TheBoogerJames In a related item in this situation, watch your time and get the F off the stage when your time is up. Not doing so is unprofessional as all hell. The band that follows you will appreciate you not stealing the time from their set..and consequently won’t view you and your band as a bunch of CU Next Tuesdays.
Only thing I'd add is, don't show up to a gig with gear that you haven't quite tested yet in rehearsal - That awesome new preamp or pedal, or bass, or whatever, might have a problem you didn't hear in your bedroom, at low levels, but is now screeching at 100 dBs or cutting out at bad times during the gig.
If you use a set list, make sure every band member has the same set list. Don't get drunk or high before playng. Go pee shortly before you start to play so you don't have to run to the bathroom after three songs. Drink some water in between songs. Not too much, but stay hydrated. Switch off your phone. Make sure all SO's are off the stage and all conversations between band members and SO's are finished or on hold when you start playing, and until you stop playing. Interact with the audience and thank them, at the very least at the end of your gig.
I had a guitarists once that knew the opening lick to sweet home Alabama and would play it if there was a lull in the set. We would spend the rest of the set being cat called to play freebird. I’m never happy about losing a band mate but I called that guy personally.
As a guitar player in a new band, I have for the first time been blessed with a full crew who thinks like this. Gigs and practice are a breeze cause everyone is prepared, chemistry is good and people DONT OVER PLAY! I can’t stress that enough. Not every part of the song calls for all members to play, and simply augmenting and picking you place in the octave range so you don’t crowd frequencies is a major thing. And being able to make adjustments to fit with how you actually sound as a band and not being married to the part you learned at home while playing along to a recorded track is also very helpful.
We've started setting up a microphone with a switch on it that's only for on-stage communication, and piped-in to our ears. We all use in-ears, and while yes it's possible to to pop one out, tell a bandmate something, and then carry on, things makes things so easy. Plus then when you're making changes on the fly, everyone hears you. You switch the switch on during the trashcan ending of one song and say "Hey lets put X song here, it'll fit perfectly" and then you can go right into it without killing your momentum. Those extra 10 seconds it takes to go to each member and say the name of the song you want to insert, are enough to kill the vibe of the whole crowd.
Started my sound-mixing in 1972 as a teen before eventually playing bass in 1979 here in Australia. Everything you mention resonates with me from both sides of the desk. Especially with sound guys and roadies: "First to arrive /last to leave". I took good habits with me up onto the stage. Noodling is the most incredibly , Capital "S", selfish thing that can happen during attempted soundchecks. Under-preparation meant that some players tried to turn soundchecks into rehearsals, ruining the fine tuning with PA. Thanks Josh. Great video. My only contribution to all this is to look professional in your setup - hide leads away where possible, have a clean playing area so no one trips over your crap AND check your clothing - look impressional in whatever genre you end up playing. I later went to work for a record company and watched the benefits of some of the things you've listed being talked about in the boardroom.
Yes! A clean stage not only looks better, but it's safer as well! I make it a point to run cables so they're out of the way, even if I'm the only one who seems to care.
I had a bass player that would begin to play an intro of a song which we didn't have rehearsed, then when he stopped playing it and the people shouted "yeah! Play that one!" He would say "oh they don't have it ready yet (us, the rest of the band)". Fortunately it happened on our first gigs (small parties, familiar crowd and acquaintances).
I had a guitar player do that, it especially sucks if they scream for the song, and you can't play it then you have to sing the next song which the crowd is now kind of disappointed to hear. Kind of a dick move.
When you're on stage, the instrument is treated like a firearm. Fingers off the part that brings forth a noise, until you are ready and willing to -shoot- play
@@ashmonkey2572 100%! I'm all for having fun with the band, but save the cute licks for jams and brainstorms. If there's a gig on the horizon and it's a real "dress" rehearsal, you want to get the rhythm of the whole show down, not just the songs themselves. Especially if you're playing any kind of music intended for dancing, keep bullshit to a minimum. "When do I have a break to drink, which songs are back-to-back, when is the frontman going to give special thanks/shout out the bartender, etc." Is all stuff I want to know and have on my setlist before the show, and when I have been in bands that agree with that sort of neurotic overpreparation, it makes shows a BREEZE, don't have to worry about anything but keeping people dancing and happy (or whatever the goal of the gig may be).
About #4, Bring Useful Things, one thing I rarely (if ever) see people worrying about (which I learned the worst possible way) is bringing an extra fuse (assuming your amp needs one). It costs cents, weighs 5g, and can save your gig. I always carry a bunch of them with me. Excellent video as always, Josh. Thank you.
Only time it's good to noodle is if the guitarists breaks a string and has to change mid show or something like that just to keep mood kinda going to much dead noise can ruin the momentum of the show
instead of noodling either talk to the audience or have a tune prepared. Like play the song Fever on the bass and sing it, you can do that song with just bass and drums. Aimless noodling always sucks.
Great tips!! I was in a band with multiple annoyances. Your #5, spewing all your licks during soundcheck, was a favorite of the keyboardist and drummer. Along with being annoying, it destroys any audience appreciation or anticipation when someone has premature instrument ejaculation. (if you have an electric instrument, you could at least noodle quietly) Another one was 2 guys borrowing my stuff all the time, and me being too young and wimpy to say, "OK, this is the last time. Buy a cord (cart, etc.)". My own fault was not showing up early enough some of the time.
I worked in a band where the singer borrowed my mic, cable, and stand every night. I should have given a firm, "dude, buy your own equipment," but I was a nicer door mat back then.
I'd always sort of "avoided" practicing certain things not out of laziness but in my mind I always thought "well jazz is spontaneous so why should i be practicing something that's supposed to be spontaneous?" when really it just makes me sound like I don't know what I'm doing because then it constantly feels like I'm working harder in the moment instead of just being able to lay back and let the phrases I know will work (because I practiced them) flow out naturally
I get consistent work as a session player because I’m easy to work with and do the little things like the stuff on the list. I’m a good but not great player but I get the gigs because I’m reliable and consistent
Doing this professional for over 40 years.... And YES, all your points you mention are totally true.. I show up to gigs and can tell in 30 seconds who is a real pro and who is an A$$-Clown.... Usually the guy running his mouth mentioning the word "PRO" in every sentence is going to be trouble...A bed-room player claiming to be a PRO is usually a headache....The first nightmare is their guitar is out of tune ..but bigger headache is that they don't realize their guitar is out of tune and then they REFUSE to tune it when you ask them to check it......They also claim to do session work but they have no clue what ASCAP is ???.... I try real hard to be friendly and work with them....problem is their ego wont allow them to take advice from the band and things go sideways real quick...This is usually the same guy noodling between songs and pissing everyone off... When showing up to a show, you need to KEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUT unless your singing..... only play when your playing your parts of the song....Make sure to stay in TUNE, but do it silently between song or sets...Because I NEVER noodle or show-off my skill set at any time during a show, I have been accused of being a very simple bass player, since I stick to only playing the set-list cover songs, which are usually boring... A few years later a former band mate sees me playing in a fusion band and comes over to me later and says he's blown away and why I didn't play like that in the other band.... BECAUSE, I was being PAID to show up and PLAY the pop cover songs..not there to noodle and show off ..... Jeez some people don't get it ....
