Got my first proper gig - any tips?!

[Pat A Flafla]

When you get used to the long format, one hour shows become disappointing.
I remember finding 3 hour shows exhausting, but now only an hour of even full bore metal leaves too much gas in the tank and I have a hard time getting to sleep.

I'll also echo the admonishments to avoid being a boozehound. I'm lucky now to play almost exclusively with musicians who either don't drink on stage, or are capable of having just one. They just play way way better than boozers with the added perk of me being able to stand their company.

 

[Discipula]

Thanks for all the great tips guys! Definitely going to bring my spare snare and some gaffer tape. I'm actually getting really excited thinking about it - more so than feeling nervous!

 

[JimmyM]

So my band has landed our first proper 3 hour gig on Saturday night - 8:30-11:30 pm. It's at a pretty big bar and I've been told Saturday nights there can be pretty rowdy. We've been practicing like mad to the get the set list ready but any tips on what we should expect? We've played a few 1-15 hour gigs before on a weeknight, but never a 3 hour one so I'm feeling pretty nervous!

If you have done stage time already, whether you do 10 minutes or 3 hours it’s all the same except for the length of time you’re up there. Just don’t get yourself so amped up you play songs too fast

 

[RogersLudwig]

Show up early, get set up with time to spare, and relax. The adrenaline rush of the first song or two will dissipate and things should be fine. Enjoy the show.

 

[thejohnlec]

Great advice already! My two cents:

- Definitely bring a spare snare drum that's tuned and ready to go. It was mentioned earlier to bring two very different snares - sterling advice.
- Don't clamp the snare mic to the snare drum rim - it'll be faster to swap it out if need be if the mic is on a stand.
- Easy on the booze.
- 3 hour gigs will be easier if your kit is set up ergonomically. Playing hard while reaching unnecessarily will really wear you down over the course of a long evening. You're gonna want some gas in the tank for those last 30 minutes or so.
- Hydrate.
- Show up at least a half hour before the rest of the band to set up. This will allow you to claim your real estate on stage, get a better parking space, set up your stuff without climbing all over everybody else in the band, and will prevent you from having to rush through your set up - I hate being rushed to set up.
- If you're using in-ear monitors, have your drums in your mix. It'll prevent you from overplaying from lack of hearing, which will keep your stage volume down and will allow you to conserve energy over the course of a long evening.

Finally, remember that the work has already been finished in the rehearsal space. Playing out is where the fun is, so be confident in what you already know, relax, and enjoy it!

 

[Pat A Flafla]

Show up early, get set up with time to spare, and relax. The adrenaline rush of the first song or two will dissipate and things should be fine. Enjoy the show.

The following isn't great advice for rookies, but I like to hit the stage rollin', set up like a demon, check real quick and play. I've gotten really good at timing it out and manipulating schedule buffers and driving speed so that it just flows without me being late.
Life's too short to spend more of it than necessary sitting around at a bar with dudes waiting to play instead of spending those minutes with my wife.

That said, if there are great trails or fish infested waters at the venue, I'll set up early and try to get some nature solitude beforehand.

But if you don't have a ton of setup experience, get there early until you figure it out. I can load in and be soundchecked in less than 20 minutes. There's one venue/kit combination where I can do it in 13 minutes. Not everybody's that fast. Not everybody *wants* to move that fast.

 

[lamartee]

Great advice already! My two cents:

".........- Show up at least a half hour before the rest of the band to set up. This will allow you to claim your real estate on stage, get a better parking space, set up your stuff without climbing all over everybody else in the band, and will prevent you from having to rush through your set up ...."

Finally, remember that the work has already been finished in the rehearsal space. Playing out is where the fun is, so be confident in what you already know, relax, and enjoy it!

Out of all the good advice from everyone- THIS IS MUCHO IMPORTANT!

