Practicalities
Most of the writings regarding playing live will tell you about many practicalities. We'll just list the big ones here.
- Be on time.
- Always do a sound check. And if you can, buy the sound guy a beer to get him on your side. Bad sound mixing can make the best band sound terrible. During the check, and even during the performance, make sure your monitors are set so you can actually hear yourself.
- Bring extras of any equipment that can break easily. Extra guitar strings, extra cables. Extra reeds. Etc.
- Have someone run your band CD and merchandise store if you can. It's hard to sell from the stage.
- Most bands, including ourselves, tend to have high emotions right before a show. Take any fights or negative feelings with a grain of salt and try not to let your fellow band members take it the wrong way. The last thing you want to do is play pissed off at each other.
- Have fun. We're not telling you this in the same way your counselor at day camp said it. If you are not having fun, your audience will probably catch the bad vibe and it will not be a good show. And, conversely, when you have a great time, they pick up on it and make the show special. Your best shows happen when the good emotions run high.