REAL Rules For Playing Live...?

monquixote · March 2014

steamabacus said:

monquixote said:

Have some spares and a plan for things to go tits up. (For example an acoustic number you do if the drummer puts a stick through his snare)

I know Pagannini used to practice a piece on 3 strings and then file through one so that it would 'unexpectedly' break mid-performance - he'd then amaze his audience by finishing the piece flawlessly as if nothing had happened. But.......

I think what you meant was 'and a plan if things go tits up'.

Things always go tits up at my shows

close2u · March 2014

steamabacus said:

I know Pagannini used to practice a piece on 3 strings and then file through one so that it would 'unexpectedly' break mid-performance - he'd then amaze his audience by finishing the piece flawlessly as if nothing had happened. But.......

I think what you meant was 'and a plan if things go tits up'.

I wish I knew how to embed a Youtube video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p8fLzrPRu5Y

DLM · March 2014

steamabacus said:I know Pagannini used to practice a piece on 3 strings and then file through one so that it would 'unexpectedly' break mid-performance - he'd then amaze his audience by finishing the piece flawlessly as if nothing had happened.

The story I remember is that Pagannini was imprisoned for his wild partying with wine and women and couldn't get replacement strings for the ones he broke on his violin, which he continued to practise regardless (there was nothing else to do in the slammer). Apparently he kept on going even when there was only one string left on his fiddle, which explains why his compositions include so many crazy one-string lines.

John_BlackWolf · April 2014

*DON'T overrun if you are the support band, It's better to finish 4 minutes early than 2 minutes late.

*Plug your Merch stand and current release towards the end of your set.

Cirrus · April 2014

John_BlackWolf said:

*DON'T overrun if you are the support band, It's better to finish 4 minutes early than 2 minutes late.

Yes! THIS THIS THIS THIS

Leave people wanting more. Reduce the chance that you'll have to cut the last song from your set. Keep it punchy and short. As an originals band we do lots of 30/ 40 minute sets. In the beginning we did some 20 minute "showcase" type gigs. If you've got 30 mins, plan 25/26 minutes. If it's 40, plan 35 and an optional extra song that won't ruin your set's flow whether or not you play it - so if the crowd are screaming for more you know what to do.

Promoters and venue owners love you if you do a kick ass set that also helps get the night back on schedule after the inevitable opening salvo of inexperienced musicians wondering aimlessly about asking to borrow guitar straps and leads when they were due to start playing 15 minutes ago.

Danny1969 · April 2014

Spares that are absolutely necessary for bands getting paid must be :

Spare guitar \ bass already tuned ......... some guys on here doing well paid weddings \ corp work know you can't stop and change a string

Spare amp head or pedal that's ok Di'ed .... even iRig and an iPhone is better than nothing

Spare whole snare drum and at least a bass drum skin

Some redundancy in the PA ..... if one side goes down can it be rejigged to serve both or can the monitors serve as FOH tops

I actually carry a spare mixing desk, a little 8 channel thing

Nobby · April 2014

Don't have music stands on stage. If you don't know the lyrics/chords to the material you're playing, then you and you're band aren't ready to play live.

Go back to the rehersal studio or wherever and learn the songs.

EricTheWeary · April 2014

Nobby said:

Don't have music stands on stage. If you don't know the lyrics/chords to the material you're playing, then you and you're band aren't ready to play live.
Go back to the rehersal studio or wherever and learn the songs.

Ahh, takes me back to the days of MusicRadar where we had epic threads about this. As a general rule I agree with you - for anything 'rock'n'roll anyway - although there may be circumstances such as if you have a dep in.

It is often also very difficult to sing from lyric sheets ( go google the lyrics to Johnny B Good and try singing them at the proper tempo whilst reading them, go on. Go on. Go on. Go on go on go on go on go on go on)and crib sheets of any sort are of limited use on a darkened stage so I'm suprised they pop up as often as they do.

Danny1969 · April 2014

EricTheWeary said:

Nobby said:

Don't have music stands on stage. If you don't know the lyrics/chords to the material you're playing, then you and you're band aren't ready to play live.
Go back to the rehersal studio or wherever and learn the songs.

Ahh, takes me back to the days of MusicRadar where we had epic threads about this. As a general rule I agree with you - for anything 'rock'n'roll anyway - although there may be circumstances such as if you have a dep in.

It is often also very difficult to sing from lyric sheets ( go google the lyrics to Johnny B Good and try singing them at the proper tempo whilst reading them, go on. Go on. Go on. Go on go on go on go on go on go on)and crib sheets of any sort are of limited use on a darkened stage so I'm suprised they pop up as often as they do.

It's a quick look at the first line I think, you kinda know the lyrics but need a pointer for the first line

There's some cool iPad apps now that scroll for you and you can see that in the dark

not_the_dj · April 2014

Danny1969 said:

EricTheWeary said:

Nobby said:

Don't have music stands on stage. If you don't know the lyrics/chords to the material you're playing, then you and you're band aren't ready to play live.

Go back to the rehersal studio or wherever and learn the songs.

Ahh, takes me back to the days of MusicRadar where we had epic threads about this. As a general rule I agree with you - for anything 'rock'n'roll anyway - although there may be circumstances such as if you have a dep in.