I sing about half the set with my current band. Nothing worse than being in the middle of the song and forgetting the lyrics. Now I keep a cheat sheet by my monitor
I use a fuzz pedal on my bass for certain songs we play and at my first gig it stopped working out of nowhere. I was super bummed because I was so excited to try it out live and it was super expensive and fixing it would be butt-cheeks. We played the entire show and while we were packing up I realized I wired it wrong so it just never got power. Lesson learned, be prepared for your own stupidity... and pack that lucky pick...
@@matevizhanyo7604 We would practice weekly and distribute 2 beers each every session for this reason LOL gotta match the 2 comped beers from the bar since it's hard to trust a bandmate who turns down comped beers :P
My take on the noodling. Yeah I try really hard not to do it because it is a pet peeve of mine but once you’re set up, I think a 15 second drum roll or noodle as a check is totally cool and professional. Just make sure it’s super short and with a big buffer before the downbeat of the gig.
I'd say: Never say anything bad or rude about a fellow band mate on the Mic. unless playful banter is your thing, calling out band mates is dirty and a fast way to loose a member.
I'm with you on everything, except batteries. I don't use them for anything, so I don't bring any. And play open mics as much as possible and play with everyone. I try to print out every song on the set list, but if someone calls out a request that's not on the set list, you need to be able to improvise on the spot. Nothing is better for that kind of training than playing whatever the guitar player wants, and nothing builds confidence better than having that experience of playing songs you've never played, or someone's original, and making it sound great doing it.
Don’t drink too much beforehand and go to the bathroom before set. I was playing at the Park Bar in Burbank years ago when between songs I had to really pee. I ran off stage to quickly use the bathroom. Some blonde guy was in my way so I moved him. When I got back my band mate told me, “you knocked over Nick Swardson while running to the bathroom”
do not forget to say hello and goodbye to your host. and bring a spare bass if possible. even for the rehearsal I, the bass player, (the helpful one) have a capo, spare wires, a drum key tuner. and I used to have drumsticks too, until I trust the drum player who are the guy I arrive the first with, 99% of the time.
Those things will get you into and keep you in a gig 10 out of 10 times more so than being the best player in the world. You could be better than Flea and Victor Wooten combined, but if you're just generally unpleasant to be around, I'll find someone else.
Rookie mistake is to think "I'll just have my partner take care of it!" DO NOT! You want to be distracted the other way around if they are at the show, otherwise it's like rewarding yourself for eating all your dinner with a bowl of ice cream, except you haven't even touched your dinner yet. Will spoil your motivation LOL
This guy has never been in a band that expected you, as a musician, to be part of the road and light crew. With a literal four hour physical set up of old school 70s equipment. I'm not even exaggerating. As a guitarist/bass player/dobro player I'll be helpful when I can. Even set up my own very small PA if needed. But I think he underestimates how badly people will take advantage of you.
Carrying a 9V battery is nice and compact...but guitarist never give them back! That's why I started carrying an extra 9V wall wart adapter, so far the two times we've had to use I got it back! Also put your name or mark on everything. Especially extension chords. They all look the same and the last thing you want is to be arguing over a $10 chord with house sound man at the end of the night.
4:32 Rolls of tape, of all different kinds and colours! Sharpie. Torch (flashlight). As many kettle leads as you can carry. Wire clippers. A cloth or rag of some sort. Paper or notebook (very important). Screwdrivers. Box cutter or scissors. Dont just bring *a* spare guitar lead, bring *all* your spares, and microphone leads if you have any, even if you don't sing. Bring leads for things that you don't even think you use at gigs, any spare leads and plugs and cables you have lying around at home unused, put them in your gig bag (step 1, have a gig bag). Just trust me.
At my age a checklist of what I need to take is essential. As for noodling, yeah don't. I've been told off for that before and it's embarrassing. I do think that it's good to warm up a bit though. Turn the bass down to 0 or the amp off and play a few scales and arps. This is really for warming up the muscles and tendons not your ears.
I had a wedding gig once where the band leader gave me the list but not a lot of time to prepare. Learned all the tracks, had cheat sheets in order to discover that almost all the songs where not in the key I learned them in ( I had even asked prior and he said they were in the original keys). Luckily I have synesthetic perfect pitch and was able to catch everything quickly and adjust...bandleader ran up and apologized profusely.
Having gone from working DJ to working bass player, I'm always early. You never know when you might need to run out for a cord or batteries or whatever. I also appreciate some warm up time for my hands.
Get there early! Once, my nephew showed up at his gig to play bass. He went to walk in the venue and the doorman stopped him and wouldn't let him in 'cause he wasn't 21 (the place served alcohol). He told them he was in the band. They said, we don't care! Get there early. Crazy stuff happens.
DONT DRINK and Jive! I went to a music school once, and at Thursdays or Fridays we would have what we called a jam cafe, where the students could show of some of the music they'd been rehearsing to the rest of the school. Sometimes it developed into all out parties and other times not. This time people went all in. Now my band was on later so we had a couple of beers, well i had more like 6 and a shot or to, and then we had to play. We started our set and I thought it went fine, remembered all the hard breakes and shifts. And When i've played the last number i started to pack my gear until i heard our lead singer announce the last song in the set, i quickly looked at the set list and it dawned on me that i've been one song ahead of the band the whole set, And nobody really noticed except my girlfriend at the time: "MAN you guys were out of tune today..."
accurate. I came recently insufficiently prepared to a show that was important for the guys that hired me, and it haunts me on a regular basis... I definitely can relate about the 5 thinks...
If you just go watch other bands play, you can learn so much. You'll see them do things that annoy you, and then you'll learn what not to do (like noodling between songs) and you'll see them do things that are awesome, and then you can use that in your own show. It might be something super simple, or super mind blowing, but you can always learn something. On an off night, don't squander the opportunity to go see another band play. If if you don't feel like it, and trust me, I've been there before, it's worth it because you just might learn something.
Here's my top 5.. 1. Get there with "enough" time.. don't let venues get you in several hours early.. you'll just spend your gig money on beer. 2. your drummer has more kit than anyone.. if you're already set up help them 1st., same applies to packing down. 3. Don't lend other bands kit.. it may seem nice but you're likely to not get it back unless you're on top of it (leads, picks and such sure.. but amps? guitars? anything they may break and you WILL need don't lend. 4. Always store kit in a safe place.. no excuses like "door was locked".. yeah, it's ment to be. 5. Look forward.. it makes a huge diference when you look towards the crowd and not at the floor or your neck. You seem a lot more into it, doesn't take long for the crowd to pick up on that and start doing their own thing. If you feel awkward, the crowd probably do too.
