Hi guys.. I've a got a gig coming up and I was wondering if all of the members here could share some of their experiences in performing. I have been playing a lot (on my own ) but not that much experience in performing on stage. I hope to get some great responses from everyone!!! especially echobrain!!!! you performing STUD you!!! lol

1) Preparation and equipments
2) How to set up
3) Do's and don'ts

You can include more if you have ideas.

This post has been edited by gizmoduck: Dec 20 2005, 04:18 PM

I haven't performed in gigs but I know friends who do. Its mainly calling your local bistro or just having a look around for any functions that need a band. Then just settle something, rent a PA system and play it.

I've tried that but functions tend to cancel on you and that really pisses me off. I wish there are more open mics joints where we could go to..

Something where we could sign up couple of weeks earlier and go up there and perform 2-3 songs

For me last time with my Ska band, we go and ask around places to perform. My ska band last time perform for the opening of IntenCity (remember this place ?) at 1 Utama. Get paid during the process, 7 of us got Rm800.

The thing is, don't expect some big time company to hire your band to perform. You'll have to ask them your self ....

P/S: Why would I shut this topic for ?

You lot want to set up a gig together? I've asked around but we really dun have many musician friends outside our circle who knows this kind of stuff. Jamming again and again feels.. like.. you know.. masturbating hehe

the bands that i know here all promote themselves through party gigs...
you wont get paid alot or sometimes even non... juz free food and free booze

i dun mind getting free booze...

get a manager to handle that....hehehehe

just go out there, mix with as many ppl as you can, find as many possible gigs as u can and go play them. my band DreamMachine, we still play alot of shows for free with no complaints. we bring our own equipments too. yes, itll cost quite abit just to play one show(even if we have free shows in kl we would use our own money to fly all the way to kl to play). we need vans and stuff to move our equipments, sometimes we get friends to help out as crew etc. All those cost some money, and we pay for it as a band. if u are really serious and love music as much as we do, just do it. if u wanna be the next pop star or millionaire, dont listen to me. hehhe

Yeah free gigs are the way to go!

I don't think any full-fledged musicians would mind spending a little in order to play. I know I don't. But the problem is time. I'm working 24/7 right now so there's really little time to go scouting.

But as soon as my work is done and IF my drummer returns or if i find a new one, I hope my band can play a few shows.. BTW guys.. my overtime check is IN!!!! so that SHERATON IS mInE!! BABY!!! check should clear tmrw and planning to get it tomorrow evening..! I don't think I can focus o anything right now..

If your band can't get together for a simple mamak time let alone a jamming outting .... then what's the point of even thinking about performing in the first place.

Your band should at lest find time where all it's members are free to meet up and jam a few songs, chit-chat and then plan where to have your first gig or so. Even my ska band's first ever gig, We pratice for 1 1/2 soild months + planning all the logistic + scouting the venue, just to name a few ....

Yeah, I'm old enough to know that dude. FYI, my band used to jam regularly at least 2-3 times a week when we were in uni so don't tell me nuthin bout havin a mamak session alright?

Now we (my band) are all professionals in our own fields of work so maybe we don't have as much time as we did then. But that doesn't mean that we don't want to play music anymore. Its what we've done all along.

Haha gizmoduck, i think you misunderstood my last post. I didn't said you guys don't go for mamak outing. What I'm saying is .... there's more preparation even before you guys go on stage.

I know you guys jam alot together .... but that's among you guys inside a room. When u're up there, it's a different story all together. I don't know how to explain but it comes with experience. I performed countless time for my church as well as with my band, and I must say preparation is the most important part before even steping on the stage.

I know what you mean.. You see for me, I've been singing at various events for a few years with my uncle's band (oldies sh*t) so its nothing new. But nowadays, it would be nice to go on stage with my own band y'know? playing our own songs and so on...

that's what happened to my previous band. maybe due to lack of live playing and all of a sudden everyone is busy doing something personal and we went like 6 months without jamming. even not all members turned up when we hang out. i guess jamming alone is not enough. u need to play and perhaps some recording session in order to keep the engine running...

Yeah.. too bad dude.. We recorded twice already you see. the second one is in i-bands. haih.. my drummer promises to turn up in 2 weeks time for practice. I'm gonna block book AkarKarya for a daY!!!! hahahaha.. we gonna sleep there and eat mamak food there as well!!!

btw/ bad news guys, my car's drive shaft broke last night.. :'( so I have to postpone the guitar for another 3 weeks... grrr....

