Whether you’re a solo artist or a member of a band, preparing to play your first gig in front of a live audience can be stressful. You know you’re talented and have put in the hours of practice needed to wow the crowd, but getting under bright lights in front of a group can cause stage fright and self-doubt. Did I tune my guitar correctly? How will I move my piano? How many pieces of my drum kit should I take?
Every musician wants to nail the preparation for their debut gig. Your sound is how you’ll get people cheering and keep them coming back for more. These simple checks and tips will help you feel more confident when you ultimately take to the stage to blow the audience away on your opening night.
Preparing Your Guitar or Bass
Even legendary musicians like Jimmy Page went through a first gig. You’ve done the practice to get here — now do the guitar tuning and soundchecks you’ve learned before reaching the venue. If you’re the headliner and aren’t sharing the bill with anyone else, you’ll probably have time to tune your instrument and acclimate to the room’s acoustics before your performance. However, if you’re part of a lineup with multiple artists, you’ll have limited setup time before hitting the stage.
Either way, preparing before you get to the venue is a wise idea to prevent careless mistakes and last-minute adjustments. Ideally, you’ll want an electronic tuner for the best accuracy, which will build your confidence and save you time. Here’s how simple this user-friendly device — either a plug-in/pedal tuner or one you clip to your bass or guitar’s headstock — makes tuning your instrument.
● Choose a quiet room when tuning — this allows the tuner to accurately identify the instrument’s vibrations.
● With the electronic tuner connected, pluck a single string at a time.
● Adjust the string’s peg until your tuner aligns with the relevant note.
● Repeat this quick process with all your strings.
When you’re new to the music business, you may rely on manual tuning through a keyboard or piano or using a tuning fork. Consider checking out one of the several tuning apps available for smartphones as an alternative to an electronic tuner. These apps use your device’s microphone to assess the pitch and tune your guitar or bass accurately.
Getting Your Piano Gig-Ready
Are you an aspiring Elton John or Ben Folds? If so, you’ll want to bring your piano to the venue to create the best impression possible. The challenge will be getting it there, so ask your bandmates or friends to help you move it. Ascertain there’s enough space on the stage or nearby to move your instrument and clear its storage with the event coordinator beforehand.
Before you move your piano, practice tuning so you can easily complete slight pitch adjustments upon the instrument’s arrival. With that done, your artistic partner is ready to move. Make sure you lock the keyboard lid and use moving straps to distribute the piano’s weight evenly. Go slowly and carefully, taking breaks as needed.
● Know the route you’ll take to get to the venue and plan where you’ll park or unload when you arrive.
● Use a dolly, moving blankets and a loading ramp wherever you can.
● Coordinate with your fellow movers to get everyone on the same page about where to go.
● When you’ve successfully transported and unloaded your instrument, position it so it’s ready to play. Do a quick tune-up and pitch check to ensure the move didn’t adversely affect your instrument’s sound.
If you’re a pianist in a band, it might be easier to bring a keyboard to the gig. Connecting in stereo will improve your keyboard’s sound, but it’s hardly essential when accompanying several other instruments. Though connecting and tuning through a single keyboard amp is traditionally sufficient, you may use in-ears to tune and play your keyboard, which can be more complex but will protect your hearing.
Drumming up a Storm
Many jazz and blues drummers only use small drum kits at gigs, and when you’re starting out, it makes sense to build your kit slowly. Less can be more when playing at a small venue, so consider incorporating three or four pieces into your setup. Plus, streamlined kits are also easier to transport. Bring at least one extra pair of drumsticks for the big night — you don’t want to drop a stick and scramble to find it.
Do Your Prep Early and Relax
Greatness takes time — you won’t conquer the world at your first live show. Knowing this, your audience likely won’t expect perfection, so prepare your instruments beforehand and enjoy the occasion.
While your sound makes your music unique, don’t forget to build emotional connections by playing to your audience. Mingle with the crowd between sets, as getting to know your potential fans is an excellent way to sell merch and book future gigs.