I guess while I'm at it here's a few other things that really help.. A.. soundcheck with a song that uses all members.. may seem obvious, trust me our harmonica player always moans with the song we pick (as we tend to forget as he only plays on a few songs), also, soundcheck with a song you're not likely to play.. fans will know it anyway and saves repeating stuff. B.. Find your drink limit and stick to it. Don't get carried away.. for me it's 3 pints.. bang on 3 pints.. can usually drink a couple more on stage and not be drunk til I hit last song or two.. and I'm in a flow then anyway.. never start drunk haha high? yeah sure. C.. figure out how to commuicate with the sound guy.. generally I point at what I want louder or lower in my mix and then point up or down lol keep it simple. no full sentences.. they can't hear you unless it's pretty damn quiet and it's just you line checking.. in a set you don't hear nothing.. hand signs work way better. make sure to thumbs up after.. it's polite. D.. sorta back to the last but never start turning up an instrument while an amp is going to a mixer.. it's better to ask for more in your mix than to start clipping on the mixer and sounding crap out front but fine on stage. It can be fustrating when you can't hear your instrument but it's better to sound clean to all of the crowd than hear yourself and sound distorted out front. Try your best to get a little more in your mix and you won't have to turn up.. no mix? yeah just bang it up haha it's the only option to cut through.. if you can't hear you, they can't if there's no mix. C.. one more.. have fun! don't take it all too seriously.. chat to other bands, watch their sets, don't leave straight after you play.. this will get you more gigs. We generally pick support bands by how fun they are to play and hang with.. need to sound good too I guess.. but you know, not leaving right after getting paid shows you're there for more than just the cash and actually enjoy being at gigs in general. After 20 years of gigging I still get excited before I play. Turn those butterflys into bouncyness and remember to enjoy it.
Josh's online course on playing bass is fantastic, I recommend it highly. I've made more progress in the past two months than in two years of lessons with a semi-famous bass teacher. B2B rules!
Clicked on this link because of the thumbnail. I was curious why you wouldn't noodle on stage. And I'll say that I'm not a stage performer, I've only been in the audience; so the note about not wanting to make noise while your band mates do sound checks makes sense. But never once as an audience member did I feel a sense of anticipation for the band that was playing, I always just feel like I'm having to be patient for the music to start. So when they are still setting up and someone does some noodling, it's like a little ice breaker between the band and the audience. I don't think anyone in a bar or club type audience has ever felt that noodling spoiled a song. If anything it just keeps my attention on the band while they are setting up, and it actually increases anticipation.
@@CorboWill you never had a band mate start noodling a song you don't play and the audience goes nuts and is then disappointed because nobody else in the band knows it. Then you have to sing the next song on the list that is now more of disappointment to the audience because they thought the were going to hear the song he was noodling on. It's a dick move.
@@CorboWill you can do anything you want. What you describe is more like a theatrical tease. Intentionally done as part of a show. As I bass player, I keep my bass quiet between songs and wait for the next song to start. Noodling annoys the crap out of most band leaders. Never met one that said, "great gig but I wish you'd slap and play more crap in between songs on your bass"
I've literally walked through the front door at our local venue, been handed a guitar while taking my coat of and got on stage to play lol ... but... I had rang to let them know to set up for me as I was running late.. I thought it was pretty epic haha
Smile a lot. Even if you don't feel like smiling! 1. it helps your confidence - if your face says everything is going OK then the rest of you will follow suit 2. if the bass player is smiling, it helps the rest of the band feel confident because the bass player holds everything together; and 3. someone is going to be taking pictures and you don't want to be the one scowling at the back.
Great advice for any musician, not just bassists. Thank you! I would add a 6th point about substances and alcohol, and how important it is to be just as good in the last set as in the first! Keep that stuff away from your gigs!!
I suggest bringing a backup bass. I broke my E string on a gig and had to take a few minutes to replace it while the band killed time without me. Which leads me to another lesson learned: don't use tapered strings if you play hard. Tapered strings are thin diameter where they pass over the bridge. Other: Fresh 9V battery before gig. Nice if your active bass has a passive switch in case battery dies mid-song. My 2000 Fender Jazz Deluxe doesn't have a passive switch so I'm dead if battery goes.
I second the no noodling advice. My biggest pet peeve. I’ve brought an extra mic clip for years. Tonight I finally had a use for it. Our singer broke her mic clip, and I had my spare available within 30 seconds.
To borrow from “Hitchhiker’s Guide”: go nowhere without a clean dry towel. When you get home, the used one comes out of the gig bag, and a clean one goes in. You can buy ‘em by the dozen, just like gyms/spas do, and you can pick a weird color, so your spouse/sig other doesn’t complain when they get mixed in among the “good towels”in the wash.
getting there early is vital. one time I got very early to the gig, realizing I had left my bass guitar at home believing I had it in my car since after work I went straight to the gig and had noticed my bass amp in the back seat. went and came back from my house almost right on time.
Funny thing is I've played Bass only little over year and all the bands I was in I was the vocalist . All these points definitely apply to the singer . Especially when it comes to helping lug gear and make sure everyone knows their parts . I would memorize everyone's parts as a fail safe .
We noodled during soundcheck that was about it. The occasional guitar would get smashed or the singer would jump into the drum set once in a while. We also drank before, during and after the show.. In the punk rock scene, everyone just did whatever they wanted to do. Crowds and bands always had a good time.
Don't underestimate your ego and overestimate your playing capabilities : 1. As a band : Do not prepare tunes you know will not be ready and tight. Do not underestimate "simple songs". Example : Ok, we want to play Sir Duke, but are we all prepared to take the time to sort things out, to rehearse things slowly. So we'll be able to play tightly when the day of the show comes ? Collective answer : NO, we don't need it, we're all "good" sight readers, this is just a "simple pop song". Oh my ! I just knew it would be a mess, and the rendition of the song was horrendous. 2. Do not "overplay" if the song doesn't need it... Like, play every flashy fill you just learned (and are not ready to play tightly)... Please, leave those licks home... I call this noodling but during the actual performance. Play simple and be reliable. Play what makes sense to the actual song. 3. Get to know your audience and play for them. Think about them when writing your setlist.
Great tips! I’d add: Prioritize feel over flashiness, and make the drummer’s job easier by supporting them rhythmically. Unless you’re playing a feature, the bassist’s job is generally to be “felt and not heard.” Playing in balance with the band and with good feel can make the gig much more enjoyable for everyone. And as both a drummer and bassist, I’ve been on both sides of the musical relationship. When I’m drumming with a bassist who has solid time and is paying attention to how I’m feeling the time, it allows me to focus on the entire ensemble, rather than struggling to establish and hold a decent groove with the bassist.
Great list! I do all of that. When doing sound check I will pluck a note or two on my bass and the band leader or sound guy will give me a thumbs up to let me know I’m good to go. The joys of being deaf 😊
I would add play a bass that sits nicely in a band mix. One that makes your band sound good. Lots of boomy or trebley basses sound great at home and at the music store while they don't blend as well once the band starts playing.
