First Open Mic as a Band

I'm in a group of 4 guys, ages ranging from 30-53, all of whom have careers and play music purely for fun. Long story short, we've wanted to start playing out at local bars but keep getting delayed by lineup changes, etc. We finally settled our bass player situation 3 weeks ago and the new guy is a GREAT fit. So last night we decided to play an open mic night and to do 4 original songs. The plan was to start getting some live playing experience (none of us have really gigged before) and to start climbing the live performance learning curve.

Overall I think it went great. The bar was unexpectedly packed and there were several new-ish bands looking to get up and play 2 or 3 songs, and a few acoustic acts. We played 4 original tunes for a friendly crowd and I think we nailed it. I say 'I think" because the lone stage monitor was useless and I couldn't hear my vocals to save my life, but friends in the back of the room said they heard it fine where they were sitting.

When we got off stage and returned to our seats the bar manager came over and invited us to do a shared headlining gig on a Saturday night in February, so GIDDYUP! We'll need to finish some of the many not-quite-finished original songs we have half-written and pick a handful of covers to fill out the 45-60 min set, but that shouldn't be a problem. Exciting stuff for this middle-aged old fart who has never played anywhere but campfires and basements and the stadiums in my imagination.

A couple of things I learned last night:

1. Do a good soundcheck before playing. It was an open mic, so limited opportunity last night. Also, the monitor worked during our brief sound check but futzed out as soon as we started playing for real.

2. Got to have a functioning monitor for vocals. I was belting it out and simply taking it on faith that I was being heard and was singing in key.

3. Always bring my tuner pedal to a show. I was horribly out of tune to start (guitar had been tuned but must have bumped a tuning key) and had to take a long awkward pause between songs 1 and 2 to tune up. Lost all momentum from song 1.

4. I didn't need to buy that new amp (Fender DRRI). My little Traynor Dark Horse was plently loud for a small to medium sized bar.

5. I'm debating whether I am smarter to bring the guitars I most want to play (e.g., upgraded Gretsch 5122 and my sunburst tele) vs. guitars that would hurt less to lose if some bar patron walks off with it. Thoughts?

6. I'm more comfortable on stage in front of a crowd than I thought I'd be. I think I felt and acted pretty loose and natural up there.

Sounds like you done good and are asking the right questions. Fun, isn't it?

As far as what guitar to bring, play the one that sounds and plays the best. Be vigilent and know it's where-abouts at all times. I have a friend who gigs with an old Gibson F-5 mandolin that's worth more then my house. It never leaves his sight.

Wow, first gig and booked for a paid gig...How cool.

We're overkill with monitors...four big wedges, a separate power amp and a feedback destoyer...but that's pretty much what were used to at this point. If it's your PA, don't skimp.

Play the guitar you like...it's usually safe on stage. It's the load in and load out where it will be stolen. I keep mine in their cases on or near the stage when setting up. And they're the last thing to unpack setting up and the first to pack tearing down. (I also have a long cable with a padlock that I can run through the case handles so they don't walk off.)

And congrats on being comfortable. I've been playing off and on for thirty years and still can't look at the audience.

forensicdoc

Sounds like you nailed it.
1 - 6 all sound good to me.

Guitars: put your best foot forward.
For me, I go with the ones that stay in tune. My Tele and one of a couple of Les Pauls.
The rest seems to take care of itself.

Put a 31 band eq on your vocal monitor and learn how to 'ring-out' the bad stuff.
I promise: The better you sound (to yourself) in your own monitor, the better you will sound out front because you won't sound like you are in pain.
When you are singing well, people will tell you what a great guitar player you are. Swear ta gawd!

Thanks for the advice gents. The Gretsch Electro 5122 is going in for new tuners tomorrow because I love it but cheap stock tuners + Bigsby = badness. That plus my tele with humbucker at the neck, and bringing our own monitors.

Neat, the dumbass questions you have to start asking when you've never gigged before (who sets the door/cover, how much to charge? What, we supply our own person to take payment at the door? Who to ask and how much to give them for the favor?).

I'm not actually asking for answers folks, I'm just saying there's a fundamental learning curve that I think you can only progress through by starting to "play out". It's feeling pretty to finally be on that curve!

As an aside, my band mates and I were having a pre-rehearsal beer last week and the pretty waitress, noticing a gig bag asked, "Are you guys in a band"? With an actual scheduled bar gig on the agenda it was nice to finally say"Yes. Yes we are", and to sort of really believe it for the first time. And the pretty waitress stopping to chat,

Yeah, I enjoyed that part too.

You are living the dream my friend! Enjoy!

I thought that for the sake of closure I should update this thread to reveal how the first gig went. I am going to do just that under a new post called First Gig Success. I'm happy to say that's what it was. Thanks again for the advice.

A couple of things I learned last night:

1. Do a good soundcheck before playing. It was an open mic, so limited opportunity last night. Also, the monitor worked during our brief sound check but futzed out as soon as we started playing for real.

2. Got to have a functioning monitor for vocals. I was belting it out and simply taking it on faith that I was being heard and was singing in key.

3. Always bring my tuner pedal to a show. I was horribly out of tune to start (guitar had been tuned but must have bumped a tuning key) and had to take a long awkward pause between songs 1 and 2 to tune up. Lost all momentum from song 1.

