TOP 10 TIPS FOR A SUCCESSFUL GIG
By Mike O'Cull

We all want to play gigs. That is a fact of life. That is why we are here. Very often, however, gigs, especially for young bands, turn into stressful, high-drama situations because one or more band members are unaware of how the gigging process works and of what is expected of them and their group. In that spirit, I have attempted to come up with a basic list of behaviors and attitudes that will make most any playing situation run smoothly. To me, these topics
apply to guitarists, singers, and anyone else who steps up on a stage and expects payment at the end of the night. I have seen many players have bad nights because of ignoring one or more of these rules, even losing their gigs in extreme cases. You can, of course, chart your own course and disregard all that follows, but if you end up with no band or gigs, don’t say I didn’t warn you.

1- Rehearse/learn material adequately. I have witnessed many players bounced from their bands because of a lack of work ethic. Do your homework. Group rehearsal is for putting songs together as a band, not for you to learn your parts. Do that at home. If you are given demos of new originals, learn them. If you are in a cover band, learn the tunes scheduled for the next practice. The people you play with will respect you to a much greater degree if you don’t waste their time.

2 – Show up for rehearsals and the gig itself on time. This is huge. If the practice/gig is supposed to start at 7 PM, be sure you there at least 30-60 minutes before hand so that you are set up and ready to go at 7PM. This should be a no-brainer, but somehow is usually an issue with at least one band member in every group. Being late causes chaos that, in the worst case, can bring the vibe of the whole gig down.

3 – Make sure your gear works. Change strings, if needed, and be sure you have adequate backups for any key pieces of gear that would leave your show less than complete if they failed. Should be another
no-brainer, but you’d be surprised…

4 – Learn to set up and tear down in 15 minutes or less. This is especially important when on multi-band bills when changeover time is tight. Watching you plug and unplug cables for 45 minutes is not entertaining for anyone, least of all the band following you. If you cannot get on or off the stage in 15 minutes, you might want to consider using less gear.

5 – Find the sound person, if there is one, and introduce yourself and your band. Remember, this person holds your whole show in the palm of their hand and can make or break the night. Communicate any
special needs your band has, learn and remember the sound person’s name, and consider giving a tip, especially if it is an important gig. Things always go better if the sound guy is on your side.

6 – Be professional. Keep the overall success of the gig foremost in your mind, rather than your individual glory, and all will be fine. Turn up or down as needed without complaint, deal with any negative aspects of the gig away from the view of the audience, and keep a cool head. Remember, any one can get one gig at a venue; the trick is getting the second gig.

7 – Be nice. As nice as you can, anyway. No one likes to work with an egoed-out jerk. If you are a jerk, but have a big draw, you will still probably get gigs, but the minute your draw slips, you will be out the door. If venues remember you as professional and easy to work with, your odds of getting that second and third gig increase dramatically and you will probably be able to gig through any downturns in your drawing power.

8 – Promote your gig adequately. In these tough times, your draw is the main thing that will get you respect, so handle your business properly. Get promo to the club well in advance of the show, send out all your mailing list, MySpace lists, and anything else you have that will get people in the door. You have to constantly adding to your lists, because you need new people to see your band in order to grow. Once a fan comes to a show, buys a CD, and gets on your mailing list, they are probably done for while and new faces are needed to make the next shows jump. This is vital for original bands, in particular.

9 – Play your best possible gig. That means don’t get too drunk or high, in plain English. No one wants to watch a bunch of sloppy drunks play sloppy music. Stage time is sacred, especially at good venues, and should be respected, because there are plenty of bands waiting to take your gig from you if you mess up. Remember, the party is for the people who pay the cover charge. Drink on your day off. If you can’t get on stage without a buzz, you may have some life issues to think about.

10 – Enjoy. Playing a great gig is one of life’s supreme pleasures. Remember why it is you live this life to begin with and go out there and get ‘em. If playing music is no longer fun for you, maybe it is time to consider a new line of work.

I hope my little list gives you something to think about and hopefully improve your own gigs with. Sometimes, we do everything
right and still have bad nights, and there is nothing that can prevent it. Most bad gigs are self-induced, however, and can be
minimized or avoided with just a little bit of forethought. Anyway, that’s all for now. Watch this space in the coming months for more advice for the gigging guitarist.

Mike O'Cull