Takeaways From My Band’s First Gig
Ever get the pre-show jitters? Sweaty palms, endless thoughts of worst-case scenarios. Yeah… fun times, right?
Last weekend I had my first performance with my band Blither. Being the first rock show I’d played in a long time, I was nervous, excited, and everything in between.
In the end it was a really solid show! Not only was it a good time – it was a great learning experience as well. Here are some takeaways from my band’s first gig.
Takeaways From My Band’s First Gig
- It’s important to challenge yourself.
- Practice and be prepared.
- Have fun and don’t be nervous.
- Don’t beat yourself up when you make a mistake.
It’s Important to Challenge Yourself
Try this the next time you get the opportunity to write your own basslines: push yourself by writing parts that are too complex and practice, practice, practice in order to work your way up to your desired level of playing. Take those new skills you’ve been practicing and apply them to your basslines.
This is also a great way to track your progress and your growth as a bassist. Three years ago I never would’ve thought I’d be incorporating things like natural harmonics, double stops, ghost notes, and slap style into my basslines – now my technique has sufficiently developed enough to play those newly acquired skills with confidence.
Of course, don’t write complicated basslines for the heck of it – always make sure you’re supporting the rest of the band. If it doesn’t make sense to shred, don’t shred. But if you feel there’s a need to fill some empty space, then go for it! I tend to look for sections where the guitars are sustaining or jamming out on one chord. Transitions from one phrase to another can also be an opportunity for a nice fill.
Practice and Be Prepared
There’s no substitute for personal practice time. And I’m not talking about band rehearsal – playing with your band shouldn’t be the only time you pick up your bass! I’m talking about working out your own parts by yourself.
I had the advantage of being able to listen to our setlist thanks to the demos our guitarist/vocalist recorded for us. Listening to our songs during my commute and at the office allowed me to become familiar with them. By the time I sat down to practice I had already drilled them into my head, giving me a much needed head start. Each time I practiced I’d run through the entire set without stopping, then go back and focus on certain sections that I was having trouble with.
Practice your basslines to the point where you feel comfortable enough to play them without thinking about your part note by note. Nail down the song form and practice until you don’t have to stop or second guess which section is approaching.
Think of it this way: one part of your brain should feel so confident in your playing that it’s on autopilot in a sense, while the other part of your brain is focused on the meaning behind the lyrics (especially with worship music) and enjoying yourself. Which leads to my next point…
Have Fun and Don’t Be Nervous
It’s funny how some performances make me nervous while others don’t. For example, I find it more nerve-racking when I’m performing for a small, intimate crowd of close friends and family versus a larger crowd of several thousand people I don’t know.
My palms will start to sweat minutes before hitting the stage, making it difficult to maneuver around the fretboard. My fingers get shaky, causing me to stumble through the tricky phrases I played flawlessly during rehearsal.
Whether you’re playing in front of 20 people or 2,000 people, here are some things to keep in mind to overcome your anxiety:
- Nail down your parts. If you’re prepared then what do you have to worry about? Own the stage with confidence!
- Have fun! For years I struggled with my stage presence (or lack thereof). I used to have a serious case of RBF (resting bass face), and even though I’ve always enjoyed playing the bass it doesn’t always come across that way. Nobody likes to watch a motionless statue! Don’t be afraid to get into it – bob your head, jump around, dance a little. I’ve also found that adding some motion to my stage presence helps me keep time and play in the pocket better.
- Know that people are rooting for you. As I said before, playing in front of a small crowd of friends, family, and coworkers is stressful to me – you may feel the same way, too. But what if we took that stress and converted it into positive energy? I believe this is possible – here’s how: remember that the people you’re playing for don’t want you to fail. They’re cheering you on and want you to succeed! This applies to large crowds, too – even if you’re playing in front of a large group, chances are there will be at least a few people in the crowd who are close friends and/or family. Keep this in mind the next time you hit the stage, as this is can be used to fuel your performance.
Don’t Beat Yourself Up When You Make a Mistake
There is a fine line between not caring at all and caring too much. I don’t know about you, but I tend to lean more towards the latter. Obviously learning from your mistakes is wise and shows musical maturity, but obsessing over one missed note and dwelling on it for days isn’t a healthy discipline. Keep in mind that most people (especially non-musicians) probably won’t notice an error, and even if they do they’ll forget about it by the next morning.
My point is that every musician messes up, from weekend warriors to seasoned professionals. I honestly can’t recall a single flawless performance – I mess up every time I play whether it’s noticeable or not! But we learn from our mistakes, move on and be proud knowing we performed to the best of our ability.
In conclusion, it’s important to challenge yourself with your basslines. You’ll grow as a bass player and become better prepared for the gig when you’re shedding your parts. When you’re prepared you’ll have more fun, and when you have fun you’re more likely to perform better.
As always, thanks for reading and feel free to drop a comment or question below!
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We have some demos up on SoundCloud too, so check us out!
