What’s It Like To Play a Gig?

Not much preamble, I really like this question- What’s it like to play a gig?

If you have never played a gig you have expectations. Those expectations are probably wrong. The experience is different for everyone. Below is a blow by blow account of what it is like to play a gig. This is at the bar band level, which is where we all start out. A few select will go beyond this, but for most of us this is where we will peak.

The Scenario

Your band, Schmoozing Marble, is playing at the Dick & Pickle. You are booked to play from 9pm to 1am on a Friday night. This is the first time the band has played this venue. The singer, who booked it, says it is a great place with a good vibe.

The plan

Everybody meet at the practice space at 6pm to pack for the gig. Get to the venue by 7. Set up done by 8, then immediately do the sound check. Take the next 45 minutes to hang-out, and talk to people at the bar.

5:00- You get out of work from your day job (most of us have them).

5:18- You get home.

5:19- You were lazy last night so didn’t bother to pack up your stuff, so you have to do it now.

5:31- You now have less than 29 minutes to- shower, get dressed, and eat something

• Make sure you eat something; low blood sugar is not a good idea given how much you are about to work.
• Double check that you packed ALL your gear. Make sure you have every cable, power cord, guitar, amp, picks, stands, etc. You know what check that at least three times.

6:00- Start packing the car.

6:20- Head over to help pack the equipment at the practice space.

• It is important that everyone pitch in. There will be times when not everyone can make it, but that shouldn’t be a big deal if it doesn’t happen all the time.
• I was in a band where this was not well delegated. It created hard feelings that helped in the eventual break-up of the band.

6:30- Pack up the van/car/truck cavalcade that will take it all to the gig. The drummer works later than everyone else so he’ll meet everyone at the gig. He’s bringing his drums himself.

6:48- Leave for the gig (travel time is about 20 minutes)

7:09- Arrive at the Dick & Pickle, then spend the next 10 minutes trying to figure out where to park.

7:19- Start unpacking the gear. Realize that once you get inside that there is not a stage, but rather a corner reserved for the band.

• If you are really lucky there are no permanent railings to keep you corralled. I was once trapped in a corner with railings on two sides, a wall, and the drummer’s kit boxing me in. There wasn’t room to keep my guitars in the same area so my guitar stands were next to the sound guy. I had to climb over the railing to get to my place on “stage.” The lighting was terrible so of course I broke two strings during that gig.

7:29- Argue over how much room the drummer needs for his rug so that you can start setting up the rest of the gear since the drummer hasn’t arrived yet.

7:31- Realize that there aren’t enough set lists. Scramble around looking for a piece of paper and a sharpie so that everyone has a copy.

7:52- Drummer arrives, you help him unpack his van.

7:58- Drummer starts to lay out his rug while everyone else is carrying in his set (except the singer who is busy getting ready in the bathroom). The realization sets in that you all underestimated the amount of room he needed.

7:59- Spend the next several minutes moving things around so that there is enough room for the drums.

8:06- You now know how much room you have to set up your gear, which you start to do.

• The last thing you do is take your guitars out of their cases. Get your amp set up and pedalboard laid out before you even think about taking your guitars out of the case. This will keep them protected from getting damaged, plus if you come from a cold climate this gives them time to adjust to the temperature of the club/bar.
• Make sure to have any tools or accessories you may need like spare strings, picks, screw driver, and a flashlight, to name a few items you might need.

8:28- Spend the next fifteen minutes trying to put up your banner- “Did anyone bring some cable ties?”

8:43- Grab a drink at the bar

8:44- Spend the next ten minutes being nice to a drunk that you want to tell to shut-up, but you can’t because he might be a fan.

8:55- Sound check

9:01- Start playing the first song of the set, despite the fact you still can’t hear anything the way you want in the monitors. You glare at the soundman, but he steadfastly ignores you.

• I gave up years ago trying to get a good mix in my monitor. I believe good mixes are like unicorns and are only the stuff of fairy tales.

9:32- Some guy at the bar between songs makes sure to let everyone know that the singer messed up the second verse of the last song by singing one of the words wrong.