When i played in a band in highschool I did in fact arrive late, show up unprepared and only worry about my own shit. But i did not noodle on stage because we had guitar players playing sweet child o' mine during soundcheck and tuning.
i made up a bullshit reason to leave a band i really really enjoyed playing with because "no matter how many hints i gave" the drummer would not stop playing after he got set up...it was embarrassing, people trying to enjoy a dinner date on a Saturday night (probably looking forward to it all week) but couldn't even have a nice conversation cause of random drum fills interrupting what could have been a nice evening... by the time we would start playing a lot of people had already left... i could see then getting annoyed, i dealt with this for quite some time, years actually... it got to the point that i'd set up, get a sound check for my bass, then go out to my truck and drink coffee and smoke cigarettes till 3 min. before it was time to play, i couldn't take it anymore so i made something up and left the band
Why not simply confront the guy? And talk with the other people in the band about it. Sometimes hints aren't enough and you gotta put your foot down. If he can't handle that, it should be him leaving not you....
I agree with Geert. If the end result would've been a fight and you or him or both leaving the band, then either way you're at the some outcome. Nowhere to go but up from there. Let that be a lesson to you mate. I've had to learn the hard way over the years, sounds similar to you, that "hoping things change" is never going to get you anywhere. You have to be assertive about things like that. You don't have to be an asshole, or try and make him feel bad, just be firm and honest about how annoying it is and how it bothers you and makes you feel. Then in the future, if he does it again, he'll feel like he's no longer just doing something himself, it'll feel like he's doing something TO you. And that feeling is a tough one to just ignore. Then if he does try to make an effort to stop or whatever, acknowledge that. People are smart, but they also can be incredibly dense lol. Sometimes, actually a lot of the time, you have to hit things head on.
1. pay attention to your monitor mix and how much you can hear each individual member of the band. Playing without vox as a guide is not recommended if you want to keep your job.
All of this adds up to professionalism. Whether you’re a hired gun or a member of an established band, it’s not about any one member - its about the band. And I love the Cirrus - sold mine and regretted it almost immediately...
Totally agree. Please do one for club owners/event managers. And perhaps one for sound guys. Mostly they are fine, but I sure have met some, let’s say, imperfect ones too 🤪
Dont noodle. I did it in a friday night gig and the drummer on the next rehearsal on the next thuesday spent one fucking hour giving me a hard time in front of the other band members. Inleft the band weeks later cos i felt he went too far and was disrespectful to me mainly in front of the other guys. I totally see his point that i should not had done that, ( mainly cos i did a good gig). I am led to believe there was something else.
I learned noodling on stage was awful for all your reasons and more. I've heard a few do it and it makes me pucker. .....One time the next band urged me to stay behind the drums for them. I didnt know what songs they were gonna play and they had more of a fan base. It was random but lucky for me the structures were easy to predict and I knew a couple of the songs. Also I like to improvise. I think I found it more fun than playing with the band i was in. I spose some chick noticed and I got lucky. P.S. drums are not my main instrument. Prepare for the worst and best and don't make a mess.
Arrived at my own outdoor festival gig by bus, rushed to stage area by the event crew by car and ran on stage to only barely mke the first note of my first solo. Song number 3 on the set list. I cn laugh now but yeh no try to never be that late to a gig, my musician brothers and sisters 😂
Cool how these rules can also apply to those (like me) who work as part of a crew on a set in theFilm/TV industry too. The reasons are exactly the same.
Probably obvious for most people, because this is the FIRST lesson I learned at my very first gig. After the gig is over... My bass in in the case, cable in the bag, I'm done, right?? Time to chat with friends! Wrong! HELP others pack up! Boy oh boy did I get scolded after that, and the lesson was never forgotten. This hits 10X harder if there's another act after you.
Enjoyed your informative video. I am a guitar player looking to purchase a Bass and an Amp for small to med restaurant-gig = Motown, Sade, Reggae. Not-into: lugging heavy gear. "Any Recommendations" ??? for either a Bass under $800 ( Fender, G&L, Ibanez, Sire, FujiGen ) and and amp under $350. oNe LovE from NYC
We typically “sound check” one hour before show. Sometimes earlier if there’s other events which a check will interfere with. If it’s a multi-band event, the first song IS the sound check!
#6 if you are playing with other bands, show up early / stay late and watch their sets. Support other artists.
TheBoogerJames In a related item in this situation, watch your time and get the F off the stage when your time is up. Not doing so is unprofessional as all hell. The band that follows you will appreciate you not stealing the time from their set..and consequently won’t view you and your band as a bunch of CU Next Tuesdays.
100% agree.
Fr
Hey were bassists! We support everybody!
Only thing I'd add is, don't show up to a gig with gear that you haven't quite tested yet in rehearsal - That awesome new preamp or pedal, or bass, or whatever, might have a problem you didn't hear in your bedroom, at low levels, but is now screeching at 100 dBs or cutting out at bad times during the gig.
YES.
great point
Tech 21 amp. Bought it on a Friday, gigged with it on Saturday. Wound up playing most of the gig through the PA. Thank God for headroom!
If you use a set list, make sure every band member has the same set list.
Don't get drunk or high before playng.
Go pee shortly before you start to play so you don't have to run to the bathroom after three songs.
Drink some water in between songs. Not too much, but stay hydrated.
Switch off your phone.
Make sure all SO's are off the stage and all conversations between band members and SO's are finished or on hold when you start playing, and until you stop playing.
Interact with the audience and thank them, at the very least at the end of your gig.
What is an SO?
@@troytolbert2005 Significant other. Girlfriend, boyfriend, husband, wife, life partner etc.
@@WimRijksen right on. Thank you
@@troytolbert2005 I wondered the same thing. One more thing to add to the list: don't use initials instead of words. ;-D
I like this list better
“Don’t noodle onstage” TRUTH. Especially don’t noodle the frickin’ song you’re about to play
Never forget a clipper for your fingernails ! Ever tried to play with a brokken or split nail ??
Great list.
And superglue if you need to stick yourself back together!
I had a guitarists once that knew the opening lick to sweet home Alabama and would play it if there was a lull in the set. We would spend the rest of the set being cat called to play freebird. I’m never happy about losing a band mate but I called that guy personally.
Bro is that a fasces in your pfp?
You don't have to play Sweet Home Alabama to get cat called about playing Freebird... Lol
As a guitar player in a new band, I have for the first time been blessed with a full crew who thinks like this. Gigs and practice are a breeze cause everyone is prepared, chemistry is good and people DONT OVER PLAY! I can’t stress that enough. Not every part of the song calls for all members to play, and simply augmenting and picking you place in the octave range so you don’t crowd frequencies is a major thing. And being able to make adjustments to fit with how you actually sound as a band and not being married to the part you learned at home while playing along to a recorded track is also very helpful.
We've started setting up a microphone with a switch on it that's only for on-stage communication, and piped-in to our ears. We all use in-ears, and while yes it's possible to to pop one out, tell a bandmate something, and then carry on, things makes things so easy. Plus then when you're making changes on the fly, everyone hears you. You switch the switch on during the trashcan ending of one song and say "Hey lets put X song here, it'll fit perfectly" and then you can go right into it without killing your momentum. Those extra 10 seconds it takes to go to each member and say the name of the song you want to insert, are enough to kill the vibe of the whole crowd.