4. I didn't need to buy that new amp (Fender DRRI). My little Traynor Dark Horse was plently loud for a small to medium sized bar.

5. I'm debating whether I am smarter to bring the guitars I most want to play (e.g., upgraded Gretsch 5122 and my sunburst tele) vs. guitars that would hurt less to lose if some bar patron walks off with it. Thoughts?

6. I'm more comfortable on stage in front of a crowd than I thought I'd be. I think I felt and acted pretty loose and natural up there.

I did a lot of gigging for a decade or so until it got out of my system. Here's a critique IMHO

1..sound check is good
2..monitor is not bad but most vocalists will not sing in tune as well as in studio or CD demo
3..tuners are OK unless song is in different/odd tuning, but bring tuner
4..a loud-ish amp isn't a bad thing but not necessary for small venues and can even be bad if it's too big
5..don't bring your prized guitar to gig but a nice, playable one which isn't worth a mint (my friend had many guitars but had his favorite stolen at a gig and it was never worth it as he would have sounded pretty close with other cheaper instruments
6..being natural in front of people can take some time for some, but for others it's like being in practice

Have to add that I'm impressed that you did well with original material. I've seen a lot of bands who could cover just about anybody and do a credible job, but their attempts at original material were embarassments!

Interesting spread of opinions on which guitars to bring to a gig. Theft is so prevalent today, I guess it's just a matter of how secure you think the venue is, and how much control you have over the backstage area; whether or not you'll be able to keep your eyes on your equipment all the time. Most bars the answer is no control. . . . ergo, I'd bring my "second best" that wouldn't hurt so bad to lose, but there is certainly merit, especially while you guys are working up a good reputation in the area, for bringing the guitars you play best, and sound best with.

Congrats of your success.:cool:

Congrats on the good stuff goin on!

I'd say, bring your favorite guitar. You got it to play it, right? Makes me kinda sad to hear about great guitars that people won't take out of the house because they're afraid of scratches, damage or theft. Insure your gear and keep an eye on it and it'll be fine. You're there to make music, use the best tools you have to sound your best. There may be negligable tonal difference in a bar band setting between your #1 and a beater, but you'll know and play better.

Congrats!
Check around for a hot spot monitor for the vocals. They usually can be clamped to the mic stand...the singer in our band uses one.

Well hell, I guess I'm doing my update here.

Ultimately, I decided to bring my Gretsch Electromatic 5122 (gretschbuckers replaced with filtertrons) and my Tele Deluxe Black Dove. Love that Gretsch but it doesn't always like to stay in tune, but all of my teles are low maintenance and predictable. I also rented a couple of monitors and am glad I did. What I did not do, but wish I had done, is bring my own mic stand. The one I ended up using was crap; joints wouldn't tighten and it kept dropping/swivelling/moving through the first 1/2 set when we took a quick break and fixed the damn thing.

It was a "soft opening" in the sense that the 80 or so people were mostly friends and family members of band members, and of the opening act. Because we are all psychologists, drafters, etc. by day people who know us and who aren't musicians themselves are just amazed to see us get on stage and play something that passes as music. I think we cleared that bar though, and i think people genuinely dug it.

We got some feedback that we all looked too damn serious up there and I admit I was more focused on playing well and not forgetting words to all the new songs than on engaging with the audience. That will get easier I'm sure. I figure we've got another show or two ahead of us where we have full support from friends/family in the crowd. Soon enough we'll have to win over crowds solely on the strength of the music and the "show". I'll tell you what though, I can't think of anything I've enjoyed more than playing rock 'n roll on a stage in a bar in front of a receptive crowd. Oh yes, I'll be doing more of THIS!

http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q290/Sheepthrlz/Guitars/dirttones.jpg

I vote to NOT bring valuable guitars to a gig...a bar gig anyways. And I'm not so much worried about it being stolen as I am it getting damaged in the fray. A couple of years ago I had a huge fat drunk guy fall right into us at a bar gig. I didn't even see it happen...one minute he was dancing and the next minute I'm knocked over into a pile of equipment. If I would have had my Martin D-18 with me that night I would have been heartbroken!!! I guess my point is, the stage can be a dangerous and unpredictable place for top shelf gear.

http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q290/Sheepthrlz/Guitars/dirttones.jpg

I'm also mid-50s and don't like to carry stuff. I've got three sons that I can count on in a pinch to haul equipment and act as stage and load in/out security. The oldest makes good money so he'll do it for free beer (bought by us) and time to scope the crowd "talking to women" while we're playing. The second son needs the xtra cash, so I take care of him. They can both handle themselves rather well -- too well if they've had a few. The third just wants the cash,is easily distracted, so I'm not sure he could keep and eye on the equipment. They're not quite the Hanson Brothers, thank god, but when they were younger I would wonder sometimes. Anyway, one's all you need. I have learned that they can be as territorial as dogs.

http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q290/Sheepthrlz/Guitars/dirttones.jpg

Nice picture, but give us a bigger example. Which one are you?

Sorry about the pic size. I'm a techno dummy. Is this any bigger? If so, I'm in the middle holding a Gretsch. Tele Deluxe is on the guitar stand.

http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q290/Sheepthrlz/dirttones.jpg

Here's the tele...

http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q290/Sheepthrlz/a.jpg