The majority of my gigs (and by that I pretty much mean every gig I’ve ever had except for one) come from friends of mine that ask me to cover it. The actual conversation goes like this: “Hey Lisa! I have a gig that I need covered next week, you want it?” However, what this conversation means to say is: “Hey Lisa! I need a gig covered. It’d be four hours of material you may or may not have heard, you have to learn it all by next week, and there’s no rehearsal.” And trust me, I have no problem with this. Once I got comfortable playing without rehearsals, I found that I actually really enjoy these shows.
For some one that has never had a show (especially a 4-hour one) without a rehearsal, this can be an extremely daunting task. However, have no fear! Because I’ve compiled a few tips to help release some of the pressure from these gigs and help make these shows enjoyable.
1. Ask Questions
Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Everyone plays songs differently, so it’s completely cool if you ask the artist you’re playing for to give you a rundown of the set. Or, contact the other musicians and ask if there’s anything that they play differently, etc. There’s nothing wrong with wanting to be prepared for the show.
2. Get Comfortable With Watching The Other Musicians
One of the things that I cannot stress the most is learning a little guitar. I’ve blogged about it before, but in these types of situations, it really is important. Don’t be surprised when you’re at the show at the artist says, “Hey can you play “This-Such-And-Such” song.” So, learning what some chords look like on guitar could be crucial. It’s also important to get comfortable with watching the drummer. Watch for hits or stops that they may add into the song. This may sound like a lot of work, but once you get used to just watching the other musicians every once in awhile, it really just becomes second nature.
4. Practice, Practice, Practice
I’m not one of those people that thinks that practice makes perfect. I don’t really believe that “perfect” exists. However, I do believe that you can get close. Life can get busy, but it’s important to set aside specific times for practicing. That can even mean just listening to the music while you’re on your lunch break. I am a firm believer that just listening to the music can enhance your playing ten fold. Listening to the music and memorizing it that way can help you memorize the groove of the song.
5. Relax
You may get ultra stressed out before the show, but just wait until you get in front of a crowd on a nice stage. If you practice enough, and really do your homework, you’ll be fine. Own the stage and if you mess up, forget about it. My dad always say that “the difference between a musician and a professional musician isn’t between who messes up more than the other. It’s just that professional musicians can hide it better.” So, just keep on smiling. :-)
