's a minimal crowd. I don't know how many great bands have split cause of uptight members stressing about the door count. Another one might be to make sure when you "tour", make sure you have enough cash to do the whole trip + get back home, and a good "float" for vehicle repairs and miscellaneous.
Been a DJ at clubs since I was about 16. Learn pretty much all of it during those years. So many crazy experiences I have had. Great time. Now I am picking up the guitar and trying to learn.
Great Tips! Number 12 is the easiest to forget in my opinion, years, years ago I was in a band with a guy that was so serious(nothing wrong with being serious in music, it is your career after all) but you could feel how tense he was on and off stage, scared of making a mistakes etc - and that my friends created a bad atmosphere. He is doing very well now, as a teacher :)
As someone who is going into music for a career, I feel like if you take it seriously you're missing the point. The whole point of music is for the fuck of it. But that's my personal perspective tho
I’ve been a bar guitarist in duos and bands for over 20 years. I’ve been puked on, groped, had fights picked, had the PA pulled over, had the power go out, everything. 😅 But it’s amazing. Friends ask me how come I’m able to stay in work so consistently and the answer I give is always the same. I understand I’m not selling music, I sell beer. You keep people in the bar for two or three hours putting money in the cash register and bars’ll keep asking you back. Best way to do that is to know how to read your audience and have a very flexible set list, don’t full yourself into thinking anyone wants to hear the jazz odyssey you’ve been working on for months, they want to sing Wonderwall at max voice capacity after 8 beers, period. And be on time, always bring your A game and remember that for those few hours you;re getting paid you’re effectively staff. Help out the bar staff by collecting a few glasses between sets or if you’ve arrived early and have nothing to do. They’ll appreciate the little things and definitely remember your name.
Good stuff. But I found myself especially drawn to the vintage stereo equipment to your right. I'm guessing Sansui. But only because I own some myself. Would like to hear more about that. Also interested in the pedalboard photo that you featured since I own several of the same effects. Would like to hear something about the order that you choose to place them, and why. Rock on!! Oh, and I also own that same burgundy V off to your left. Except mines the 125th Anniversary Edition. Also, have a black Les Paul with gold hardware & speed knobs. You sure have great tastes in the equipment that you choose....lol.
I played a show where there was no stage and there were several beer spillages. Our singer is very jumpy and I remember pushing the trail of beer away from him and my pedals with my foot.
Aghhh I remember the first time I threw up while drinking. I was 14 and I had drunk about 5 cans of beer, surprisingly I threw up a couple of hours after doing it. It wasn’t nice and I didn’t drink for about 4 months afterwards😂.
I learned that the crowd doesn't care at my very first gig, I went for a solo with the wah pedal, but all I could hear was terrible feedback coming from my amp, and yet from the crowd I heard cheering, I was very confused.
SRV "WAS" pacing himself! Regarding proper stage dress- I saw Satch wear a white t-shirt and jeans for a gig at the House of Blues! Maybe the chrome guitar made up for it! But never wear a bucket on your head! Oh, wait...
Dude....many times at 47 years old would play a 3 hour gig on Saturday afternoon, pack up, set up for another 3-4 hour gig Saturday night, only to do a 4 hour gig on Sunday.
this should be "advice for people who only play guitar". for me i read a crowd and change my entire profession. if a crowd is younger, i just DJ the set and dont play guitar at all. if the show is a bunch of old people who want old music and covers of songs they already know, i just dont accept the gig anymore - they're rarely fun and rarely worth the time and energy also, if youre out a bar and you think a band is playing "too loud" or "too soft" or "too hard", i think you should just go home... fuck what the crowd wants. your own material should shine through no matter what. if it doesnt maybe thats why you have gigs doing covers and not real fans
Not only guitar and drums but you teach us really good tips to be a better musician overall. Really underrated video and cant wait for the next lesson!
If you purchase headphones or ear buds, it should be on the disclaimer. The authors of textbooks think we live in acreages and have no need for headphones or ear buds.
In my 800ish Twin Cities gigs, maybe had a contract for a dozen, and those were events rather than bar gigs usually. Bars often didn’t want the hassle and would book somebody else if you demanded a contract.