WHY DOES IT ALWAYS RAIN ON ME

Hello all, I'm just bumping the topic to see if anybody has anything interesting to say I have edited the post title as well. Hope to hear from all 'seasoned' performers ROFL

hi gizmo. maybe u wld like to check this out, a little guide.

http://malaise.malscene.net/archives/28

theres 'The art of gigging part 1 ' too. u gotta look at their earlier archives.

looking forward to see you guys at jamasia hartamas this saturday!

btw, does your band hv an online webspace i could check out sound samples?

thanks.

check out cloudburst at:-

Cloudburst

Yo, thanks for the guide man! but it mostly talks about ethics and manners - nothing technical. Like how to manage the volume and tone etc depending on the size of the room etc..

please guys, share!!! 3 more days... I'm gettin nervous..

oh there are some technical stuff, like checking your monitor levels and soundchecking. the art of gigging part 1 too.

ask your band to play, ask someone to play your guitar, go stand in the middle of the room and check how's the sound... the sound is one thing, but attitude, manners, contact with the crowd is much more complicated and that's what ppl are going to remember. That's what gonna make the party fun

AND don't re-use old topics, edit them, alter their meaning.. you can think of better things to do, don't you ?

Heh. Played at Joint Leo Installation, while playing Sum 41's In too deep, my cable wasnt in properly and the solo didnt work .F^$#^#$

Before playing make sure everything works fine, double tune ur guitar and uh ROCK ON!! XD

Uh uh.. Soz Pix man.. I thought I'd save some space on the Admin's 'Hard disks' Its a very similar topic anyway and the thread is practically dead. Plus, I fear 'Whackerization'!!! It can be very influential in my development as a human being

KK back to topic - thanks for the input pepal!!! I got some news from my mates that the soundcheck wud be no more than 10 mins per band. I have no clue what the amps at Jam Asia are, or in what condition they're in. Anybody has a clue?

Hmm, for unsigned and indie bands, u'd be lucky to even get a sound check. Most gigs with tons of bands in em, especially band competitions, would almost always never have a soundcheck. It's bout getting up there, setting up ur gear, dialing in the tones, and hope that the soundman had a good day and isn't pissed off.

Someone also advised me in using 'PR' to ensure things would run smoothly. Just pass a box of ciggies to the sound guy just b4 the show and complement the sound for that day. A lil bribery, oops, i mean PR, goes a looong way. I've never tried it - yet.

yes PR is very very important but i havent tried the ciggies one coz idont smoke. lol.

as a guitarist its also good to try ur gear on different types of amp and get familiar how to get the tone you want out of them. common amps provided during small gigs are marshall MGs, AVTs, roland jc120. there are exceptions as ive played gigs with JCMs.

my holidays in kuching are coming to an end which means no more gigs for me when i get back to kl.

I watched a video of my last performance last night. Saw tons of mistakes and areas of improvements. I guess thats a great way of improving - videoing yourself.

GOT Christmas bonus!! woot! woot!!! I smell Laney amp... slurpp..

alot of my shows are video-ed by ppl. theres a very funny feeling watching yourself play. but i do agree its good to see how well u've performed

upload videos and post'em here

hmm would a spare guitar be good advise?i seen many ppl strings break..stap break...and yea..double paddle for drummers break...no idea wat the hell he do...but it happen...

tumpang thread...ok?

wat song would u guys recomend for a solo act?not too hard to sing n play at the same time

if u dont mind carrying then its good.

for me i use new string sets about 2 days before the show and make sure the fresh strings are stretched. also make sure guitar is in good shape especially parts like the bridge where if its sharp/rusty/etc can make strings break faster.

pix, no way! malu

echobrainproject, malu or not, you MUST post it! That's how our forum works, sharing is caring!

Hey, you're the sifu of live performance here, you must show us a thing or 2, right? Right.

hey gizmo, i went to the gig that day. are u the singer or the other guitarist? btw, it was a great show by you guys. *ahem...much better than two of the other bands after u guys, one cldnt tune their guitar, another's vocalist was singing off key all the time.

the radiohead and killers cover was great! had me going.

all those "neo" 70s rock riffs machines, such as The Jets, The Strokes, Kings of Leon, Killers, etc... it's all pretty easy to play and they are fanstastic crowd movers ! Franz Ferdinand is even "better" for this (IMO) but a tad harder to play (still IMO). The whole rythm is so upbeat.

Maybe you guys could post your set list of your last concert, with indication of which song pleased the crowd the most...? i dunno, up to you

Franz Ferdinand is cool!!! They have very dance-able retro songs with bloddy cool riffs! Love them.

I never understand The Strokes' hype tho, absolutely dislike their music. It's so bland and uninspiring. IMO of course & no offence.

WAaaaaahhhHHH!!!

