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Dirty-South Blues Harp forum: wail on! >
Gig day prep
Gig day prep
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2chops
24 posts
Aug 25, 2011
6:41 PM
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I'm doing an outdoor gig tomorrow night. I'm playing with 3 other guys. Mostly some jazz, gospel blues and a few standards. Nice mix for what we're doing. Anyhow, I was wondering what some of you do on the day of your gigs. I know my material, and as a former longtime competitive athlete, I'm quite familiar with the "pre-game jitters". Normal stuff. But like I said, I'; just curious what you all do the day of.
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Oisin
849 posts
Aug 25, 2011
6:46 PM
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About 15 minutes before the gig starts go find somewhere quiet and smoke a huge doobie. Works for me and I always enjoy myself.
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Oisin
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Greg Heumann
1240 posts
Aug 25, 2011
8:41 PM
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I usually stress in the morning until I am sure I have everything I need in the car. Immediately before the gig I always feel exhausted. But from the 1st downbeat I am right there.
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/Greg
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nacoran
4504 posts
Aug 25, 2011
9:41 PM
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Just like sports, stay hydrated at the right levels. You don't want your lips drying out on you, and you want to make sure you've gotten rid of any excess fluids before you start. It's okay to swing to the music but the audience will recognize the pee pee dance. :)
I use the same routine before a trip and before going out to jam. I pack everything the night before, even if I think I'll use it before then. On trips it's the toothpaste and toothbrush. I pack them the night before, and then take them out briefly to brush in the morning. Since I have to unpack them I remember to repack them. I do the same thing with my harps.
If there are any pieces you still need to practice, do it sooner rather than later. We premiered a new song at an open mic recently. I went over the lyrics just before the show to make sure I had them down. Then the other acts went up and by the time we got up I'd forgotten them again. If I'd gone over it the night before I still would have forgotten them, but I would have realized I'd forgotten them in time to do a little more memorizing.
I like to quietly take a couple minutes before going up to focus. I visualize what I'm going to do, think of what I am going to say, what notes I'm going to play (for some reason, although on most of our songs I just naturally know what hole to start on there are a couple that throw me, so I make a mental note so I know what I'm doing, sort of a mental sound check. I don't worry about the audience. I don't know why. I'm a very shy person one on one around new people, but around friends, in front of a crowd (or an internet forum) I can't shut up, and it's not a nervous thing, it's the opposite. It's not that I'm not nervous, I'm excited, but I know what's expected. I know how to introduce a song. I (usually) know the words and harp part and I'm too focused on actually performing to worry about all the little nagging self doubt that gets me the rest of the time.
Finally, I make sure if I've had anything to eat I take a gulp of water and swish it around, just so I don't make my harp sticky, press record on my little recorder and say hello. :)
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Nate
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jbone
627 posts
Aug 26, 2011
3:49 AM
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i have been on so many stages, for gigs and at jams, as a guest sitting in on the spur of the moment, i'm just usually ready. very seldom am i caught off guard. it does happen occasionally, but if i'm used to playing with at least one of the players on a stage i usually do ok if not great.
getting ready for a gig say with the roots/blues duo where we're doing sound etc, that's different esp if we're traveling overnight. i'm in charge of ALL the gear, from her clip-on tuner to guitars, to the p.a., amps, mics, stands, books, harps, everything. she does most of the clothes but i pick my stuff out and pack my toiletries. i am the loader of the car. i usually begin the process the night before and get at least the big stuff and tings we won't need corralled in one place, staged for loading. there is a method to the madness esp if your car is not real big and you have a lot of stuff.
i am a seat of the pants player. i don't get it "right" sometimes but i usually add something positive to a song. or i know when to be quiet and wait until the next song.
generally though, if it's "my" stage- i'm working with the band or duo partner- we go over set lists before hand and get fairly clear on what's coming up. set lists usually prove to be a good starting point,with changes coming up at any given time. this means i must be ready for changes and not get too locked in, in my own mind.
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hvyj
1712 posts
Aug 26, 2011
5:23 AM
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If I have time, I'll briefly run through the heads, hooks or melodies to any new tunes earlier in the day on the day of the gig to be sure I have them down clean and keep them clearly in mind.
I'll also usually pack my gear in the trunk of my car early in the day if I have time.
Then, if it's an evening gig with a full band, I try to take a nap before actually getting ready to leave for the gig if I can. If it's only a duo gig, I'm less likely to take a nap. But a four hour, four set gig with a hard rocking electric band requires considerable energy and attentiveness, so a nap can be really helpful if you can squeeze one in.
