by Danielle Hieronimi

Created on: July 18, 2008

All of us music enthusiasts have at one point in time been in a band or have been close to it. We all know that feeling of; if somebody understands what I'm going through, through my music, then I have paid it forward for the bands who have done the same for me.

So, let's say this is your first gig. Four people; one bassist, one lead guitar, a drummer, and lead vocals. You have about ten or eleven songs lined up and you are so nervous that you have threw up twice at home, and three times at the party. You get up on stage; you are lead vocals by the way; and you look over the small crowd and see their anxious faces; you feel empowered. You feel as though they can lift you up on a pedestal.

But don't get in too far over your head. Setting up for the first gig is a huge step. You want your image to look good, you want your music to sound great, you want to be ready. These few tips will make your first rock session a well known one for being absolutely amazing.

You probably already have band practice maybe once a week to everyday of the week depending on how serious your band is. The two weeks before the gig are crucial. You will need to practice at least twice as much as you normally would and get picky, almost anal. Could that riff be better? Did he sing on the write pitch? Is everything up to tempo? Do we know the lyrics; or song order of our show? Once you have a good practice routine to prepare yourself for your first apperance, everything else will seem simple as long as you keep your calm.

Make sure you call the host or owner of wherever your gig is at to confirm the time you should be there, the space you will have, the amount of time you are given to set up, where you will wait until you go on. Be sure to write this down, these things are small, but oh so important; if you forget these details, you are going to be rushed to get ready and will be forced to do alot of things by improvising.

It is a must to show up early; even though it's not how most professional rockers roll. Remember, YOUR band is not professional. It's your first gig! So be sure to get there early to set up all your equipment in a proper fashion so there will be no last minute check ups or problems. Arriving before the crowd also gives you a little while to tune and practice your instruments.

Finally, when you get on stage, just let it all go. You are well prepared. Now enjoy it and bask in all your band's glory. Rock out and have fun with it! And don't worry if you completely suck, because no beginning band can suck the way you do.

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