Hi Guys and Gals
After playing my only ever gig at a School Concert day some 35 years ago I will in about 5 weeks be playing only my second ever gig! Help and advice would be most welcome. I have already read and laughed out aloud about the dos and donts for gigging reading this section so hopefully reasonably prepared. But a couple of questions I have which I hope you can help with ,
1. Is it a good idea to change your guitar strings for a new set before the gig ? I play in a Jam tribute type band so tend to break at least one string every 3 or 4 practices . Will have a spare guitar but not sure about whether it is worth changing both guitars with a new set before the gig?
2. We are playing in a Labour club but apparently there could be as many as 150 people turn up so would a 50 watt head and 4 x 12 be load enough? We are going to have couple of practices at the venue in advance to try and eliminate any epic fails on the night
Any advice would be greatly appreciated!!
Cheers
Graham
Comments
I change strings a few days before a gig and practise a few times, gets the strings bedded in properly. I'm a serial string killer so i don't take the risk...
A 50w head (is it Valve?) through a 4x12 should be fine. I'm gigging on Saturday with a 25w head through a 4x12, first time i've gigged this rig but i'm confident it will be ok.
Graham, best of luck with the gig!
JM build | Pedalboard plans
2. Yes , how many in the band ?.....is there another guitarist ?
3. Above all, get into it and enjoy it.
4. Then get Pissed.
If you're going to change the strings, do it early enough that they're probably stretched in before the gig. You really don't want to be spending time trying to tune between songs.
Try to get a warm up or two in before the actual gig. Get a few mates along to watch a practice session, or one of your pre-gig run throughs at the venue itself (that would be ideal).
Remember to enjoy it at the time - mine was a bit wooden because I was too focused on what I was doing, rather than why I was doing it (for the fun). Saying "relax" is one thing, doing it is another - hence me saying focus on the why (the fun) - which will make it a better gig anyway.
As you know The Jam is ALL about energy, just have fun, keep the energy up and the crowd will love it.
50 watts of any amp should be more than enough in a small labour club
Have fun and enjoy it
Dry run throughs in the set list order give you confidence. Bonus points for short breaks and smooth links ;-)
Be prepared with spare leads etc.
On the day adrenalin kicks in (for all of you) so watch tempos don't creap too fast, but things will run better than you expect.
One last thing to consider:
Amature bands practice until they get it right, professionals practice until they can't get it wrong. Things will go wrong but how you all deal with it is the secret
Break a leg Graham.
I was was racking my brains as to what they were called and eventually got it.