Started my sound-mixing in 1972 as a teen before eventually playing bass in 1979 here in Australia. Everything you mention resonates with me from both sides of the desk. Especially with sound guys and roadies: "First to arrive /last to leave". I took good habits with me up onto the stage. Noodling is the most incredibly , Capital "S", selfish thing that can happen during attempted soundchecks. Under-preparation meant that some players tried to turn soundchecks into rehearsals, ruining the fine tuning with PA.
Thanks Josh. Great video. My only contribution to all this is to look professional in your setup - hide leads away where possible, have a clean playing area so no one trips over your crap AND check your clothing - look impressional in whatever genre you end up playing.
I later went to work for a record company and watched the benefits of some of the things you've listed being talked about in the boardroom.
Yes! A clean stage not only looks better, but it's safer as well! I make it a point to run cables so they're out of the way, even if I'm the only one who seems to care.
I know it's an old post but this is great advice, thanks for sharing 🙏👍
I had a bass player that would begin to play an intro of a song which we didn't have rehearsed, then when he stopped playing it and the people shouted "yeah! Play that one!" He would say "oh they don't have it ready yet (us, the rest of the band)". Fortunately it happened on our first gigs (small parties, familiar crowd and acquaintances).
I had a guitar player do that, it especially sucks if they scream for the song, and you can't play it then you have to sing the next song which the crowd is now kind of disappointed to hear. Kind of a dick move.
When you're on stage, the instrument is treated like a firearm.
Fingers off the part that brings forth a noise, until you are ready and willing to -shoot- play
good attitude not only for gigs but also for rehearsals. the noodling in between songs costs too much time.
@@ashmonkey2572 100%! I'm all for having fun with the band, but save the cute licks for jams and brainstorms. If there's a gig on the horizon and it's a real "dress" rehearsal, you want to get the rhythm of the whole show down, not just the songs themselves. Especially if you're playing any kind of music intended for dancing, keep bullshit to a minimum.
"When do I have a break to drink, which songs are back-to-back, when is the frontman going to give special thanks/shout out the bartender, etc." Is all stuff I want to know and have on my setlist before the show, and when I have been in bands that agree with that sort of neurotic overpreparation, it makes shows a BREEZE, don't have to worry about anything but keeping people dancing and happy (or whatever the goal of the gig may be).
Bring Duct Tape!! So helpful/useful in so many situations!
Eric B NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! Gaff tape.... NEVER duct tape!
@@paulthelefty Uhhh...aka Boogie Tape
Gaff tape only on my equipment
yes! when playing at bars it really helps to secure cables
#1 put on deodorant!!!!
About #4, Bring Useful Things, one thing I rarely (if ever) see people worrying about (which I learned the worst possible way) is bringing an extra fuse (assuming your amp needs one).
It costs cents, weighs 5g, and can save your gig. I always carry a bunch of them with me.
Excellent video as always, Josh. Thank you.
Do not noodle yourself on stage. Very unprofessional. Do that after the gig and before bed. Wash your hands afterwards as well.
7:32 "Get your noodles out at home."
lol
You mean eating? Hahaja
He means nu-@@daigo120
Only time it's good to noodle is if the guitarists breaks a string and has to change mid show or something like that just to keep mood kinda going to much dead noise can ruin the momentum of the show
That's where a backup instrument is needed. I'd never gig with a single guitar.
Some cant afford that but if you can absolutely that's the way to go
umm.. i cant believe u feel the necessity to point that out. so obvious - beginner much?
instead of noodling either talk to the audience or have a tune prepared. Like play the song Fever on the bass and sing it, you can do that song with just bass and drums. Aimless noodling always sucks.
Great tips!! I was in a band with multiple annoyances. Your #5, spewing all your licks during soundcheck, was a favorite of the keyboardist and drummer. Along with being annoying, it destroys any audience appreciation or anticipation when someone has premature instrument ejaculation. (if you have an electric instrument, you could at least noodle quietly) Another one was 2 guys borrowing my stuff all the time, and me being too young and wimpy to say, "OK, this is the last time. Buy a cord (cart, etc.)". My own fault was not showing up early enough some of the time.
I worked in a band where the singer borrowed my mic, cable, and stand every night. I should have given a firm, "dude, buy your own equipment," but I was a nicer door mat back then.
I'd always sort of "avoided" practicing certain things not out of laziness but in my mind I always thought "well jazz is spontaneous so why should i be practicing something that's supposed to be spontaneous?" when really it just makes me sound like I don't know what I'm doing because then it constantly feels like I'm working harder in the moment instead of just being able to lay back and let the phrases I know will work (because I practiced them) flow out naturally
I get consistent work as a session player because I’m easy to work with and do the little things like the stuff on the list. I’m a good but not great player but I get the gigs because I’m reliable and consistent
Doing this professional for over 40 years.... And YES, all your points you mention are totally true.. I show up to gigs and can tell in 30 seconds who is a real pro and who is an A$$-Clown.... Usually the guy running his mouth mentioning the word "PRO" in every sentence is going to be trouble...A bed-room player claiming to be a PRO is usually a headache....The first nightmare is their guitar is out of tune ..but bigger headache is that they don't realize their guitar is out of tune and then they REFUSE to tune it when you ask them to check it......They also claim to do session work but they have no clue what ASCAP is ???.... I try real hard to be friendly and work with them....problem is their ego wont allow them to take advice from the band and things go sideways real quick...This is usually the same guy noodling between songs and pissing everyone off... When showing up to a show, you need to KEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUT unless your singing..... only play when your playing your parts of the song....Make sure to stay in TUNE, but do it silently between song or sets...Because I NEVER noodle or show-off my skill set at any time during a show, I have been accused of being a very simple bass player, since I stick to only playing the set-list cover songs, which are usually boring... A few years later a former band mate sees me playing in a fusion band and comes over to me later and says he's blown away and why I didn't play like that in the other band.... BECAUSE, I was being PAID to show up and PLAY the pop cover songs..not there to noodle and show off ..... Jeez some people don't get it ....
I don't noodle on stage. I do spaghetti because of... my Italian heritage.
Even if you've learned the song inside out when at the gig its easy to have a mental block! Take notes and bring them with you.
I sing about half the set with my current band. Nothing worse than being in the middle of the song and forgetting the lyrics. Now I keep a cheat sheet by my monitor
I use a fuzz pedal on my bass for certain songs we play and at my first gig it stopped working out of nowhere. I was super bummed because I was so excited to try it out live and it was super expensive and fixing it would be butt-cheeks. We played the entire show and while we were packing up I realized I wired it wrong so it just never got power. Lesson learned, be prepared for your own stupidity... and pack that lucky pick...
6 - Don't drink alcohol before the show!
Relative. My friend said he practice under alcohol pressure so if he drunk during the gig that isn't make trouble. :D :D :D
Oh please, a couple of beers is fine.
@@Mike_LaFontaine75 Depends on your tolerance. Know your limits and don't toe the line!