 

[Pat A Flafla]

Great advice already! My two cents:

- Definitely bring a spare snare drum that's tuned and ready to go. It was mentioned earlier to bring two very different snares - sterling advice.
- Don't clamp the snare mic to the snare drum rim - it'll be faster to swap it out if need be if the mic is on a stand.
- Easy on the booze.
- 3 hour gigs will be easier if your kit is set up ergonomically. Playing hard while reaching unnecessarily will really wear you down over the course of a long evening. You're gonna want some gas in the tank for those last 30 minutes or so.
- Hydrate.

This is what I should have said instead of my usual drivel. I go one step further though, and just don't mic the snare. But if you mic it, yeah, use a stand so you can just toss one drum to the side, plop the backup in the basket and count 'em right in.

 

[Houndog]

This probably isn't great advice for rookies, but I like to hit the stage rollin', set up like a demon, check real quick and play. I've gotten really good at timing it out and manipulating schedule buffers and driving speed so that it just flows without me being late.
Life's too short to spend more of it than necessary sitting around at a bar with dudes waiting to play instead of spending those minutes with my wife.

That said, if there are great trails or fish infested waters at the venue, I'll set up early and try to get some nature solitude beforehand.

There’s about nothing worse than time on my hands before a gig ….

 

[Pat A Flafla]

There’s about nothing worse than time on my hands before a gig ….

I knew I could lure you out into the open with that comment. We seem to be kindred souls in that respect.

 

[Houndog]

I knew I could lure you out into the open with that comment. We seem to be kindred souls in that respect.

I don’t like being in a bar , it’s just boring .
If I go see a friend play I hate it if I don’t like the band and if I like them , I want to be up playing ….I can’t win …..

I never ever ask to sit-in ….

 

[cinemadrummer2001]

Check to make sure you have everything you need before you leave. There’s nothing worse than getting to the gig and realizing you forgot your bass drum pedal, throne, or tom holder.

 

[Vicey]

Do not judge the night by the first set. If it goes great, relax and let it keep coming. If it doesn't go so great, you have two sets to reclaim the evening. And most people who are there for the first set won't be there for the third.

 

[Houndog]

Don’t let anyone sit-in .

 

[JimmyM]

There’s about nothing worse than time on my hands before a gig ….

I like a little time to get my head together and stop sweating after setting up.

 

[robthetimekeeper]

 

[JonnyFranchi$e]

I need to nuance some stuff.

You shouldn't "get really drunk" beforehand. You're a DRUMMER for Pete's sake. You should already BE drunk from the night(s) before.

The advice is "stay drunk." What are we, vocalists?

Get there early or right on time?

Nah bruh. You show up, still drunk, like 3 minutes before the show starts, with only small segments of your gear.

And beat the crap out of somebody at some point during the gig. Preferably the venue owner or on site manager. Or the vocalist.

Finally, do not listen to anyone at all when you're playing. This is YOUR time.

You got this.

 

[varatrodder]

Some great advice here, but I can never understand why guys suggest a spare snare head. If you break the snare head mid set, you’ll have no time to replace it in a timely manner and the show must go on.

Bring an extra snare preferably different then your main snare. You break the head then just swap it out. If your wood snare doesn't sound so good in the room, then switch it out with your metal backup. One quick solution for 2 potential issues.

Also you should always carry some gaffer tape. Tape down wires or use it in place of some special specific bass drum patch. Tape it up and done. Same idea of one solution for multiple potential issues.

Best of luck

That’s a good point about changing heads. In the country band we had malfunction songs built into the set. Lead guitar breaks a string? Drummer breaks a head? Bass rig has a problem? Then we would play certain songs that would allow that person to fix their problem.

 

[Pat A Flafla]

I don’t like being in a bar , it’s just boring .
If I go see a friend play I hate it if I don’t like the band and if I like them , I want to be up playing ….I can’t win …..

I never ever ask to sit-in ….

Haha, same here.

 

[spaeth]

Have fun and just know that if you haven’t played out much mistakes will happen. Flow with them, even have fun with them if they are big enough. Take the crowd on the journey with you. I love long shows.