JAMES SCOTT NICHOLSON,ONTARIO, CANADA 🇨🇦 I JUST AM CHIMING IN TO SAY ,”GOT TO LOVE SKYNYRD AND THEIR, MISSISSIPPI MARSHALS... LOL. (PEAVY) IN CASE YOUR CATCHING UP MY KINDA T.V. TOP LEFT ♥️♥️✌️🇨🇦
I just remebered you mentioning your eye colour in a vid and I just want to tell you they got the most beautiful deep shade The contacts make you look a vampire-y (which is isnt a bad thing) but you just got a really nice to look at eye area
I love your videos man. Great work! I pick up so many solid tips and fun things. You've helped me to light that fire and get back into making music again. I got a lot of rust to shake off, but I'm having fun with it. Also that Les Paul is gorgeous and I'm super jealous.
Don't expect to be the best and also learn to be ok with that before you ever join a band. Playing with people who are better is good for you though.. And you're highly unlikely to be famous. That last one seems tough for some people to swallow but having fun is what its all about. The rest? If you're anything like most musicians then you, too, will have to learn shit the hard way lol. You're definitely gonna drink too much more than a few times and likely have something stolen, (prob by a groupie) fight off shit heads in the crowd/etc.. Oh and please loop your cable thru your strap. Thank me later!
This is not the thing to do, I don’t drink nor do drugs. It’s never been my thing. But my nerves were shot by the time show was to start this one time. I had a buddy that give me a hit of marijuana out of a “one hitter” one time, and that was it… I was calm, I was excited to play, and I had a lot of fun that night on the set. I played a flawless show. I was scared it was gonna cause a habit that couldn’t be controlled but I felt normal and focused at the task. I’ve never felt that I’ve had to smoke in later shows, but I’ve always kept in mind that if I ever felt overwhelmed before a show I had a simple solution. I truly believe that because I had a way to overcome any anxiety before a show I haven’t felt anxious like that again. I am not advocating doing drugs, but I was very surprised of the outcome seeing drugs get such a bad rap.
what dives me mad is when someone in the band won't play a song that you know will go down well at a venue because they don't like it. it's for the audience not you. And keep people with a drink in their had away from your gear
I prefer a full stack at a small gig because it puts the cab in my face. If the amp is down at my feet then I can’t hear it and I have to turn it up. The full stack allows me to play quieter. You can unplug the bottom cab too.
I keep my combo on top of an unused mini-fridge (to which I taped a hand-drawn Marshall logo for a goof) for this exact reason - I want the sound close so I don't have to crank it so much!
The most important thing I learned was that 90% of the audience doesn't even care about whatever band is playing, they're only there to get drunk and take selfies and post on Instagram about how much fun they're having while they spend half the show outside smoking and looking at their phones. I quickly learned why bands like WASP won't even tour the US anymore.
Rule number one: the Robert Johnson rule , never accept an open drink from a stranger. Always drink from a bottle you saw get opened.
Also, don’t make deals with the devil
That was son house that said that not robert johnson
Real Rule #1: Don't drink on the job.
This is all kinds of legit. I played a gig at a festival and some rando gave me a drink of water and said it was for the guitar player. I looked inside and saw a piece of paper in it and immediately recognized that it could be a tab of acid. I never gave it to my guitar player and got rid of it. He's sparingly involved with any altering substance and I knew it could have made his night pretty awful.
...And don't piss in a plastic Mountain Dew bottle the night before and wake up very thirsty the next morning.
This was fantastic advice and I appreciate you sharing it
Thx for the rockumentary "Anvil". Didn't know this band and I just saw some of the biggest metal stars talking about them. I'll watch it entirely right now. Nice video by the way. Thx Mike.
🤘🤘🤘
Paid Rehearsal, dug it
i really love these kind of videos where you talk about the more "meta" aspects of music. of course the most essential part of playing music is, well, playing but i've never seen anyone talk about this other kind of stuff. as someone who just started their first band recently (hopefully we can gig next year!), i really value this. thanks!
Don’t ever premiere new (untested) equipment at a gig.... and try to have back up gear when possible
That's when the rescue bag comes in.