Drink it during the show 🤟
@@matevizhanyo7604 We would practice weekly and distribute 2 beers each every session for this reason LOL gotta match the 2 comped beers from the bar since it's hard to trust a bandmate who turns down comped beers :P
My take on the noodling. Yeah I try really hard not to do it because it is a pet peeve of mine but once you’re set up, I think a 15 second drum roll or noodle as a check is totally cool and professional. Just make sure it’s super short and with a big buffer before the downbeat of the gig.
I'd say: Never say anything bad or rude about a fellow band mate on the Mic. unless playful banter is your thing, calling out band mates is dirty and a fast way to loose a member.
I'm with you on everything, except batteries. I don't use them for anything, so I don't bring any. And play open mics as much as possible and play with everyone. I try to print out every song on the set list, but if someone calls out a request that's not on the set list, you need to be able to improvise on the spot. Nothing is better for that kind of training than playing whatever the guitar player wants, and nothing builds confidence better than having that experience of playing songs you've never played, or someone's original, and making it sound great doing it.
Don’t drink too much beforehand and go to the bathroom before set.
I was playing at the Park Bar in Burbank years ago when between songs I had to really pee. I ran off stage to quickly use the bathroom. Some blonde guy was in my way so I moved him. When I got back my band mate told me, “you knocked over Nick Swardson while running to the bathroom”
do not forget to say hello and goodbye to your host.
and bring a spare bass if possible.
even for the rehearsal I, the bass player, (the helpful one) have a capo, spare wires, a drum key tuner. and I used to have drumsticks too, until I trust the drum player who are the guy I arrive the first with, 99% of the time.
Those things will get you into and keep you in a gig 10 out of 10 times more so than being the best player in the world. You could be better than Flea and Victor Wooten combined, but if you're just generally unpleasant to be around, I'll find someone else.
Always flog the dolphin before a gig. If you don’t, it’s like going out there with a loaded gun. People get killed that way.
FACTS. Always have Rosie Palmer and the Sisters 5 open the show.
Rookie mistake is to think "I'll just have my partner take care of it!"
DO NOT! You want to be distracted the other way around if they are at the show, otherwise it's like rewarding yourself for eating all your dinner with a bowl of ice cream, except you haven't even touched your dinner yet. Will spoil your motivation LOL
THIS!
I rough up the suspect 2 or 3 times in the day leading up to my gigs.
You got it all wrong, you do it during the gig. People love that stuff
@@f1rebreather123 ah the gg allin method, I like it
This guy has never been in a band that expected you, as a musician, to be part of the road and light crew. With a literal four hour physical set up of old school 70s equipment. I'm not even exaggerating. As a guitarist/bass player/dobro player I'll be helpful when I can. Even set up my own very small PA if needed. But I think he underestimates how badly people will take advantage of you.
Carrying a 9V battery is nice and compact...but guitarist never give them back! That's why I started carrying an extra 9V wall wart adapter, so far the two times we've had to use I got it back!
Also put your name or mark on everything. Especially extension chords. They all look the same and the last thing you want is to be arguing over a $10 chord with house sound man at the end of the night.
4:32 Rolls of tape, of all different kinds and colours! Sharpie. Torch (flashlight). As many kettle leads as you can carry. Wire clippers. A cloth or rag of some sort. Paper or notebook (very important). Screwdrivers. Box cutter or scissors. Dont just bring *a* spare guitar lead, bring *all* your spares, and microphone leads if you have any, even if you don't sing. Bring leads for things that you don't even think you use at gigs, any spare leads and plugs and cables you have lying around at home unused, put them in your gig bag (step 1, have a gig bag).
Just trust me.
Along with that, make a list of what you are going to take, at least 2 days before the gig. Then check that list BEFORE you go out the door!
At my age a checklist of what I need to take is essential.
As for noodling, yeah don't. I've been told off for that before and it's embarrassing.
I do think that it's good to warm up a bit though. Turn the bass down to 0 or the amp off and play a few scales and arps. This is really for warming up the muscles and tendons not your ears.
I had a wedding gig once where the band leader gave me the list but not a lot of time to prepare. Learned all the tracks, had cheat sheets in order to discover that almost all the songs where not in the key I learned them in ( I had even asked prior and he said they were in the original keys). Luckily I have synesthetic perfect pitch and was able to catch everything quickly and adjust...bandleader ran up and apologized profusely.
Having gone from working DJ to working bass player, I'm always early. You never know when you might need to run out for a cord or batteries or whatever. I also appreciate some warm up time for my hands.
I bring a backup for almost everything; bass, cables, mic, batteries, and I bring a DI box in case my amp ever fails and I have to direct into the PA.
I use a rickenbacker 4003 with stereo output: bass pickup through an ampeg BA115, treble pickup through sansamp bass drive DI into PA system
@@almostliterally593 how does that sound with the lows coming through the amp and only the highs coming through the PA?
R&RDream amazing
Get there early! Once, my nephew showed up at his gig to play bass. He went to walk in the venue and the doorman stopped him and wouldn't let him in 'cause he wasn't 21 (the place served alcohol). He told them he was in the band. They said, we don't care! Get there early. Crazy stuff happens.
Extension to #4: Don’t forget to bring extra fingers if you lose them while you’re playing
Great advice for EVERY member. Even the singer. Did I say the singer too?
DONT DRINK and Jive!
I went to a music school once, and at Thursdays or Fridays we would have what we called a jam cafe, where the students could show of some of the music they'd been rehearsing to the rest of the school. Sometimes it developed into all out parties and other times not. This time people went all in. Now my band was on later so we had a couple of beers, well i had more like 6 and a shot or to, and then we had to play. We started our set and I thought it went fine, remembered all the hard breakes and shifts. And When i've played the last number i started to pack my gear until i heard our lead singer announce the last song in the set, i quickly looked at the set list and it dawned on me that i've been one song ahead of the band the whole set, And nobody really noticed except my girlfriend at the time: "MAN you guys were out of tune today..."
accurate. I came recently insufficiently prepared to a show that was important for the guys that hired me, and it haunts me on a regular basis... I definitely can relate about the 5 thinks...
If you just go watch other bands play, you can learn so much. You'll see them do things that annoy you, and then you'll learn what not to do (like noodling between songs) and you'll see them do things that are awesome, and then you can use that in your own show. It might be something super simple, or super mind blowing, but you can always learn something. On an off night, don't squander the opportunity to go see another band play. If if you don't feel like it, and trust me, I've been there before, it's worth it because you just might learn something.
Here's my top 5..
1. Get there with "enough" time.. don't let venues get you in several hours early.. you'll just spend your gig money on beer.
2. your drummer has more kit than anyone.. if you're already set up help them 1st., same applies to packing down.
3. Don't lend other bands kit.. it may seem nice but you're likely to not get it back unless you're on top of it (leads, picks and such sure.. but amps? guitars? anything they may break and you WILL need don't lend.
4. Always store kit in a safe place.. no excuses like "door was locked".. yeah, it's ment to be.
5. Look forward.. it makes a huge diference when you look towards the crowd and not at the floor or your neck. You seem a lot more into it, doesn't take long for the crowd to pick up on that and start doing their own thing. If you feel awkward, the crowd probably do too.
I guess while I'm at it here's a few other things that really help..