It is often also very difficult to sing from lyric sheets ( go google the lyrics to Johnny B Good and try singing them at the proper tempo whilst reading them, go on. Go on. Go on. Go on go on go on go on go on go on)and crib sheets of any sort are of limited use on a darkened stage so I'm suprised they pop up as often as they do.
It's a quick look at the first line I think, you kinda know the lyrics but need a pointer for the first line

There's some cool iPad apps now that scroll for you and you can see that in the dark

The singer in one of my bands has the first line of each song on the set-list print out. Just in case he goes blank that's all it takes to get it.

EricTheWeary · April 2014

Danny1969 said:

EricTheWeary said:

Nobby said:

Don't have music stands on stage. If you don't know the lyrics/chords to the material you're playing, then you and you're band aren't ready to play live.
Go back to the rehersal studio or wherever and learn the songs.

Ahh, takes me back to the days of MusicRadar where we had epic threads about this. As a general rule I agree with you - for anything 'rock'n'roll anyway - although there may be circumstances such as if you have a dep in.

It is often also very difficult to sing from lyric sheets ( go google the lyrics to Johnny B Good and try singing them at the proper tempo whilst reading them, go on. Go on. Go on. Go on go on go on go on go on go on)and crib sheets of any sort are of limited use on a darkened stage so I'm suprised they pop up as often as they do.

It's a quick look at the first line I think, you kinda know the lyrics but need a pointer for the first line

There's some cool iPad apps now that scroll for you and you can see that in the dark

I have sung in bands ( despite a fairly awful singing voice) and it is very hard to wean yourself off that reliance on checking the words but if you are properly lost they don't help and they do mean you aren't concentrating 100% on your vocal performance. On the other hand if you are a functions band with a 100 song repertoire knowing everything in it word for word, note for note might be asking too much.

I saw a rock covers band, maybe a couple of years ago now. Very good band but their singist had lyrics on a sheet on a stand so the stand was centre stage. For stuff like Alright Now or Black Magic Woman did he really need a crib sheet? I'm sure most of the audience knew most of the words.Just annoyed the heck out of me.
:x

Danny1969 · April 2014

Music stands are a no go for me .... looks rubbish

mike_l · April 2014

Danny1969 said:

Music stands are a no go for me .... looks rubbish

Only acceptable at jamnights. When the singist hasn't picked the song.

mudslide73 · April 2014

My work colleagues band uses stands but we don't play many gigs (once a year if we're lucky). I've weaned myself off them but the others are tied to them still.

Our singist struggles to remember the words for songs.. I don't understand how I'm expected to remember all the solos to 50+ songs mostly note for note and he can't remember the words...

not_the_dj · April 2014

Ploughing an old furrow....but having a music stand is better than getting the chords to the middle 8 wrong.

Musicians seem to care about other musicians using music stands, general punters don't.

chrispy108 · April 2014

People are there to see live music, not shit comedy.

Don't spend five minutes spelling out all of your various web addresses.

Try and share kit/backline to quicken changeovers, it's frustrating from both a band and audience point of view to have a 90 minutes of silence in the evening whilst every guitarist lugs around an identical 4x12 and each drummer an identical kit.

But be reasonable about it. Make sure everyone makes contact first to be sure what you're sharing (there's no excuse not to in 2014 with Facebook etc), and don't be a dick about it. As a bassist, I'd always double-check people were happy with me using a distortion pedal with their rig.

By all means help your drummer setup, but make sure that you're actually helping. I'd always help the drummer setup/tear down at practise, so I knew where he wanted stuff.

Don't expect the soundman at the Dog and Duck to mic a wet/dry/wet rig for each guitarist.

Don't rehearse during the soundcheck. One member at a time, when the soundman tells you. Leave everything alone after this, don't then turn the amps up to be rock and roll. A quiet stage is a happy stage.

EricTheWeary · April 2014

chrispy108 said:

Don't spend five minutes spelling out all of your various web addresses.

Reminds me of that Phoebe Buffay thing ( I are having to paraphrase/ vaguely remember here) - 'if anybody ( in the audience) wants to know more online about my upcoming gigs then please give me the money to buy a computer.'

EDIT: found the exact quote. I was amazingly close:

"Phoebe : [Right after playing a song in the coffee shop ] If you want to receive e-mails about my upcoming shows, then please give me money so I can buy a computer."

chrispy108 · April 2014

Another one:

Soundcheck as you play. If you're going to be fingerpicking with a clean sound for most of the set, don't spend your whole soundcheck playing widdly high gain solos.

mudslide73 · April 2014

^^ This. I have to explain that some of my sounds are louder than others more often than I'd like. I get a "look" from people when I suggest we soundcheck another song with some solos in it.

Gassage · April 2014

1. Don't bother with anything other than one amp because the bell-end sound engineers will refuse to mike 2. (Leslie cabs- utterly pointless.
2. Always do your desk soundcheck using CLEAN signal only. Only engage drive pedals when the show begins

3. Never, ever try and get audience participation unless you're Glenn Tilbrook, who does it better than anyone I've ever seen.

dano · April 2014

I always like setlist with a nite for each song of what guitar im using (say les paul or tele) and what pedals are turned on for the start. And tempo listed for delay if needed. So if im lost in the moment at the end of a song i can quickly get a reference of whats needed for the next one.

i also keep a small maglite on the floor by my board.

Set the amp slightly cleaner / less overdriven that you normally use so it doesnt get lost.

Know where you spare cables is. Actually have a practice of changing your amp fuse.

Make sure you have cables from guitar to amp routed where you wont stand on them.

Howdy, Stranger!

Categories

In this Discussion

Become a Subscriber!

REAL Rules For Playing Live...?

Comments