Starting guitar at 52 I have the wisdom to know I won't be a rock star.
You totally could be. Just decide you are one :)
Vicki Martin Rockstars don’t exist anymore
@@brown22sugar25 watch, someone in the next 10 years will be the next guitar hero
Can always be one in your own home at least you started!
RUclips:
Hold my guitar pick.
🤘😎
Another bit of advice.. ALWAYS bring your own mic. I had a friend who played and I guess the night before there was a gg allin tribute band that played the night before ... I’ll leave it at that.
😟
I'll do you one better, make sure it's a Sennheiser.
A gg allin COVER band? Oh god lol we only need 1 gg allin and even thats a bit much lol
as a sound guy.. as long as it's an SM58.. chances are you don't need that shiny 300 dollar M80 lol and the 58 mixes better anyway..lol
Oh. Oh no 🤣😨🤮
As a freshman who's planning to gig when the venues reopen, this is really helpful to learn.
a flashlight can save a gig
Watch Glen Ficker's video about stuff to bring with yourself to your gigs.
@@gergoretvari6373 yes that’s a good one. Although Glen missed a few items also as I remember. 🤔
@@haywoodjablowme699 And a tuner.
I'm 20 and I play in a Wedding Band since I was 17. Our oldest member is 62 and the others are in between that. At the same time I played in a Rockband and the things I learned in the Wedding Band from "the old guys" were all very useful for the Rockband where everyone was about my age.
Every example you mentionend is 100% true!
Great Video !
Dude exact same deal, although I’m a little older (28) spent most of my 20s in an Irish/Welsh Folk band and a Punk band, the difference in structure and a “get on with it” attitude the people from the Folk band had compared to the guys my age in the Punk band was hilarious, I became the old guy!
The-Art-of-Guitar: You don't only have to play professional, you also have to dress and look accordingly.
Rory Gallagher: Well, crap!
RHCP: oh really now?
Dressing/looking professional as a musician =/= dressing nicely. It just means being deliberate and dressing according to what fits you, your music, and the venue. Rory Gallagher dressing in flannel, denim, and leather fits this perfect, because that's what his music sounds like.
@The Violeta Metal Revue Exactly!
Old dudes know the deal...
I remember a show where I drank a full pint of SKOL and two beers---TERRIBLE idea.
I was one-eyeing my pedal board and couldn't hear anything right. I walked off stage after two songs. Horribly embarrassing for my drummer and me.
You BOOZE and you LOSE.
Don't do it....
But, yes... Leave a tattoo of you in their minds!!!
I’ve owned a 1994 Peavey Bandit 112 Teal Stripe for years & it is loud as heck, & it keeps going & going & going. They make great foundation amps for pedals.
Still got mine! Mine is a 93 teal stripe bandit special 112. That little solid state amp really can be as loud as a marshall stack. Spinal Tap had an amp that goes to 11....Peavey makes an amp that goes to 13 LOL!
my band was looking for a bass amp that we could easily use for rehersal and on stage. We saw that Peavey TNT130 at a local music store that looked like at least 30 years old and completely beaten up, but it was only like 120 bucks. When we plugged it in we were blown away by the sound and volume of it. Since then, every sound guy at every venue told us that that was the best sounding bass amp he had ever heard. It just has some kind of magic to it
I've never heard a Peavey gear horror story.
The Blues Brothers movie, the gig at Bob's Country Bunker.... ... should have had a contract :D
Legend says the world will end if we stop saying that you look like Markiplier.
+1 on the Peavey amps. I use a 1974 Peavey Standard with a matching cab and it is loud as hell.
Peavey Scorpions are the only thing ime that even come close to Celestions.
Awesome company with consistent high quality. I've honestly never heard horror stories about Peavey gear.
👍😎
I've dropped my Peavey combo out of the back of a truck/etc. several times in 20+ years of using it, and it was already a road worn hand me down. Yeah its beat to hell, but I always know it will still work.
for real i have a peavey studio
You should totally grow your hair out again🤣
Speaking of Anvil.... they played my stupid little town and my band opened. Lips is a total sweetheart and an absolute professional. They came back a second time about a year and a half later and they recognized us and remembered our names! I couldn't even believe it. They must take notes or something...lol
#1 Show up #2 Bring Equipment #3 Save your money #4 don’t sleep with band mates girlfriend #5 stay healthy #6 Own your songs and publishing
@The-Art-of-Guitar
The "Old Guy Wisdom" I received was a bit different, Mike, regarding the gear you bring.
