Author Topic: It's Gig Day ! How do you spend it? (Read 2925 times)

hunter · « **on:** March 20, 2007, 06:00:11 PM »

Guys, when you have a gig in the evening, what are you doing during that day?

Will you just go to work and rush home, pack your gear etc ... or will you take a day off, meditate, change strings, check cables, etc?

This is my gig day:
-Take the day off
-Get up around 8
-Run a few miles to get the juices flowing and listen to the songs for the evening on my ipod
-Have a nice breakfast, take time and relax
-Change strings (if not done yet) - play a bit to get them stretched in
-Go through all songs, concentrate and write down where I still have weaknesses (this might take an hour or two)
-Do something else for an hour or so, e.g. cook nice lunch
-Spend another hour or so focussing on the notes / remaining issues
-Pack everything, pack spare cables etc, if we do recording, defrag harddrive etc, not forget spare tubes and batteries
-Leave on time to meet the others at the venue or wherever we meet
-Set up - stay relaxed but focused, keep an eye on the time not to run too late
-Have a short and effective sound check
-If possible: change or at least have a fresh shirt
-Ideally: Leave the venue to grab some food and have a chat with the band, go through "stuff"
-Get there, retune and PLAY

What is your day like?

TwilightOdyssey · « **Reply #1 on:** March 20, 2007, 06:45:36 PM »

It depends on when the gig is. If it's after work, I start bringing my gear in a little every day and then go straight from the work to the gig, have a couple of beers at the venue, warm up for about 30 min and then play. :)

If the gig is on the weekend, I have a little more time to warm up at home (I like to put in 1-2 hrs), and get to the venue early, have a couple of beers, warm up for another 30 minutes and then play. :)

If travel is required, I like to practice every day on the road till we get to the gig.

For a couple of weeks leading up to a gig, I play the set at home twice every night. And a few days leading to the gig I will play just my solos alone 5-10 time each.

38thBeatle · « **Reply #2 on:** March 20, 2007, 07:19:36 PM »

Depends for me too-if it is a weekend -I generally help out in the missus' shop but I think about what is ahead and run through the set in my head and try to make sure I can recall the lyrics that I am going to have to sing. Weekdays I am generally at work and am too busy to think about it.
I ensure I get to the venue in plenty of time and take time setting up my gear and testing dealing with any snags.Set up and test PA-run through a few songs in my head-sound check (always stuff we are not going to play but stuff that is similar to what we are going to play). Relax and try to chill-stay focused check tuning on main and spare guitars and ensure I have capo, slide, picks to hand. I try to get some warm up exercises in and also some vocals exercises too-then go up and knock em bandy.

Ratrod · « **Reply #3 on:** March 21, 2007, 01:26:09 PM »

If it's on a working day, I try to leave early.

Eat a good amount of pasta or chinese (good foundation for beer)

Get gear ready for transport.

Change outfit, look, hairstyle etc. for the gig.

Wait for the rest (and van).

Load up (drink coffee before or after this)

Drive to the venue, load out, plug stuff in.

More coffee.

Soundcheck

Beer, wait for crowd, beer.

Gig!

Twinfan · « **Reply #4 on:** March 21, 2007, 02:00:26 PM »

For me, it's:

* Arrange set lists early and have a run though in a rehearsal a week or so before the gig
* Try and get an early night the night before
* Change strings at some point during the day of the gig on main and spare guitars
* Print off a few set lists
* Turn up to the venue 2 hours beforehand
* Set up in my own time, making sure everything works OK
* Make sure spare amp head, guitar and picks are easily available if needed
* Tune both guitars, put amp on standby
* Have a drink, relax, chat to friends and family
* Get up and play!

I tend to do very little playing on the actual day prior to the gig as I perform better if I feel "fresh" rather than "played out".

Crazy_Joe · « **Reply #5 on:** March 21, 2007, 04:55:43 PM »

I don't know if you guys feel like this but despite the worry of breaking a string i probably wouldn't change the strings as i hate the feel and sometimes sound of new strings, they are hard and it takes a lot more push to bend the strings etc. It would affect my playing if they were like that, unless you spend most of the day playing in the new strings.

TwilightOdyssey · « **Reply #6 on:** March 21, 2007, 05:16:12 PM »

Here is an excellent tip I picked up for Mr Tim Mills:

If you use celluloid picks, you know how they mold to the shape of your thumb after a little while. On Tim's suggestion, I now 'break in' several picks prior to the gig to the point where they shape around my thumb but are not shredded yet. Then, when you need a new pick during the gig, it's already fitted to the shape of your hand. Worked a treat when we were in the studio last week!

Ratrod · « **Reply #7 on:** March 21, 2007, 06:29:57 PM »

Like Crazy Joe, I don't change strings on gig day. If the strings are (almost) in need of replacement, I will do so at least 3 days in advance. I need my strings broken in a bit. Stretching alone won't do it. The strings need to settle in on the bridge and/or vibrato unit, nut and tuners.

Tuning stability is important to me on stage. I can't always here the others clearly enough and if something is out of tune I wanna be shure it isn't me. That won't stop me from checking after the song, though.

The pick tip is very usefull. I have box full of 'em. Some are well worn, some new and some in between. There's always at least 3 picks perfect and ready to use.

Brow · « **Reply #8 on:** March 21, 2007, 07:58:47 PM »

Quote from: TwilightOdyssey

Here is an excellent tip I picked up for Mr Tim Mills:

If you use celluloid picks, you know how they mold to the shape of your thumb after a little while. On Tim's suggestion, I now 'break in' several picks prior to the gig to the point where they shape around my thumb but are not shredded yet. Then, when you need a new pick during the gig, it's already fitted to the shape of your hand. Worked a treat when we were in the studio last week!

This is a great tip!

Sham I didn't think of it myself bfore tomorrows big gig :roll:

I do find that if I have to use a new pick during a gig, that it doesn't 'feel' right for alot of the set, and that affects my playing :(

38thBeatle · « **Reply #9 on:** March 21, 2007, 08:09:24 PM »

I never change strings on the day of a gig-like the others here, I would do it 3 days before and would stretch them.I tend to use my spare guitars more now that they are also "bareknuckled" which means that the main guitar is not used as much and therefore I can get more out of a set of strings(and the Feline Purrfect 10s have played a blinder in recent weeks).

headtheball · « **Reply #10 on:** March 21, 2007, 10:15:05 PM »

Once I've set the gear up and had a quick chat with the drummer and that, I always go and get a Hammerhead coffee (2 espresso in a pint mug, topped off with black filter) and stick a bet on meself, so that even if my luck runs out during the gig, it might be on the betting slip. Then, quick change of shirt, a pint of Guinness and a Crested Ten on the side, and then, on with the show.

shaman · « **Reply #11 on:** March 21, 2007, 11:06:02 PM »

ahhh...to quote the great American wildchild, the late Tallulah Bankhead,her dying words were.."coedine...bourbon.."
-I ALWAYS have too much time on my hands because its usually a weekend gig..therefore, I tend to have too much time to get nervous-I have played literally hundreds..hundreds of gigs-no reason to get nervous-since I am doing lots of vocals(which I am somewhat apprehensive about..), I still get the heebies...so I get a little liquored up and my alter ego Johnny Flamingo emerges-all is well
I love late afternoon gigs for this reason-I play a lot of these now that the weather here is getting warm-lots of places on the riverside-festivals, etc..ooops...sounding old now!