A young band's first gig is always an exciting time. Many hours slogging it out in the garage finally come to fruition with the offer of a first gig.

These days bands usually get a school or party gig or a shared bill with a few other bands or even a band competition. Either way the experience of the first gig should be enjoyable and exciting. You don't want it to turn into a nasty experience with everything going wrong, which it invariably will if you are not prepared.

Murphy's law will apply ..."what can go wrong, will go wrong" if you are not ready for the task at hand...every musician in the world can remember the first time they perform on staged, so you should make it a good experience not a frightful mess.

Be ready!!

# Rehearse, rehearse, rehearse, rehearse... no matter how many times you have performed your songs in the garage, when you get on stage it will all sound different, and if you don't know your part 110% you will get it wrong. In the garage you are usually all in one small room and quite close to your fellow band mates. On stage you can be separated quite a lot and you may not be able to hear the other guys or what they are playing. If you know your songs very well you will be able play it no matter what sound problems you have.

Be confident in your ability.

Also rehearse your songs in the order you will perform them especially if you are doing a short set. If you are doing a whole night, rehearse your whole song list as if you are actually doing the gig. This will alert you to any problems such as guitar changes, pedal set up changes, singers needing a "breather", etc. that may make you look disorganized on stage.

Be ready.

# Make sure your guitars have new strings (but put them on at least two hours before you play and stretch them in), your drums have at least a new snare skin, check the condition of the kick drum skin too.

Make sure you have new batteries for pedals and especially tuners, and for any wireless systems you may be using. And don't forget a guitar stand or two!!
Have a spare lead close by even if you are using wireless systems, it is a good back up.

If you are doing a gig with a bunch of other bands, make sure your accessories such as leads, tuners , and microphones are clearly marked with your name or at least some special markings, it is strange how much gear goes 'walking' at these gigs.

Write a song list/order for all the band members and a few spares if the gig is using a sound or lighting guy. Make notes if you want any special effects etc done for you by the sound man. Each member should write notes on his or her list if they need to remember certain things such as pedal adjustments, change of guitar, etc.

Singers may need a "cheat sheet", just write down the first word of each line to jog your memory in case you get nervous, however if you are well rehearsed your should not need it!

Make sure your equipment is ready.

Get to the gig early enough to be in no rush and bring as many as your friends as you can. Audiences generally have a 'sheep' mentality and if they see or hear a bunch of people making a lot of favorable noises they too will go along and get the vibe.

Your friends can also help you with your equipment too!!!

Enjoy your self and get the whole thing recorded on audio and visual mediums so you can show it to your family and friends and to your grand kids when your old!! Either way you won't forget it!!

About the Author:
Matt is a guitar enthusiast who lives and breathes anything guitar related. He's been playing for a long time and loves talking about guitars with everyone. You can find him frequently playing on his porch. Check out free tips, online lessons, and a guitar forum at his site Axebay Used Guitars

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - How To Survive Your First Gig