In past touring punk bands I've played in, I played with crappy(er) guitars and crappy(er) amps instead of the high-end stuff I owned. My logic was "It doesn't matter if it's broken/stolen if it's crappy gear!"
One time, an old timer (who I had known in the local scene for a while) came up to me and said "Dude, I *know* you are a Les Paul guy, and I *know* you have a matchless and a Larry, why are you playing the entry level squier strat and the joyo bantamp?"
"Because what if it's stolen? Broken? I don't want to eat shit and lose my gear, even if it means struggling to play a crappy guitar."
"Well the people out there who came to see you, doesnt what THEY hear matter? Even if it's just ONE dude out there, who is obsessed with your band, doesn't he deserve to see and hear the best 'you' you can put forward?"
I had no good answer.
if you have fans, don't they deserve to hear the BEST version of you?
Meaning, not only the best gear you have, but the gear you feel most comfortable on? The gear you made your record with, that someone out there might love?
I think the old dude was right. The fans (even if there are only a couple) deserve my best. Obviously I haven't gigged since COVID started, but when I do, I'm bringing the big guns. Even if that's running my matchless and my Larry Dino wet dry, or through an ABY box. That one person, out there in the crowd? He matters.
I've got a video idea: "Bad Tones''. It'll be like your whacky musician vs good musician videos. You play a part of a song with a good tone, then you do the same part but with a horrible tone and see how much of a difference it can make.
The problem with that is, there's no such thing as a bad tone. Even the worst tone can be good if used in the right context. A good example is all distortion which was considered a bad tone until people started playing music that fit it or the entirety of the noise genre.
@@ViviSectia You can actually have an objective worse tone in sound quality than others. By the way, he said, a song with a good and a bad tone, so a bad tone for the song specific
@@ViviSectia Even as someone who loves harsh, noisy textures that most people detest, there are definitely good tones for the situation and bad tones. Keiji Haino doesn't leave his fuzzboxes at home when he's doing a big droning wall-of-noise gig - and he doesn't even use an electric guitar when he's trying to be intimate and folky. If you want a buzzsaw fizzy crunch, turn up that gain knob - but you'd better hope you aren't relying on melody lines where you can hear all the notes.
You was sick after 2 drinks?
lmao seriously. I need 2 just to feel anything and that's without a tolerance
You was missing out on grammar class.
Got to add...on American watered down crap
Put on the same show for 20 people that you would for Twenty thousand. People will connect to you, and will remember you. It worked for Bruce Springsteen.
Wisdom is how we apply knowledge. Good stuff
"You don't need another guitar"
Saw Testament on Slayers farewell tour in 2018, out of the dozens maybe close to a hundred of shows I've seen, I've never saw anyone look like they were having as much fun as Alex Skolnik was while he was soloing. Put a huge smile on my face for the entire show.
More DRUM techniques pls. Danny Carey!!!
and of course half your audience is saying... "Oh that is just old man stuff!"
Dress the part ... I immediately think: Rammstein, Wes Borland, Fred Durst (recently), Manson, Powerwolf (the lot), Sabaton (same), Lord of the Lost, Ghost, Slipknot, Eskimo Callboy, Hannes Braun, Malmsteen, Wylde, Angus Young, ...
There are songs YOU WILL PLAY..AND SONGS YOU WON'T..ie. you wont play Yngwie....But you may Play...Rock and Roll...Led Zeppelin..you wont play Guthrie Govan..but..YOU WILL PLAY.ZZ Top...You wont play..Beat..it..but you will play Billie Jean...or Brick house..so learn them..and Beatles
Yes!