A.. soundcheck with a song that uses all members.. may seem obvious, trust me our harmonica player always moans with the song we pick (as we tend to forget as he only plays on a few songs), also, soundcheck with a song you're not likely to play.. fans will know it anyway and saves repeating stuff.
B.. Find your drink limit and stick to it. Don't get carried away.. for me it's 3 pints.. bang on 3 pints.. can usually drink a couple more on stage and not be drunk til I hit last song or two.. and I'm in a flow then anyway.. never start drunk haha high? yeah sure.
C.. figure out how to commuicate with the sound guy.. generally I point at what I want louder or lower in my mix and then point up or down lol keep it simple. no full sentences.. they can't hear you unless it's pretty damn quiet and it's just you line checking.. in a set you don't hear nothing.. hand signs work way better. make sure to thumbs up after.. it's polite.
D.. sorta back to the last but never start turning up an instrument while an amp is going to a mixer.. it's better to ask for more in your mix than to start clipping on the mixer and sounding crap out front but fine on stage. It can be fustrating when you can't hear your instrument but it's better to sound clean to all of the crowd than hear yourself and sound distorted out front. Try your best to get a little more in your mix and you won't have to turn up.. no mix? yeah just bang it up haha it's the only option to cut through.. if you can't hear you, they can't if there's no mix.
C.. one more.. have fun! don't take it all too seriously.. chat to other bands, watch their sets, don't leave straight after you play.. this will get you more gigs. We generally pick support bands by how fun they are to play and hang with.. need to sound good too I guess.. but you know, not leaving right after getting paid shows you're there for more than just the cash and actually enjoy being at gigs in general. After 20 years of gigging I still get excited before I play. Turn those butterflys into bouncyness and remember to enjoy it.
Whoa how come this isn’t on Bass Buzz? Why two channels?
Love your stuff dude! 😊
This was pretty useful, thanks for sharing you knowlegde!
Josh's online course on playing bass is fantastic, I recommend it highly. I've made more progress in the past two months than in two years of lessons with a semi-famous bass teacher. B2B rules!
Clicked on this link because of the thumbnail. I was curious why you wouldn't noodle on stage. And I'll say that I'm not a stage performer, I've only been in the audience; so the note about not wanting to make noise while your band mates do sound checks makes sense. But never once as an audience member did I feel a sense of anticipation for the band that was playing, I always just feel like I'm having to be patient for the music to start. So when they are still setting up and someone does some noodling, it's like a little ice breaker between the band and the audience. I don't think anyone in a bar or club type audience has ever felt that noodling spoiled a song.
If anything it just keeps my attention on the band while they are setting up, and it actually increases anticipation.
watch any great band in concert, not many of them noodle. If a band can't go from one song to the next, that is something that needs to be fixed
@@rrdream2400 When great bands noodle their own licks everyone goes wild. I'm mainly thinking of Queen
@@CorboWill you never had a band mate start noodling a song you don't play and the audience goes nuts and is then disappointed because nobody else in the band knows it. Then you have to sing the next song on the list that is now more of disappointment to the audience because they thought the were going to hear the song he was noodling on. It's a dick move.
@@rrdream2400 OK but you can noodle things you are going to play then?
@@CorboWill you can do anything you want. What you describe is more like a theatrical tease. Intentionally done as part of a show. As I bass player, I keep my bass quiet between songs and wait for the next song to start. Noodling annoys the crap out of most band leaders. Never met one that said, "great gig but I wish you'd slap and play more crap in between songs on your bass"
#5 is sooooo important. Noodling is so unprofessional.
Tell that my drummer.🤣
@@mariovomhof2775 That's even worse!!
I've literally walked through the front door at our local venue, been handed a guitar while taking my coat of and got on stage to play lol
... but... I had rang to let them know to set up for me as I was running late.. I thought it was pretty epic haha
Smile a lot. Even if you don't feel like smiling!
1. it helps your confidence - if your face says everything is going OK then the rest of you will follow suit
2. if the bass player is smiling, it helps the rest of the band feel confident because the bass player holds everything together; and
3. someone is going to be taking pictures and you don't want to be the one scowling at the back.
All good points! Took me awhile to learn some of these.
Great advice for any musician, not just bassists. Thank you! I would add a 6th point about substances and alcohol, and how important it is to be just as good in the last set as in the first! Keep that stuff away from your gigs!!
I suggest bringing a backup bass. I broke my E string on a gig and had to take a few minutes to replace it while the band killed time without me. Which leads me to another lesson learned: don't use tapered strings if you play hard. Tapered strings are thin diameter where they pass over the bridge.
Other:
Fresh 9V battery before gig.
Nice if your active bass has a passive switch in case battery dies mid-song. My 2000 Fender Jazz Deluxe doesn't have a passive switch so I'm dead if battery goes.
I second the no noodling advice. My biggest pet peeve. I’ve brought an extra mic clip for years. Tonight I finally had a use for it. Our singer broke her mic clip, and I had my spare available within 30 seconds.
I always keep a capo in the gig bag - it's saved my guitar player friends many many times :)
To borrow from “Hitchhiker’s Guide”: go nowhere without a clean dry towel.
When you get home, the used one comes out of the gig bag, and a clean one goes in.
You can buy ‘em by the dozen, just like gyms/spas do, and you can pick a weird color, so your spouse/sig other doesn’t complain when they get mixed in among the “good towels”in the wash.
Be nice to and cooperative with the sound guy/gal. They can make or break your mix.
getting there early is vital. one time I got very early to the gig, realizing I had left my bass guitar at home believing I had it in my car since after work I went straight to the gig and had noticed my bass amp in the back seat. went and came back from my house almost right on time.
I completely agree with these. Really useful and valid things to consider.
Funny thing is I've played Bass only little over year and all the bands I was in I was the vocalist . All these points definitely apply to the singer . Especially when it comes to helping lug gear and make sure everyone knows their parts . I would memorize everyone's parts as a fail safe .
A couple extras I also put in my gig bag that have come in handy many times: Duct Tape, flashlight. Oh and bring a snack or two like granola bars.
Great tips!! For working musicians!! a big thank you!!!!
Super valuable advice, thanks!
We noodled during soundcheck that was about it. The occasional guitar would get smashed or the singer would jump into the drum set once in a while. We also drank before, during and after the show.. In the punk rock scene, everyone just did whatever they wanted to do. Crowds and bands always had a good time.
Don't underestimate your ego and overestimate your playing capabilities :
1. As a band : Do not prepare tunes you know will not be ready and tight. Do not underestimate "simple songs".
Example : Ok, we want to play Sir Duke, but are we all prepared to take the time to sort things out, to rehearse things slowly. So we'll be able to play tightly when the day of the show comes ? Collective answer : NO, we don't need it, we're all "good" sight readers, this is just a "simple pop song". Oh my ! I just knew it would be a mess, and the rendition of the song was horrendous.
2. Do not "overplay" if the song doesn't need it... Like, play every flashy fill you just learned (and are not ready to play tightly)... Please, leave those licks home... I call this noodling but during the actual performance. Play simple and be reliable. Play what makes sense to the actual song.
