Hey guys. I'm going to be playing at my schools Winter Carnival in the music competition. It's one of our most competetive contests and I'm doing it with a bunch of other great guys who are really great. I'm really not too worried that we weont do well, but I'm just afraid that I'll let my nerves get the best of me. Do you guys have any tips for me to help keep my head straight? We're doing Old Time Rock and Roll by Bob Segar and it's a fairly simple tune. Just yor standard I, IV, and V blues progresion, and as far as I know I just have the first guitar solo and I may need to fill in on the saxaphone solo if the kid we asked doesn't do it. And the room I'm going to be playing in is basically a small gym, it holds seven hundred students on one side. Should my 50W combo do alright? I'm also nervous about that.
First real performance on Friday, tipps?
- Thread starter BluesGuyJ
- Start date
loudriver23
New member
Re: First real performance on Friday, tipps?
Blues Guy,
How I envy you and having your first "Real" performance. As far as keeping your head calm, I would advice staying away from anything mind altering. I usually do some breathing exercises or my hand/finger excercises.
If you feel confident that you know the material and have rehearsed, take comfort in that fact and just try to relax and remember to have fun. It's all about the fun.
As far as your 50W combo being enough for a GYM I say PLENTY.
I work at a High School and frequently have to play Rally's. I have a Mesa Mark IV combo 85W. I seldom have had the master past 3 on Tweed Power. So I think your 50W combo will be just fine.
Good Luck & Enjoy
Loudriver
Blues Guy,
How I envy you and having your first "Real" performance. As far as keeping your head calm, I would advice staying away from anything mind altering. I usually do some breathing exercises or my hand/finger excercises.
If you feel confident that you know the material and have rehearsed, take comfort in that fact and just try to relax and remember to have fun. It's all about the fun.
As far as your 50W combo being enough for a GYM I say PLENTY.
I work at a High School and frequently have to play Rally's. I have a Mesa Mark IV combo 85W. I seldom have had the master past 3 on Tweed Power. So I think your 50W combo will be just fine.
Good Luck & Enjoy
Loudriver
TwilightOdyssey
Darkness on the edge of Tone
Re: First real performance on Friday, tipps?
Have fun. Have one drink 30 min before you hit the stage ... well, maybe 2. Make sure to warm up. Wear earplugs. Have fun.
Have fun. Have one drink 30 min before you hit the stage ... well, maybe 2. Make sure to warm up. Wear earplugs. Have fun.
Re: First real performance on Friday, tipps?
if you're confident with the material then you should be fine, if you're really that nervous then maybe make sure you get your solo down note for note ahead of time instead of improvising, if you aren't good at that. I know whenever I play with my band, I'm usually more nervous for one of the other guys screwing up than I am about myself, because I can only be sure I know my material well, i dont know how well they know theirs.
if you're confident with the material then you should be fine, if you're really that nervous then maybe make sure you get your solo down note for note ahead of time instead of improvising, if you aren't good at that. I know whenever I play with my band, I'm usually more nervous for one of the other guys screwing up than I am about myself, because I can only be sure I know my material well, i dont know how well they know theirs.
Hot _Grits
Buttery Toneologist
Re: First real performance on Friday, tipps?
Factor in time for taking a dump beforehand.
If you drink, then 1-2 drinks is a decent idea.
Stretch (both guitar playing bits and whole body) and breathe deep.
Make sure your strings are new and fully settled, and your rig is in full working order. Now is the time to change any 9volts etc.
If you find yourself losing flow, try singing along, either out loud (doesn't matter if it's out of tune as long as you're nowhere near a mic) or in your head.
Keep it simple and play from the heart.
All the best, and remember to make toilet time...
Factor in time for taking a dump beforehand.
If you drink, then 1-2 drinks is a decent idea.
Stretch (both guitar playing bits and whole body) and breathe deep.
Make sure your strings are new and fully settled, and your rig is in full working order. Now is the time to change any 9volts etc.
If you find yourself losing flow, try singing along, either out loud (doesn't matter if it's out of tune as long as you're nowhere near a mic) or in your head.
Keep it simple and play from the heart.
All the best, and remember to make toilet time...
Evan Skopp
SDUGF Founder
Re: First real performance on Friday, tipps?
Here are few words of advice.
Don't drink anything before you play.
If you or anyone else on stage makes a mistake, just don't let the audience know. Don't groan. Don't slap your forehead. :smack: Just keep playing. Chances are, no one will know.
Make sure your guitar cable is routed through your strap and around the handle of your amp before going into the input.
Move around on stage. It's always more fun to see a band looking like their music is so awesome they can't keep still -- than stiff boards.
Smile and make eye contact with your band mates and with the audience.
(Optional) When you're all done, throw your pick out to the audience and thank the crowd for coming out and listening.
Most important: Have fun. When you're really having fun, it shows.
I hope that helps.
Here are few words of advice.
Don't drink anything before you play.
If you or anyone else on stage makes a mistake, just don't let the audience know. Don't groan. Don't slap your forehead. :smack: Just keep playing. Chances are, no one will know.
Make sure your guitar cable is routed through your strap and around the handle of your amp before going into the input.