10:04- You start the wrong song. You have no idea until the bassist tells you during the second verse. Everyone else went with so it started without a hitch.

10:24- “Free Bird” yelled from the back of the bar.

10:41- First break (15 minutes)

• Spend the first couple of minutes tuning your guitars.
• Make small tweaks to your set up.
• Stand in line to the bathroom (hopefully there are enough people there to warrant a line).
• Order a drink- get it just in time for the next set to start (sneak sips of it between songs).

10:56- Second set starts

11:11- Break a string, spend the next several minutes putting a new string on your guitar

• If you’re smart (and of course you are) there is a plan in place. Have a song that you aren’t a prominent part of. The band can play that song so that you have the time to change strings.

11:13- String emergency is over

11:21- “Free Bird” yelled from the back of the bar.

11:38- Try to get the attention of the sound guy so he can remove the drunk guy who’s trying to sing into the microphones while he walks all over the set lists.

12:14- A train wreck is averted when the other guitarist starts his solo early. The rest of the band hears and recovers. The audience is none the wiser (including the guy who noticed the wrong lyric earlier).

12:16- “Free Bird” is yelled from the back of the bar.

12:20- The dance floor is full for the next three songs. The band elevates to the next level. You aren’t tired. You aren’t annoyed by anything that has happened. You are a guitarist in the best band in the world.

12:22- Get all elated because you nailed that tricky bit at the end of solo.

12:34- Woman comes up and asks you to play “Mama’s Broken Heart” by Miranda Lambert. The singer says, “We’ll add that for next time.”

• In all seriousness, listen to the honest requests. If you come back next time and play that song that woman will be very happy. She might even drive an extra ten minutes to see you at another venue.

12:50- Quick band meeting in the middle of the stage as you all realize you have too many songs, and only ten minutes left in the set. Two songs are quickly dropped.

1:06- Finish the last song of the night (one of the dropped songs was added due to audience response).

1:07- Start unplugging and tearing down

• The first thing you do is put your guitars into their cases. Then place them where you can keep an eye on them.

1:10- Continue to tear down while talking to the random bar patrons who were really impressed with the band.

• I know you’re tired, but you need to give these people as much of your attention as possible. They will come see you the next time you play at the Dick & Pickle.
• Have business cards that give the band’s information so that they can follow you.
• Have flyers ready to go with your next couple of gigs (and contact information).

1:22- Your equipment is all packed up; time to start helping the sound guy pack-up the mixing board, monitors, mic stands, mics, cables, speakers, lights, light stands, and other various bits of gear that you don’t understand or know why you’re dragging to this small club that is about the size of your practice space.

1:43- Everything is in cases. It’s time to start putting it all in the vehicles.

1:56- Everything is packed in the vehicles; time to make a sweep of the area to make sure everything has been picked up.

1:58- Make a second sweep.

1:59- Realize that no one took down the banner- “Anyone have something to cut these cable ties with?”

2:01- The owner of the Dick & Pickle promises to have the band back soon, but he doesn’t have his calendar on him at the moment. He actually pays the amount promised.

2:02- Stand in the parking lot and divvy up the money. Hugs and handshakes as everyone tells each other, “Good gig.”

2:03- Start leaving.

2:06- Pull into the all night drive thru to grab something to eat.

2:26- Pull up to the practice space as you finish the last of your fries, and start unpacking the band equipment.

2: 47- One last “good gig” before you get back into your car to head home.

2:57- Arrive home. Drag your gear inside. Decide if you want to take a shower before going to bed. Decide you can take one in the morning.

3:03- Fall asleep

Saturday- spend the whole day recovering. By evening you are on your computer looking up “Mama’s Broken Heart” to figure out how it goes.

That’s about it. Being in a bar band can be fun, but always remember it is going to be work. Every gig is different. What experiences have you had either good or bad? All of you who have not played a gig, you’ve been warned. I didn’t do the scenario where you play a venue where no one could care less that you are there. The oddly attended gigs are funnier. The well attended gigs are just plain fun.