Gigging-Do's and don'ts

[MegaSchenker92]

Hey guys, my band has its first gig in about 23 days. We have a half hour slot in front of 200 people and I am bricking it. So what I thought would be cool would be for some gig tips, and do's and don'ts, from all you gigging veterans 

[Mirichello]

1. Plan your set-list and practice it over. Don't leave long spaces between songs.
2. Don't get wasted.
3. Enjoy yourself.

[GPW]

4. Try not to say anything really stupid through the mic. 

[MegaSchenker92]

Hehehe, I will try 

[Mud Shrimp Moe]

Rehearse the set list in order.

Work on starting the next song IMMEDIATELY after finishing the prior song.  This looks MUCH more professional than stalling, tuning, rambling between songs.

Resist the urge to banter very much over the mic between songs.  Ideally, only one ... possibly two .... band members should banter at all.  Introduce yourself if you want, but then play a few songs before you talk to the audience at all.  When you do, mention your band name and where you're from and how you're really glad to be there.  Then go back to playing.  When you're done say "thanks" and that you had a great time.  That's all that's needed.  You don't need to introduce each song or say who wrote it, etc.  The only exception to this is if you have an original tune or two that you're REALLY proud of and really want to emphasize, then go ahead.  But otherwise, avoid.  Just play.

Bring extra cables, adaptors, picks, etc.

Backup guitars are good to have.  But for a thirty minute set, try to play the same guitar the whole show, if possible.  Switching gear is just dead space in a performance.  If you must, then do it quickly.

Smile and make eye contact.  Look like you're having fun.  Be fun to watch.  Move around a bit.  Practice all of this in rehearsal so it doesn't throw you off during the gig.

Relax prior to the gig as best you can.  Don't get drunk or stoned. 

Enjoy it.

If you make a mistake, play on through it.  The audience won't really care and might not even notice as long as you soldier on through it and keep going.

Have fun.

[AKA Ninja]

Resist the urge to banter very much over the mic between songs.

Some bands can get away with this, but you have to rehearse it as part of the routine. It has to flow naturally.

Bring extra cables, adaptors, picks, etc.

Also bring a tuner, even if it's just a crappy handheld one.

Relax prior to the gig as best you can.

Everyone has a different way of doing it. I used to smoke (literally) half a pack before going on stage while getting amped up. Another one of my bandmates had to go take a raging dump before going on. Another had to have at least one glass of beer, no exceptions. One guy was just slick and ready to go on without any rituals.

Don't get drunk or stoned. 

Unless you're already used to playing drunk or stoned in practice, in which case being sober might actually hurt your performance.

If you make a mistake, play on through it.  The audience won't really care and might not even notice as long as you soldier on through it and keep going.

^^ this. NOBODY will notice your mistakes more than you will, unless you're just the worst guitarist ever. The only people in the band who will hear you screw up is you, most likely.

Have fun.

Easily the most important part of a gig.

[Mud Shrimp Moe]

Resist the urge to banter very much over the mic between songs.

Some bands can get away with this, but you have to rehearse it as part of the routine. It has to flow naturally.

Agreed.  I also think crowd banter just works better at gigs with longer sets.  A single 30 minute set is one in which I would suggest playing as many songs as you can and doing minimal banter.  My band sometimes plays three one hour or one and a half hour sets.  Inevitably, late in the night the crowd banter increases a little bit.  After playing a couple hours, we've kind of settled in with the crowd and it gets more casual.

There's no "rule" on this, just my suggestion.  Bottom line, if you're bantering just because you think you should, consider holding back on it.  Less is often more.  This is especially true if you don't know what the hell to say and are just rambling.

"Hi there.  We're the <name of band> band and we're really excited to be here!"   <--- that's just about perfect.

[maaik]

Resist the urge to banter very much over the mic between songs.

Yeah, basically, if you're not a witty and personable dude offstage, you're not going to magically become one once you've got a mic in front of you.

Be nice to the sound guy.  Like, as soon as you get to the venue--before you start setting up.  Go talk to the guy--learn his or her name.  They'll probably ask you what you need--like how many vocal mics and where, if you need any DI etc.  Answer his questions and help him out.  If you get a soundcheck, remember it's not called a "goodness check."  Set up efficiently, play only when he asks you to play, let him know what you need to hear, then get off the stage, would ya?

Remember that this is supposed to be fun.  No tantrums, no band drama, no apologies.

If you're lucky enough to have a heckler, remember that if you can't overpower one drunk guy with the sheer power of your collective volume, you should probably call it a night.

If you've got merch, try not to mention it more than once.  You're not a street vendor.

Wear a shirt, tough guy.

Try not to suck.

Remember that it is a privilege to play in front of people.  Show a little gratitude.

[BloodyKnuckle]

+1 for opening this thread Mega im giging soon and this is all very helpfull.

[Zencat]

 Looks like most things are covered by the replies so far.
 
Number one. Don't take anything regarding the music business seriously, except your timing..meaning play in time and show up on time. There's all sort of BS that's possible, as the music scene draws some real bastards and half assed losers and self deluded egomaniacs, so whatever happens either go with it, or laugh it off and start anew tomorrow.

[maaik]

the music scene draws some real bastards and half assed losers and self deluded egomaniacs, so whatever happens either go with it, or laugh it off and start anew tomorrow.

Oh man, quoted for truth.  It's real easy to get cynical and bitter at people who book and promote.  Or at soundguys.  Or audiences.  Or other bands.  But yeah, laugh it off--but learn from it and figure out who not to work with anymore or where not to play anymore and stick to your guns.