I was so nervous man!!! yo, nick how cme u didnt introduce ur self? I was the singer!!! man, sweat was pouring down my forehead like crazy khehhehehe there was a time when it went straight into my eyes and i was squinting like mad!!! everyone thought I was crying wahaha (feeling la konon)

I always thought that if ur band is literally unknown, then the best bet is to sandwich the set with a couple of covers to at least keep the crowd on their toes (many toes). On the last gig I chose Yellow from Coldplay, Are you gonna be my whore by Jet. Yellow was so-so (but we were playing in a gig filled with hardcore nu-metal screaming the hell out of yer throat bands), are you gonna be my girl was well received as it was a prom flled with 17 year olds (yer fruits are ripe!)

For the Christmas eve gig we played All these things.. by the Killers and Fake Plastic Trees by Radiohead. both went down well i think except for fake plastic the drummer and me did loads of mistakes Back to what u said pix, i think covers (esp popular songs) can really get the crowd going and give them something to sing along to.

Nick, since you were a paying customer on the night, what did u think of the bands? I thought Bittersweet was bloody awesome!!! Man, of all the alt bands in this country, this is an act everybody should go and see! They are all a bunch of teens but they look like they've been playing for years!!! even the singer was a cross between Liam, Mick and that Hives singer!!! awesome!!! i strongly recommend them!!! i'll post the i-bands link if they have one

well in malaysia, a lot of ppl havent heard of franz ferdinand at all
all they know is a few boys dancing on the stage grp

yes gizmo..calm down. hehe. i was there, but i didint know which one was you, partially a little shy too to ask. but its okay, next gig u guys better keep us informed k?

as a paying customer,i would split my 15 bucks amongst the first band (skativa), ur band, scts, bittersweet , twkua, and last but not least, SCTS! (the reason y i came anyways)

i could tell you were a little nervous. and that little gel+sweat into your eyes thing. hahahaha...

but dude, you look young, how old are you ? (if you dont mind) my friends said your band isn't bad, if not good. you guys know your stuff man, didint take long to set up, and your original tunes were quite a listen. only your 2nd gig eh? i dare say i prefer watching you guys over the other bands, no offence to them...

alright, enough praise from me! i saw your mom and sister there btw , if im not wrong. aww.support.

dude, once u guys are much more seasoned, i'll be looking forward to a copy of your recorded originals.

Wow gizmo, I smell some hype clouding over your band. Eh next time got public gigs, inform us so that we can support you!

hinshh hinshh..!!

Lets clear sumthin up! those two girls werent definitely my sis and mum!!! they were my students from the college hahaha!!! And we're not young, we're 24-25 years old.. got 5 more years to make it in the biz hehe before its too late

Thanks for the compliment and I'm sure to keep up the hard work. Hopefully there'll be more gigs in the future for us to play and improve. I forgot to thank some of the advice from the forumers! they were certainly helpful. Esp about writing down the EQs during soundchecks and listening to our own instrumments off stage. Thats why we set up really quick and at least we werent ridiculously loud- I had a blinding headache after TWKUA. haha

People, on that night some people brought their own amps and noticebly (drums stuff- took 20 mins to set up) how do u feel about this? Is it better? wouldn't it make set up time longer? clutter the stage? ppl wud think ur showing off?

ur ops are welcomed!!

here are some pics from the gig!!! me with black t-shirt left!




This post has been edited by gizmoduck: Dec 27 2005, 08:31 PM

Looks like a kewl gig there. How was the sound there? I did a gig recently and the sound was horrible, to put it lightly.

Anyway, if u've got lots of ur own equipments, it's kewl if it's practical to get the sound u want and under a quick setup time. For example, fitting a double-pedal to the drums for a 20sec drum part which takes 20mins to assemble, wouldn't be worth it. I wouldn't recommend ur own amps as these are hard to setup, furthermore, when the existing amps are already miked up by the sound techs. The essentials would be; guitars, effects, and the accessories. Drums are a bit hard as they require more setup time. Practise setting up quickly, or hire the F1 pit crew to do it for u.

sorry gizmo for assuming everything wrongly.

on my opinion of the bands bringing their own amps, i think its great. it just shows their dedication and commitment in producing a good distinct live sound of theirs. twkua, the spec-ed guitarist had a 5150. i thought that was just fantastic. the other guitarist had a strange looking fender head. even more exciting. i personally wouldnt mind a band taking 15 mins to set up. btw, they didint take more than 20 mins that day. as they are very familiar with their amps, they just need to tinker it according to the place's acoustics. yes twkua's band members did agree they played abit too loud, (on another forum). overall, on lugging your own amps, i think its perfectly alright as long as you know what you are doing. say u hv a 5150/mesa, u leave it at home to entertain the neighbours? certainly no.

i admire scts's live set up. they sound great live. ham's pedalboard is just so cool. duan on the opposite hand is so minimalist. just a boss ds-1 if im not mistaken.

btw gizmo, just a quick question, did you guys hv any soundchecks earlier that day?

