The culmination for any musician aspiring to play in a band is when you actually get out on stage and start playing gigs.

Playing for a live audience is a great experience and one that can be extremely satisfying. For a guitar player that has spent countless hours practicing their chops, it is the ultimate "high".

As much fun as gigging can be, it is also important to keep in mind some basic considerations and business issues to make the live band experience more rewarding and gratifying.

Be Punctual

Setting Up

Most clubs and venues would prefer that the band is set up well in advance of the gig. Try to coordinate with the manager a time when you can get in to set up your equipment earlier in the day.

Patrons don't want to listen to sound checks and amp testing while they are eating dinner or trying to have a conversation, so be aware and respectful of that. It is their money that you will be putting in your pocket.

Coordinate Times

Mingle

All for One

Dress the Part

In a lot of bar gigs, jeans and T-shirts work well. But even in those types of gigs, dressing a notch or two above the norm won't hurt. It will help portray a more professional image.

If you are doing a wedding reception you may want to re-think the jeans. Any type of gig where the patrons are wearing suits and evening gowns requires a little more effort in the dressing room.

You don't necessarily have to go out and buy a new wardrobe for upper end gigs, but these gigs usually pay a lot more than clubs, and the ones that hired you have a higher level of expectation. If you are unsure what to wear, dressing in an all black outfit, that is clean and pressed, is usually a safe bet.

A lot of this is, of course, common sense but I have played high profile corporate parties to a crowd of tuxes, and had a band member show up in jeans. You are getting paid to be there, so try to dress appropriately.

Have Fun

It is amazing to see people who are otherwise calm and nice, turn into monsters when they get on stage. Constantly stressing out about the crowd reaction and mistakes made on stage is a recipe for disaster.

I can promise you that everyone of us makes mistakes on stage. It is part of live music. It can't be avoided. What should be avoided is how some people handle it. Lashing out and criticising while on stage is not only unprofessional, it's disrespectful to fellow band mates.
The truth of the matter is that most people in the crowd don't know when you made a mistake. The average listener doesn't hear music they way you and I do. Most of them are too busy talking, eating, drinking and dancing to know that you should have hit a G instead of that F#.

The best way to handle a mistake is to keep playing without acknowledging that it ever happened, and have a good laugh about it on break.

If you get on stage and make up your mind that it is a blessing to be up there doing something you love to do, and that you are going to have fun, irregardless of any hiccups - you will be able to put all your focus on what's truly important - making good music!

Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions!