stu
I wont go into the story behind this but myself and some other guys have got together to perform a song to a small audience. Which is cool exept for three problems.
1. Its a song I came up with so no one will know it. And Im worried about how they will receive it. My friend was the one who said we should play my song rather than his. So I guess someone likes it.
2. I play a solo in it which I am not getting right. I just dont have the control over my guitar when Im standing as I do when sitting. Some advice from experienced players would be really cool right now. :-[
3. Ive never played live before. My biggest audience ever was one person.
So advice, comments, negativity.... its all wecome.
Thrash
I've never played live before, so can't give too many comments, maybe bring a chair up so you can sit an play?
But good luck and hope its the first of many!
PeteM
I found out about this sitting and standing bit early in my playing career.
Because I like moving around on stage I stand to play to an audience so I do all of my practicing standing up. It not only puts my shoulders, arms and hands in the correct position but it also gets me fit for stage work. I play classical guitar sitting down, because it is accepted and expected, and also when I'm first working out or writing a song while seated at the computer or at a desk.
I don't know how soon you'll be playing to your audience but I recommend, for the reasons above, that you practice your solo like crazy standing up if that's how you're going to perform to them.
Good luck with your first gig.
IceCreamMan
Stu ,,good luck an knock em dead...dont stress it too much ..
agree with Pete , i used to practice sitting down all the time then realised i could not sit at band practcie and the like so now i generally pratice stadning , get into that habit.
symbolofmylife
stu wrote:
1. Its a song I came up with so no one will know it. And Im worried about how they will receive it. My friend was the one who said we should play my song rather than his. So I guess someone likes it.
2. I play a solo in it which I am not getting right. I just dont have the control over my guitar when Im standing as I do when sitting. Some advice from experienced players would be really cool right now. :-[
3. Ive never played live before. My biggest audience ever was one person.
So advice, comments, negativity.... its all wecome.
First gigs can be nerve wrecking but I can add the following in response:
1. If you dont play your own song in fear of people not liking it, you'll never know. Led Zeppelin didn't know if people were going to like them, right? Plus, it takes more balls to play music of your own than to cover another band. Give it a try. It is most gratifying when people like it ?
2. Rehearse, rehearse, rehearse. Get every part as perfect as you possibly can. So, practice your solo to death, in a standing position. If you're still struggling, adjust your strap.
3. My first gig was about 2000 people at a school. Nerves were shot but you get used to it as you go along. With my last band, before going on, there was not a trickle of nerves what so ever. But, also because we did point 2 above to death.
Good luck!!!!
Jack-Flash-Jr
+1 on what Pete said. Only play standing up, even when you're widdling for fun. Start now and you'll be used to it by the gig. If the gig is this weekend pull up a chair, no one moans when BB King sits and plays.
Remember it's supposed to be fun and that most audiences can't even get past the fact that someone owns a real electric guitar, nevermind concentrating on what you're playing. Don't be hard on yourself. Once you're on the ladder things only get better!
stu
Thanks guys.
I went over the solo today standing up. It didnt go so well but we had a practise today and then the solo went fine. Maybe because Im feeling the music rather then just playing the solo by myself.
By the way. I could not posibly have a chair when I play the song. Its heavy grunge. I would look ridiculous ?. Haha.
But thanks for the thought anyway.
Fingerpicker
Play within your capabilities. Most noobs that I see playing for the first time at TJs play their meanest, nastiest most difficult piece the first time out, I think to impress the audience. Usually ends in tears.
If your fingers drop to freezing point and what used to be easy is not going well, don't be afraid to drop the lead break out. Your advantage here is that the audience don't know what you intended to play, so they won't miss it.
If you do play the lead break and you hit a horrifically wrong note, repeat it three or four times, until the audience think that it's intentional, or jazz, or something like that.
FruitarGeek
Make sure your strap is correctly adjusted to how you like it, dont be concerned if it looks cool.
A cool rule of thumb, is position your strap so that your guitar would sit roughly where it would be situated if you are sitting i.e. your chest. The upside is that it makes you look very sophisticated ?
With regards to the solo, I know all too well about playing something 'outside' ones capabilities. If you can do the solo, like even when you practice and you know you can do it, then stay positive and just rehearse it over to nail it for the show. However a few bad or missed notes here and there will hardly rattle the crowd. If anything, I doubt they would notice.
