Hey folks, me and the band are playing only our second proper gig next week, in a club in London. We've only ever played in a pub garden before, so feels like quite a step up being in a proper venue.
I'm not often the lead singer, but will probably have the responsibility to do the between-song-chat and generally be a bit frontman, so any advice out there? Obviously the best way to be a great frontman is to do it for years until you're a natural, but unfortunately I've only got four days before the gig so that's not an option.
Also, any advice about playing in clubs generally? Wondering if the sound will be quite different to playing on an outdoor stage like our other gig.
Cheers!
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Telecaster American Deluxe, Cornell Romany amp, without the talent to use them properly
Comments
Be. Dave. Grohl.
If only some people clap or dance look at them when you say thank you etc etc
Main thing imo is to just look like you’re having a good time and do a good job in the songs. Anything else is a bonus and not really necessary if you have a good band.
I remember watching a band we were playing after and though we'd lost the crowd (lol, audience) before we started.
From then on, we made each show electric, and I wasn't happy until any band following us was nervous.
Own the stage. It is your stage. Rehearse so much you are easily performing, not just playing.
Also, take one look at Brandon Flowers, he's not the best singer live at all, but he owns the stage, and performs night after night.
Also, a few jaegerbombs and a line of coke before your set
Obviously talk between songs but don't rabbit on too much, audiences will get bored if you don't keep the flow going, a simple intro on the next song, maybe a story behind it. Keep saying the band name (esp if its an originals band) and plug social media. Shout out the next band (provided you ain't the only band playing or headlining) or the ones who have just played.
Explore the stage a bit, don't just stand in one position, if its not a very big stage, you still have to have some presence (I'm probably talking about more heavier metalcore bands).
Look suitably into the songs ( smile during a fun song, look sad during a sad song) and what is occurring on stage, your audience is subconsciously looking to you for cues. Try not to look bored or nervous.
Have a good time.
Don't stress out, perform the best you can and if they like you there will be more bookings to follow.
One thing that worries me is the gaps between songs while we check tuning and stuff. As we're new to this, we're perhaps overly worried about going out of tune during songs, then look like idiots while we tune up again. Oh, and our drummer has a habit of just launching into the next song without checking if we're ready.
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Telecaster American Deluxe, Cornell Romany amp, without the talent to use them properly
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Telecaster American Deluxe, Cornell Romany amp, without the talent to use them properly
A ring out is when you end a song with the guitars still ringing out the last chord, e.g no dead stop and it can run into the next one if it’s in the same key. Good if it’s uptempo tunes to keep the energy going.
Gear
Tuning, guitar changes, Capos etc are done quickly and quietly. If you and your gang don't have mutes on the pedalboards get them. If you don't have at least on spare guitar between you get one. Same for strings in an interval, picks sticks etc.
If you use multi effects don't, controversial but I've seen too many gigs dicking around with levels.
Everyone should be ready for the next song and if not communicate and sort it quickly. Be ready. I played bass at a festival and the guitarist forgot a spare lead and a strap. Knob.
People
You are the frontman and people start songs when you are ready. See above for speed for being ready but the drummer is on his own if he starts early. So a quiet word before the next will do wonders, and if it doesn't a quiet word after the gig ending in goodbye have a nice life will do the trick.
As I get older I've less time for musicians who don't get the concept of teamwork.
Don't talk for the sake of it. Use you set list to plan where the big gaps are and write prompts for some filler chat. It's a good idea to start your set with 2 or 3 songs in quick succession before talking. Speak confidently even if it's bollocks.
Remember to mention the venue and the bar staff (by name) on plenty of opportunities (plugging drinks always goes down well with venues). Don't try to read out a website address as you'll just sound awkward.
And don't worry about tuning up without speaking over the top every time - you can just say "we're just going to tune up for a moment" and the crowd will be okay with that.
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Telecaster American Deluxe, Cornell Romany amp, without the talent to use them properly
If you're the more confident one that's fine, but don't let the other one off the hook completely. Doing a belting lead vocal and then standing there looking at your feet while a different band member talks to the audience looks very odd after a few numbers.
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Telecaster American Deluxe, Cornell Romany amp, without the talent to use them properly