3. Get to know your audience and play for them. Think about them when writing your setlist.
Great tips! I’d add: Prioritize feel over flashiness, and make the drummer’s job easier by supporting them rhythmically.
Unless you’re playing a feature, the bassist’s job is generally to be “felt and not heard.” Playing in balance with the band and with good feel can make the gig much more enjoyable for everyone.
And as both a drummer and bassist, I’ve been on both sides of the musical relationship. When I’m drumming with a bassist who has solid time and is paying attention to how I’m feeling the time, it allows me to focus on the entire ensemble, rather than struggling to establish and hold a decent groove with the bassist.
Great list! I do all of that. When doing sound check I will pluck a note or two on my bass and the band leader or sound guy will give me a thumbs up to let me know I’m good to go. The joys of being deaf 😊
I would add play a bass that sits nicely in a band mix. One that makes your band sound good. Lots of boomy or trebley basses sound great at home and at the music store while they don't blend as well once the band starts playing.
As an old-ish bass player i have long learnt all this but: i do confirm this is correct and: yes i too wish i'd learnt 'em sooner!
When i played in a band in highschool I did in fact arrive late, show up unprepared and only worry about my own shit. But i did not noodle on stage because we had guitar players playing sweet child o' mine during soundcheck and tuning.
Great tips bro thanks!.. especially the noodling.. I'm so guilty..
he has a black star tattoo :3 cool
i made up a bullshit reason to leave a band i really really enjoyed playing with because "no matter how many hints i gave" the drummer would not stop playing after he got set up...it was embarrassing, people trying to enjoy a dinner date on a Saturday night (probably looking forward to it all week) but couldn't even have a nice conversation cause of random drum fills interrupting what could have been a nice evening... by the time we would start playing a lot of people had already left... i could see then getting annoyed, i dealt with this for quite some time, years actually... it got to the point that i'd set up, get a sound check for my bass, then go out to my truck and drink coffee and smoke cigarettes till 3 min. before it was time to play, i couldn't take it anymore so i made something up and left the band
Why not simply confront the guy? And talk with the other people in the band about it. Sometimes hints aren't enough and you gotta put your foot down. If he can't handle that, it should be him leaving not you....
I agree with Geert. If the end result would've been a fight and you or him or both leaving the band, then either way you're at the some outcome. Nowhere to go but up from there. Let that be a lesson to you mate. I've had to learn the hard way over the years, sounds similar to you, that "hoping things change" is never going to get you anywhere. You have to be assertive about things like that. You don't have to be an asshole, or try and make him feel bad, just be firm and honest about how annoying it is and how it bothers you and makes you feel. Then in the future, if he does it again, he'll feel like he's no longer just doing something himself, it'll feel like he's doing something TO you. And that feeling is a tough one to just ignore. Then if he does try to make an effort to stop or whatever, acknowledge that. People are smart, but they also can be incredibly dense lol. Sometimes, actually a lot of the time, you have to hit things head on.
I definitely bring at least of two of everything.. can't be too prepared!!
1. pay attention to your monitor mix and how much you can hear each individual member of the band. Playing without vox as a guide is not recommended if you want to keep your job.
I have found that I need an allen wrench more often than I thought.
Nice Bop Shop shirt! I'm from Rochester and that place is awesome!
I have a tu 2 tuner, it has a built in mute, works great for me, i just turn around and act like time tuning. But I'm really warming up.
Woah, I had no idea that you're local.
"Cotati California at the Redwood Cafe" lol you are definitely a Sonoma County celebrity now.
Good tips but in your what to bring part you forgot to mention bringing an extra set of strings.
William Mitchell Solid advice. You’ll never break a string when you have a backup!
Those would be part of the “useful stuff”.
I should've watched this before my gig on Sat. I was playing along with the DJ songs before the band started. Ouch. Lesson learned.
All of this adds up to professionalism. Whether you’re a hired gun or a member of an established band, it’s not about any one member - its about the band. And I love the Cirrus - sold mine and regretted it almost immediately...
Totally agree. Please do one for club owners/event managers. And perhaps one for sound guys. Mostly they are fine, but I sure have met some, let’s say, imperfect ones too 🤪
Dont noodle. I did it in a friday night gig and the drummer on the next rehearsal on the next thuesday spent one fucking hour giving me a hard time in front of the other band members. Inleft the band weeks later cos i felt he went too far and was disrespectful to me mainly in front of the other guys. I totally see his point that i should not had done that, ( mainly cos i did a good gig). I am led to believe there was something else.
I learned noodling on stage was awful for all your reasons and more. I've heard a few do it and it makes me pucker. .....One time the next band urged me to stay behind the drums for them. I didnt know what songs they were gonna play and they had more of a fan base. It was random but lucky for me the structures were easy to predict and I knew a couple of the songs. Also I like to improvise. I think I found it more fun than playing with the band i was in. I spose some chick noticed and I got lucky. P.S. drums are not my main instrument. Prepare for the worst and best and don't make a mess.
Great advice
Arrived at my own outdoor festival gig by bus, rushed to stage area by the event crew by car and ran on stage to only barely mke the first note of my first solo. Song number 3 on the set list. I cn laugh now but yeh no try to never be that late to a gig, my musician brothers and sisters 😂
Cool how these rules can also apply to those (like me) who work as part of a crew on a set in theFilm/TV industry too. The reasons are exactly the same.
Probably obvious for most people, because this is the FIRST lesson I learned at my very first gig.
After the gig is over... My bass in in the case, cable in the bag, I'm done, right?? Time to chat with friends!
Wrong!
HELP others pack up! Boy oh boy did I get scolded after that, and the lesson was never forgotten. This hits 10X harder if there's another act after you.
I have a crippling addiction to noodling
That's alright. Just don't surf Pornhub on your iPad while on stage. Depending on how low you wear your instrument it could present problems.
Came here from your Banana and Dates song (which I found in my super super old favourites list). Perfect cause I’m actually learning bass. 😆
Surprisingly easy stuff but we consistently forget them.
- Check your fly before you go on stage.
- When you're on stage, don't pick your nose.
Enjoyed your informative video. I am a guitar player looking to purchase a Bass and an Amp for small to med restaurant-gig = Motown, Sade, Reggae. Not-into: lugging heavy gear. "Any Recommendations" ??? for either a Bass under $800 ( Fender, G&L, Ibanez, Sire, FujiGen ) and and amp under $350. oNe LovE from NYC
#5 can't be overstated. Don't even noodle between songs during practice and if you do, turn that goddamn volume knob way the eff down.
Cotati Represent!! SSU all day baby
How soon before a corporate gig, for example, do you recommend doing the "sound check"?
We typically “sound check” one hour before show. Sometimes earlier if there’s other events which a check will interfere with.
If it’s a multi-band event, the first song IS the sound check!
Be nice to the sound engineers.. that's my worthy advice.
Also the noodle-tip is gold, I have had and seen that happen a lot!
The sound-guy is your friend!
i find noodling in small places is bad but if you see more mainstream bands they noodle all the time