This post has been edited by nick_drake: Dec 27 2005, 09:38 PM

Yeah, ham had a setup that Johnny Greenwood would have been proud of lol

Well, we had a so-so setup cuz the bassist was late. I just plugged my spare guitar and checked the level and sound. wrote it down on my palm and gt off stage. But during the performance I decided to use my SX (woot! woot!) and had to redo everything again but just slightly different. First and foremost I needed to know how the head worked y'know. And what kind of sound it makes etc. I also balanced out the volume on my ds-1 as usual. So did my lead guitarist. ds-1 rox!!! hehe and its cheap!!!

go go BOSS!!!

haha, tbh, if i were to perform with that marshall head, i would feel kinda intimidated. i wouldnt know how to work the knobs. therefore i guess a soundcheck earlier is vital...

what model was that marshall? how abt that ibanez head?

-double post-


This post has been edited by nick_drake: Dec 27 2005, 10:15 PM

dun know man.. Never really interested in amps (dunno why). But the thing I realized is when ur doing ur soundchecks, what u hear in front of the amp is not what the people down there hear.. strange huh? i mean the speakers were huuuuuuugeee and i turned the nob 3/4 over and it wasnt really that loud. But i bet the people down there thought it was

Burn in hell, ignorant maggot

hehe, i love The Strokes... the 1st time i heard them, i didn't get too excited about it. But later i just found the depth in their music, that was missing before.
Weird, heh, how we all have different tastes again, i'm happy no one can say i've the exact same tastes as led zep...

Well, I find some of their stuff addictive, but as they release more and more similiar singles with the same format - Broken mic, repetitive chords, weird soloing style, each band member coming in one after another etc...

They're alright I guess, but I never understand the hype that the media has given on them. Well, that's just me I guess.

You *******.

Yep it does show their commitment. But it very much depends on ur setup time. If u setup according to the organizers limit, then bravo. I didn't go to that event that day but generally, i think amps would be easier setup before the whole show and not just between bands. The sound guy is the main man here and if he doesn't know how & what to do, ur off to an unbalanced sound. I too would bring a mesa head (if i have one ) but assuming there is reasonable setup time.

Amps are vital in producing ur live sound. What u hear on stage is never the same compared to the floor. The PAs (if any) would change the EQ, volume, and balance of sound. Unless they're behind u or there are monitors (which are turned on unlike most places) which provide u the feedback u require on what it sound like down there. If there's no PA, ur likely to hear the same thing but over a distance, the sound may vary as well.

well if you are serious about gigging (meaning paid gigs) then think about investing in your own PA.

As for the band i play in, we have our own PA and sound guy. Monitoring is to me more important than the actual sound. Because if the monitor keluar some other sound that you were not used to when practicing, then the whole gig will suck because everyone will be so unsure of everything. And this is too soft and that is too loud etc....

This way, u can also reduce the hire fee of your band, then people will hire you more often because you are independent and dont have to rent equipment everytime you have a gig. There are a lot of advantages in using your own equipment. It may be expensive to start with, but it will pay off in the end.

my experiences of playing gigs with my band

if you get the chance, sound check. you're gonna need it. if not, during the show, stuff will happen
for example:-
drummer plays loud and the audience cant hear the vocalist.
too much distortion on the guitar or the gain isn't high enough.

if you're playing a formal gig. play slow songs with acoustics. once we auditioned for a formal thing. we played a rock-ish song. and the judges said it didnt fit.

if you play a slow song with a hyped-up crowd, they won't like it. thats from our experience.

when playing a catchy-rock-head-banging song. try to move around or swing your guitar and stuff like that. it really brings up the mood. dance to the music, baby.

if u dont get the chance, demand for a soundcheck! (unless u pick me up for ur gig, got 'lost' and miss soundcheck *winks*led zep*winks*)

Correction.

This post has been edited by led_zep_freak: Jul 27 2006, 12:07 AM

So true. Soundcheck is super essential. couldn't have a say on what equipment was used during the gig, the record company handled all of that but at least you have to make sure the sound coming out of your instruments on the equipment they provided sounds good ya.

...making a checklist the night before was something we used to do. Check the equipment then make a checklist.... reason being the last time we almost killed the our guitarist cos the fella forgot batteries for his pedals...aiyio.... imagine all that checking and some buffoon forgets to bring one component...

I don't know what kinda music you were in but if you are in death metal/hardcore..invest in good ear plugs... save your hearing. Though I must say during those gigs last time I couldn't hear half the time what I was playing anyways......

If you don't gig for the cash.

Troubadours is a regular music event in KL featuring talented Malaysians who write and perform original material. Then theres, Doppelganger almost the same thing. If you put them together you get Troubaganger a kick-ass open stage/mic event held at La Bodega KL.

If you think you're good enough for it and you write your own stuff. Try contacting them to play. You won't get paid or anything but if you're really good. It's like free publicity.