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HawkeyeKane
98 posts
Aug 26, 2011
7:37 AM
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Usually I have to work 8 to 5 on the day I have a gig, so I don't really have time to get any jitters. I get home and change and load my gear, and THEN when I'm on my way, I sometimes get a few butterflies in my gut. But they don't last long. Good thing about the band I play in is that my bandmates are also my best friends. So the thought of having fun with my buddies usually calms me down. I think the most stressful time is setup and soundcheck. If all goes well, we have downtime to relax before we start. If not...well...it can get pretty nerve racking.
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Hawkeye Kane
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harpdude61
985 posts
Aug 26, 2011
7:39 AM
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Got to admire Oisin's honesty...lol
I'm alwaya a little nervous and dry mouthed...craving water, but too much water is no fun in a long set.
Any nervousness is gone whent the music starts.
Last Edited by on Aug 26, 2011 7:40 AM
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2chops
25 posts
Aug 26, 2011
7:54 AM
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The doobie thing ain't my thing. But to each his own. I have the day off, so I'm walking the dog and getting in a little play time for fun here on the River Walk. It's neat to see people smile as they walk by. Tonight's a little different for me. I've played this venue a few times before, but as a solo act. We had a good practice session last week & had a good time. Whole different dynamic. In some ways this is easier for me 'cause it's not ALL me. Less pressure that way. But as a solo, I just drop in, Kurt turns on the pa & I do my thing. Spontaneous with no time for nerves. Should be a good time.
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LittleBubba
82 posts
Aug 26, 2011
8:48 AM
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Whatever being prepared is for you, Do It. I try to get out the gear I'll need well in advance, so that I don't have to think about those things when I'm in a hurry or down to the 11th hour.
I usually make sure I've got any spare gear I may need, for example, last night at our practice one of our guitar cables developed a helluva scratchy noise in it, so we just grabbed a spare cable.. that's a bad deal if you have no backup (then you're tryin' to fix a cable fast).
I always make sure I've got a folding chair too. Those are the swiss army knife of stage gear.. good for amp stands, harp case stand, a place to sit, and a place to put your notes.
One of my buddies always takes a rug for outdoor gigs.
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2chops
27 posts
Aug 26, 2011
9:12 AM
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Thanks for the tip on the folding chair. Good idea. My bags been packed with all my harps, spares, play list..since this AM. Now off to the garage for the chair bag.
Last Edited by on Aug 26, 2011 9:12 AM
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Oisin
850 posts
Aug 26, 2011
3:46 PM
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I wouldn't recommend my approach to anyone ...but it seems to work for me. I don't usually post on the site but here's what Junior Wells might have sounded like if he smoked a fat one...Hope this works.
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Edit...hey Mods, I think I've done everything right for embedding a sound file. Can you tell what I've done wrong?
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Oisin
Last Edited by on Aug 26, 2011 3:56 PM
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joeleebush
331 posts
Aug 26, 2011
7:39 PM
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Everything posted is all well and good, I guess.
But the thing you better think about the MOST is what you will do if the man comes up after the show and says something like..."awww fellas I am so sorry but someone busted into the box office and stole all the money, but I am good for it, everybody knows me, etc etc etc. Give me a call Monday morning".
Did you get a deposit?
No? Then the track odds against you of being paid a dime just jumped to about 100-1.
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www.reverbnation.com/thejoeleebushbluesgroup
www.joeleebushshow.com
"If you think you can or if you think you can't...you are right"
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Littoral
344 posts
Aug 26, 2011
8:18 PM
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Kim Wilson told me that no matter what you do the nights that are really it are 1 in 10. Me, I check my gear early in the day.
I also agree with HVYI: "If I have time, I'll briefly run through the heads, hooks or melodies to any new tunes earlier in the day on the day of the gig to be sure I have them down clean and keep them clearly in mind".
Also, I like to listen to a giant before hand to set the bar -although usually not harp but most likely William Clarke if I do, otherwise SRV will really get my attitude right. Maybe Otis Rush, Albert King...
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LittleBubba
84 posts
Aug 27, 2011
7:05 AM
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We're playin' outdoors tonight and I gotta work at my day job until about 2PM. I spent 30 minutes organizing my gear this AM.
I got all my gear sittin' in the hallway at home, and I totally emptied my gearbag, took out the stuff I won't need tonight ( eg., spare tubes 'cuz I'm goin' SS tonight ) and loaded a backup cable for every cable I'll use. I even took a backup delay pedal.
Now I can concentrate on my day job for a while instead of thinkin' about gettin' ready for the gig.
Last Edited by on Aug 27, 2011 7:06 AM
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