Move around on stage. It's always more fun to see a band looking like their music is so awesome they can't keep still -- than stiff boards.
Smile and make eye contact with your band mates and with the audience.
(Optional) When you're all done, throw your pick out to the audience and thank the crowd for coming out and listening.
Most important: Have fun. When you're really having fun, it shows.
I hope that helps.
Curly
Moe's Bluesman
Re: First real performance on Friday, tipps?
do a little duck walk like Chuck Berry ... always a crowd pleaser!
just kidding!
IMO, there's no better feeling than knowing you're going to walk out on stage and NAIL that song! ... then going out there, and doing it
break a leg!
do a little duck walk like Chuck Berry ... always a crowd pleaser!
just kidding!
IMO, there's no better feeling than knowing you're going to walk out on stage and NAIL that song! ... then going out there, and doing it
break a leg!
Sequanselar
New member
Re: First real performance on Friday, tipps?
I second Evan. I was once in a band and no one moved around, it is hard being the only one, so after a few gigs I stopped trying to bring life to the stage. Our audiences were always so boring...and it WAS self-induced...
I second Evan. I was once in a band and no one moved around, it is hard being the only one, so after a few gigs I stopped trying to bring life to the stage. Our audiences were always so boring...and it WAS self-induced...
D
DeadSkinSlayer3
Guest
Re: First real performance on Friday, tipps?
What I've learned watching 2+ local gigs a week:
MOVE ON STAGE! Nobody likes to see people just standing still up there!
If the music is heavy enough, request a pit, it works most of the time.
Make sure you have backup cables, picks, strings, and whatnot ready to go immediately, just incase. If it's a problem for you, have your singer know to pick up picks if you drop them, even being in the crowd, I've done it 3-4 times for guys, people are generally just there to have a good time and to hangout with friends, they won't be negative, even if you are bad.
Don't use too many highs if the cab is at ear level to the audience, it kills. Also, don't overkill the bass. More of a tone issue, but I hate only hearing thugs and chunks live.
Wear earplugs, I dropped 11 bucks on a pair of Hi-Fi hearos, and they've more than made up for the cost. If it's too loud, put em in! If it's too quiet, pull 'em out a notch. Very handy, and if you learn to use them right, they can actually tame icepickey crap,
What I've learned watching 2+ local gigs a week:
MOVE ON STAGE! Nobody likes to see people just standing still up there!
If the music is heavy enough, request a pit, it works most of the time.
Make sure you have backup cables, picks, strings, and whatnot ready to go immediately, just incase. If it's a problem for you, have your singer know to pick up picks if you drop them, even being in the crowd, I've done it 3-4 times for guys, people are generally just there to have a good time and to hangout with friends, they won't be negative, even if you are bad.
Don't use too many highs if the cab is at ear level to the audience, it kills. Also, don't overkill the bass. More of a tone issue, but I hate only hearing thugs and chunks live.
Wear earplugs, I dropped 11 bucks on a pair of Hi-Fi hearos, and they've more than made up for the cost. If it's too loud, put em in! If it's too quiet, pull 'em out a notch. Very handy, and if you learn to use them right, they can actually tame icepickey crap,
Re: First real performance on Friday, tipps?
Whoa, thanks for all the info guys. My adenaline is already pumping. I can't wait to hear all those people scream for me! I think im really more excited than nervous, who knows. i've got a solo down, not for note. And guys, it's a school event, maybe I can score some apple juice or a pepsi, but no real drinks will take place before entering the stage, haha.
Whoa, thanks for all the info guys. My adenaline is already pumping. I can't wait to hear all those people scream for me! I think im really more excited than nervous, who knows. i've got a solo down, not for note. And guys, it's a school event, maybe I can score some apple juice or a pepsi, but no real drinks will take place before entering the stage, haha.
proxy
New member
Re: First real performance on Friday, tipps?
Enjoy it man. When the vibe is there it is just ecstacy and lasts the rest of the night. Like when we have a great gig, I feel like I can do anything. Pick a car up and throw it, finally get a girlfriend, etc... It is such a good feeling, you just feel so alive.
Yea I got a school gig this friday.BluesGuyJ said:
Enjoy it man. When the vibe is there it is just ecstacy and lasts the rest of the night. Like when we have a great gig, I feel like I can do anything. Pick a car up and throw it, finally get a girlfriend, etc... It is such a good feeling, you just feel so alive.
strat_master
New member
Re: First real performance on Friday, tipps?
ive never performed so i wuldnt know, but say follow the safety advise of ear plugs, the pros use em and so should you! Also moving i find when watching a abnd does help alot standing still is boring move around with the flow of the music, but appropriately, if its aslow song no need to go nuts. Also have fun!
Oh and even gave a god point about the chords being routed through your strap and the amp handle. It prevents you form accidentally unplugging your guitar i believe.
ive never performed so i wuldnt know, but say follow the safety advise of ear plugs, the pros use em and so should you! Also moving i find when watching a abnd does help alot standing still is boring move around with the flow of the music, but appropriately, if its aslow song no need to go nuts. Also have fun!
Oh and even gave a god point about the chords being routed through your strap and the amp handle. It prevents you form accidentally unplugging your guitar i believe.