A "meet them halfway" approach, is much better received than a a roadblock is. Good comment !
now he became the old man without the old man looks
1st piece of Wisdom: "Check yourself before you wreck yourself" 👌🏾
Have you played a gig 1000 miles from home for no one but the sound man and a waitress with an ankle monitor? If you can have fun at that gig is when you know you’ve achieved salty veteran status.
Or you open for Enuff z nuff and Britney Fox and you’re the only ones there while they play? That’s another indication that you’ve made it. Especially when Chip znuff smokes all your weed after the show and you still have 10 days on the road before you go home.
Thats awesome lol thanks for sharing! To be honest i always dug the leas singers voice in Britney. Guy had a great rock voice. Also the solo in Long way to love. Good melodic playing. Its a bitch you guys were the only ones at the gig lol
Related to the contract thing:
It's possible that the promoter, the venue or the manager doesn't wanna write up a contract. First of all, that's a red flag, but if you decide to go on and play the show regardless, here's what you can do:
1. There are contract templates online specifically for bands. Read some of them and edit them to your specifications (also: read a lot of band contracts so you don't mess up accidentally when editing them). That way, if the promoter says they won't do contracts, you can say: "That's okay, we have our own. Here. You can sign it."
2. If you're not confident on your contract writing skills (which is a skill in and of itself), make sure to ALWAYS communicate via email or text messages with the promoter/manager/venue. That's a way to leave a trace of the negotiations. If they wanna change the conditions at some point, you can pull up the emails or texts and say: "No, that's not what we agreed upon."
Always treat promoters/managers/venues with the appropriate level of respect and professionalism, of course. But never forget this: not everyone will try to stiff you, but some people will. Always have an eye out for red flags, and take extra precautions.
This guy is so motivating in all his videos.
Awesome 👍 YES YES YES!! Play with better, older, more experienced players and accept their wisdom!! When it comes to music (and life) remember you can never know everything, but someone knows something important that you don't know! Find those people!! And yeah, like geriwardmusic said, never pay to play!! It will set you apart and make you more professional. Love your channel man!! Rawk on!!
Ok here me out guys what if Music is win, YourGuitarSage, and The Art of Guitar was all on one video
I like to see them perform together too. Mike is very versatile. He can play just about any instrument.
Good decisions come from experience experience comes from making bad decisions
-twain m.
The best one is the "paid rehearsal " if there's a minimal crowd. I don't know how many great bands have split cause of uptight members stressing about the door count. Another one might be to make sure when you "tour", make sure you have enough cash to do the whole trip + get back home, and a good "float" for vehicle repairs and miscellaneous.
Excellent advice. I learned some things. Thank you
Been a DJ at clubs since I was about 16. Learn pretty much all of it during those years. So many crazy experiences I have had. Great time. Now I am picking up the guitar and trying to learn.
Great Tips! Number 12 is the easiest to forget in my opinion, years, years ago I was in a band with a guy that was so serious(nothing wrong with being serious in music, it is your career after all) but you could feel how tense he was on and off stage, scared of making a mistakes etc - and that my friends created a bad atmosphere. He is doing very well now, as a teacher :)
As someone who is going into music for a career, I feel like if you take it seriously you're missing the point. The whole point of music is for the fuck of it. But that's my personal perspective tho
I’ve been a bar guitarist in duos and bands for over 20 years. I’ve been puked on, groped, had fights picked, had the PA pulled over, had the power go out, everything. 😅 But it’s amazing. Friends ask me how come I’m able to stay in work so consistently and the answer I give is always the same. I understand I’m not selling music, I sell beer. You keep people in the bar for two or three hours putting money in the cash register and bars’ll keep asking you back. Best way to do that is to know how to read your audience and have a very flexible set list, don’t full yourself into thinking anyone wants to hear the jazz odyssey you’ve been working on for months, they want to sing Wonderwall at max voice capacity after 8 beers, period. And be on time, always bring your A game and remember that for those few hours you;re getting paid you’re effectively staff. Help out the bar staff by collecting a few glasses between sets or if you’ve arrived early and have nothing to do. They’ll appreciate the little things and definitely remember your name.
The face you make in the thumbnail seems like something an old man would do
"Always ask for a contract"
Let me just cry in 3rd world
Great advice! I relate to just about everything. I’m fortunate though, I’ve never not been paid!
