The Opening Band » Live

What Will it Sound Like?

The Opening Band — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 16:15:19 +0000

When booking a show at a place you haven’t been, get details about the sound. Find out what you can expect such as, are there monitors, do you they mic the drums, is there a house sound person. Some places might even have gear there that they prefer you to use. Other places may appreciate if you send the house engineer a simple input list. If the place isn’t too far away, take a band trip out to see a band and check this stuff out in person. Bring some promo for your show while you’re at it.

Input Lists

The Opening Band — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 14:36:24 +0000

Write up a simple input list describing your bands stage set up. If you are in touch with the sound engineer before the show get it to them or have it with you when you arrive for sound check. You can get fancy and draw up a stage plot, but just a list of how many things on stage need to go through the PA will help out a lot.

9 volts

The Opening Band — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 19:01:37 +0000

Have extra 9 volt batteries on hand, it’s no fun when your active pickups die on stage or the adapter for your pedal or tuner dies.

Bring It All

The Opening Band — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 15:20:33 +0000

Bring everything that pertains to your instrument to make sound, like, power chords, patch cables and guitar straps. Throw an extension cord in your bag too, you wont believe how often you or someone in your band will need it.

Spare Fuse

The Opening Band — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 14:55:51 +0000

Always have a spare fuse for your amp. If it’s ever going to go, it’ll be on the night of the big show.

Don’t Noodle

The Opening Band — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 14:22:00 +0000

It’s exciting being on stage and even more so when you haven’t done it very much. That excitement often leads to wanting to bust out an awesome riff or bang out a beat that you think will blow some minds, but that rarely happens. The impact of your bands music will be greater if you don’t jam on your instruments in between songs. Save the practice for the practice space.

Let the PA do the work

The Opening Band — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 14:20:25 +0000

I know it is important to be heard, however, let the sound person do their job. The best approach is to have your stage volume as low as possible and to let the sound person put your instruments/vocals into a nice clean monitor mix. When you are too loud on stage it creates a “wall of sound” and i am not talking the Phil Spector way.

Promote your other shows, but not on stage

The Opening Band — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 14:19:41 +0000

Don’t announce what other clubs you will be playing at soon, owners/bookers don’t like it when you tell their crowd to go to a different club. Have your upcoming shows printed somewhere, and keep your website updated. You have a website right?

Be Punctual

The Opening Band — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 19:49:34 +0000

Getting to a gig too early is always better than getting to a gig too late.

Strike Those Drums!

The Opening Band — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 18:27:53 +0000

After your set, get your drums off the stage as quickly as you can. Take them someplace that you can tear them down without obstructing the view of the next band and making it difficult for people to get close to the stage. Give the drummer before you a hand and maybe they will return the favor.