Goodluck. Have fun
stu
I think the solo is well within my capabilities. Thats part of my frustration.
Maybe Im just stressing about it too much.
When I really think about it, my playing is not really what Im worried about. That should be the least of my worries because I know I can do it. Im a bit stressed about the drummer who isnt always getting the song right every time.
But I will let you guys know how it turns out.
epictring
All the above advice is accurate and you should listen to them!
Don't worry, IF you neek it up.. There's always next time, people forgive musicians when they see them at their next good gig.
I did my first gig with a friend in front of about 600 in a school hall, opening for "Die Melktert Kommusie".
At that time, I've been playing guitar for about 4 months, I knew 5 or 6 chords, and we played a 4 Chord song plus I had to do a nerve wrecking intro at the beginning of the song.. It was successful, except for the vocalist forgetting the words and saying "Ag F%$" in the mike.
The point I want to make is, I practiced my ass of the week before the gig (alone and with the bandmates). You'll nail all the parts if you work on it.
Good Luck!
Post a video ?
aubs1
stu wrote:
3. Ive never played live before. My biggest audience ever was one person.
If it's any consolation ........... every performer, big and small, have been there ....... there is always a first time for everything ..... this is yours, go "break a leg" ...... good luck, and just pretend (I know this is easier said than done), you are playing to that "one person" ..... you may surprise yourself! :applause:
FruitarGeek
stu wrote:
Im a bit stressed about the drummer who isnt always getting the song right every time.
Oh my goodness. I know all about this kind of stress. I too was in a band a while ago, where I constantly had to worry about both the drummer and the bassist. It really throws you off, cause you just look like a stress ball. It really really helps to have good muso's who you can trust. I no longer have such worry ? however, having said that, dont be concerned about your drummer. His stuff ups are his, let him feel bad about them. You worrying about that too, will only be worse.
costafonix
and make sure all the other stuff is working, e.g. your cables are ok, your amp setting is fine, your guitars in tune, cos there's nothing worse than being distracted by equipment which takes away your focus from your playing. Just give it your best shot and enjoy yourself, I'm sure it will go well. break a leg :yup: :goodtimes:
stu
FruitarGeek wrote:
stu wrote:
Im a bit stressed about the drummer who isnt always getting the song right every time.
however, having said that, dont be concerned about your drummer. His stuff ups are his, let him feel bad about them. You worrying about that too, will only be worse.
The thing is I really want the song to be right. Last practise on Thursday afternoon before the show on Friday night. I just hope our drummer will be up to our expected standard by then.
But thats for all the support guys. Its really helped.
If someone takes a video I will upload it.
epictring
Don't worry, no one ever notices drumming mistakes :?
stu
Well the shows over and it was a total blast! ? The drummer made 4 mistakes and I completely mest up my solo so I had to make up something new on the spot. But I have never had so much fun playing my guitar before.
A few people had heard us practising before the show so they new the words and they was singing alone and going crazy which made the whole thing even more fun.
Someone did take a video but I will need to get hold of them to see if I can get a copy. However I did make an audio recording from my cell phone so I can upload that if anyone wants to hear it.
I cant wait to do it again ?
Isis
Let me tell you a funny story. A few years back I played my first gig filling in for another guitarist. I had about 2 weeks to learn an entire set and needles to say I did not feel all that comfortable with the songs. To make matter worse I wasn't playing for very long, so the familiarity you develop with the fretboard after years of playing wasn't there yet. To make a long story short I was nervous as hell. I was quite literally shaking when I walked out on stage, although there were about 250 people there it felt like I was playing at Ozzfest. The first two songs went rather well and I was starting to relax when disaster struck. In the third song I was playing along nicely picking my arpeggios during the verse and then switching over to the chorus, which involved a fair bit of distortion. So I step on the pedal and "Bloooooooop" out comes this lush chorus clean tone. My heart quite literally stopped beating in that moment and the cold chills invaded my body. I had to wait almost four bars before I could compose myself and rectify the situation.
As silly as this may sound I would not trade that moment for anything in the world (in hindsight of course ? and we still have a good laugh about it every once in a while.
Personally I don't think your first gig will be nearly as memorable if you don't f@#ck up big time. so relax and relish the moment for it happens but once.
Just my 2 cents.