Never pay to play! Cheers!!
Me after intro: "Okay, I'm listening..."
Me three seconds later: "PACE MYSELF?!!"
Starting a band seems like a serious investment, haha
10/10 editing too
Good stuff. But I found myself especially drawn to the vintage stereo equipment to your right. I'm guessing Sansui. But only because I own some myself. Would like to hear more about that. Also interested in the pedalboard photo that you featured since I own several of the same effects. Would like to hear something about the order that you choose to place them, and why. Rock on!! Oh, and I also own that same burgundy V off to your left. Except mines the 125th Anniversary Edition. Also, have a black Les Paul with gold hardware & speed knobs. You sure have great tastes in the equipment that you choose....lol.
Here's some advice: All gear can catfish you at home, good or bad.
I played a show where there was no stage and there were several beer spillages. Our singer is very jumpy and I remember pushing the trail of beer away from him and my pedals with my foot.
I’ve absolutely had a drunk chick knock the microphone into my face 😂
Aghhh I remember the first time I threw up while drinking. I was 14 and I had drunk about 5 cans of beer, surprisingly I threw up a couple of hours after doing it. It wasn’t nice and I didn’t drink for about 4 months afterwards😂.
I learned that the crowd doesn't care at my very first gig, I went for a solo with the wah pedal, but all I could hear was terrible feedback coming from my amp, and yet from the crowd I heard cheering, I was very confused.
My kinda crowd and solo to be fair. Did you have the wah back to front cause you probably had the seagull sound
I definitely consider video’s like these a lesson. Well done man I enjoyed it
Remember to listen to the boomers
SRV "WAS" pacing himself!
Regarding proper stage dress- I saw Satch wear a white t-shirt and jeans for a gig at the House of Blues! Maybe the chrome guitar made up for it!
But never wear a bucket on your head! Oh, wait...
Dude....many times at 47 years old would play a 3 hour gig on Saturday afternoon, pack up, set up for another 3-4 hour gig Saturday night, only to do a 4 hour gig on Sunday.
this should be "advice for people who only play guitar". for me i read a crowd and change my entire profession. if a crowd is younger, i just DJ the set and dont play guitar at all. if the show is a bunch of old people who want old music and covers of songs they already know, i just dont accept the gig anymore - they're rarely fun and rarely worth the time and energy
also, if youre out a bar and you think a band is playing "too loud" or "too soft" or "too hard", i think you should just go home...
fuck what the crowd wants. your own material should shine through no matter what. if it doesnt maybe thats why you have gigs doing covers and not real fans
Not only guitar and drums but you teach us really good tips to be a better musician overall. Really underrated video and cant wait for the next lesson!
i was wondering why you only started drinking at 21. Then i remembered.... USA
If you have a grandparent that plays guitar or was in a band,it's actually a godsend🙌🏽😅its true when they say,play with people better than you
I've seen too many bands that think "getting into the music" is the same as playing for the crowd. Or, going wild is playing for the crowd.
Pearls of wisdom... Been playing every week for 20 + years , 2000+ gigs. So true! . Listen up!..
I own more than a few music textbooks, I can't find any of this information anywhere.
If you purchase headphones or ear buds, it should be on the disclaimer. The authors of textbooks think we live in acreages and have no need for headphones or ear buds.
GREAT WORK! love from nepal!
Dude, Steve Harris goes on stage with shorts and team jerseys 😂😂
If you can't bring a full stack bring a half stack....its OK. You can do it.i have faith it will work
In my 800ish Twin Cities gigs, maybe had a contract for a dozen, and those were events rather than bar gigs usually. Bars often didn’t want the hassle and would book somebody else if you demanded a contract.
Mike I give you a lot of credit for having the balls get in front of a camera and talk about your mistakes. It will help some many people.
4:20 the amp story, i’ve got an old crate amp from 89, it’s solid state 120 watt with a 4x12. Loud and reliable. OG speakers still sound great.
JAMES SCOTT NICHOLSON,ONTARIO, CANADA 🇨🇦 I JUST AM CHIMING IN TO SAY ,”GOT TO LOVE SKYNYRD AND THEIR, MISSISSIPPI MARSHALS... LOL. (PEAVY) IN CASE YOUR CATCHING UP
MY KINDA T.V. TOP LEFT ♥️♥️✌️🇨🇦
I just remebered you mentioning your eye colour in a vid
and I just want to tell you they got the most beautiful deep shade
The contacts make you look a vampire-y (which is isnt a bad thing)
but you just got a really nice to look at eye area
cool video Mike. didn't start giging til 36 yrs. old. now 56 can relate to most of your advice. great channel !!
I love your videos man. Great work! I pick up so many solid tips and fun things. You've helped me to light that fire and get back into making music again. I got a lot of rust to shake off, but I'm having fun with it. Also that Les Paul is gorgeous and I'm super jealous.
Don't expect to be the best and also learn to be ok with that before you ever join a band. Playing with people who are better is good for you though.. And you're highly unlikely to be famous. That last one seems tough for some people to swallow but having fun is what its all about.
The rest? If you're anything like most musicians then you, too, will have to learn shit the hard way lol. You're definitely gonna drink too much more than a few times and likely have something stolen, (prob by a groupie) fight off shit heads in the crowd/etc..
Oh and please loop your cable thru your strap. Thank me later!
Another VERY important rule. Take 2 guitars to a gig and pre-tune them. A broken string is a 10 second change not a 5 minute delay.
Those words of wisdom all sound obvious to me ... but I'm old, so it checks out. 🤔👍
This is not the thing to do, I don’t drink nor do drugs. It’s never been my thing. But my nerves were shot by the time show was to start this one time. I had a buddy that give me a hit of marijuana out of a “one hitter” one time, and that was it… I was calm, I was excited to play, and I had a lot of fun that night on the set. I played a flawless show. I was scared it was gonna cause a habit that couldn’t be controlled but I felt normal and focused at the task. I’ve never felt that I’ve had to smoke in later shows, but I’ve always kept in mind that if I ever felt overwhelmed before a show I had a simple solution. I truly believe that because I had a way to overcome any anxiety before a show I haven’t felt anxious like that again. I am not advocating doing drugs, but I was very surprised of the outcome seeing drugs get such a bad rap.
Cool video, man. You should consider doing a podcast. You have some interesting stories from back in the day.
ruclips.net/video/l45La-Vrmcw/видео.html
The-Art-of-Guitar nice, I didn't know you had already done one in the past. I'll check it out.
Idc where I play, I'm bring two half stacks or two full stacks.
what dives me mad is when someone in the band won't play a song that you know will go down well at a venue because they don't like it. it's for the audience not you.
And keep people with a drink in their had away from your gear
Used to have a bass player that would get drunk during the show and start mucking the songs up. That used get on my nerves so bad.
I've been there with all of these!
in short: keep a calm mind and don´t over-do it ^^ im in my first Rock band, wish me luck ^^
If you’re throwing up after two drinks in one night then I don’t think the problem was you had too much to drink.
the thing about the peavey amps is true. I have a vyper and if I turn it to 1 it rattles my bredroom walls.
I prefer a full stack at a small gig because it puts the cab in my face.
If the amp is down at my feet then I can’t hear it and I have to turn it up.
The full stack allows me to play quieter.
You can unplug the bottom cab too.
I keep my combo on top of an unused mini-fridge (to which I taped a hand-drawn Marshall logo for a goof) for this exact reason - I want the sound close so I don't have to crank it so much!
The most important thing I learned was that 90% of the audience doesn't even care about whatever band is playing, they're only there to get drunk and take selfies and post on Instagram about how much fun they're having while they spend half the show outside smoking and looking at their phones. I quickly learned why bands like WASP won't even tour the US anymore.
I want that picture of yoda on a tshirt
I will always listen to a man who is holding a Black Beauty.
Old man wisdom- don’t wear a sweater.
3 hour show? The joys of youth!
I see you got the Harmony back:)
Just realised I'm an old guy.
🤘
Nice and subtle,
"Before that i never really drank 😇
...While i played 😎
Haha
I tried it once and the beer really made me relax. But don't go overboard though....
It's always fun listening to your stories.