Gig Tips for Success
More Music Articles
I Like It, But Is It Music?
Are you frustrated when you try to explain your taste in music? Fortunately, one of the benefits of learning a musical instrument is a better understanding of your own musical taste. Learn to play an instrument, and soon you will be able to discuss what works or doesn't work for you, in music. Learn to Describe What You Like through Musical Education It may come as a surprise, but the European tradition is rife with arguments not only about whether a song is good or bad, but also whether a song is music at all.
Learn To Play Guitar: Practice Makes Perfect
Like anything in life that you want to learn how to do or to be good at, you have to practice to make it happen. Diligent practice is the key to success if you really want to learn to play guitar. Steady practice helps you to improve on the skills that you learn and ingrains them in you until you can play what you have been practicing without even thinking about it.
Choosing the Right Guitar
When you decide to learn to play guitar, choosing the right guitar is a very important choice you have to make. There are quite a few different types of guitars out there, and they all have distinct sounds to them. If you just choose any guitar you can find when you learn to play guitar, you may get discouraged when it doesn't sound like you expected it to sound.
Teaching Babies to Appreciate Music!
GO WITH GAMES! To have the most rewards from playing with Music and the baby, follow these simple ideas: * Young children tune in to the sounds of music; * Their body movements also manifest happiness through music spontaneity; * The baby may acquire musical concepts by playing with sounds, singing, moving, and listening; * Experiencing music is a chance a baby has at pre-verbal learning; * The baby should be encouraged to use his body as a musical instrument for physical experience; * The child learns music by personal experience and discovery.
To Make Your Kids More Successful, Teach Them Music!
Benefits of Music Education Shown to Include Leadership and Teamwork Skills Besides being a sure way to become the life of the party, learning to play an instrument can make your children smarter, better adjusted, and better equipped to adopt a position of leadership in a diverse world. Some of the benefits of music education include the development of leadership and teamwork skills.
Learn a Musical Instrument, Prepare for a Career
For a skilled musician, there is an additional career path that is invisible to the non-musician. This is an additional benefit beyond the pleasure of playing music, the attention it brings, and the better academic performance than students who do not learn to play a musical instrument. It is a broad range of extra career opportunities that non-musicians never even consider.
Northern Soul
Northern Soul refers to music and dance styles popular in the dancehalls of northern England from the late 1960s. In the beginning, the dancing was athletic, featuring spins, flips, and drops. The music consisted of obscure American soul recordings with a fast beat, very similar to Tamla Motown and rare labels (for example Okeh) along with a several blue beat records.
Whether you're in a new band just starting out or an experienced musician familiar with the scene, you will always take something away from every gig you play. If could be something that didn't go as planned that you will know not to try at the next gig, something that was a huge crowd pleaser that will definitely make a reappearance, or something as simple as your own personal set of rituals that gets you and your band ready for each show.
Below are a number of helpful tips and suggestions to keep in mind at your next gig. Whether you play the guitar or the violin, these are all good general things for any musician to know, and could also help your next big show to run a little bit smoother.
Music Stand: This is for those of us that have set lists and key structures written out. The music stand is better than picking all your guitar tabs and sheet music up of the floor after they fall off of your amp.
Instrument stand: I can't even count the times that my guitarist kept forgetting his, he'd prop up his electric guitar and I would watch it fall across the amp after just a few minutes...oh well, save your own instrument. If you want to avoid potential costly damage, be sure to invest in a sturdy instrument stand.
Ear plugs: For obvious reasons, ear plugs are a necessity for anyone that plays an excessively loud instrument such as an electric guitar, bass guitars or the drums, as well as anyone in close proximity to any such instrument on stage.
At the Gig: Don't drink excessively or dope up. It shows in your playing and your professionalism or lack thereof.
Practice: Be courteous. Send a flier to the neighbors letting them know what time and when you practice ... so if there is a problem they don't call the cops first, they call you.
Band Politics: The band sits at a round table - no egos, everyone gets a say - democracy - discuss your goals, tunings, who knows what, song dynamics, etc. A happy band is a successful band.
Bring a Towel (or five): To sop up the spilled beer on your amp that your guitarist denies he did. This will also help to keep the stage cleaner and safer for everyone in the band.
Cable: Loop your cable through your amp handle and your strap so it doesn't fall out.
Guitar Picks: Different gauges for anyone in your band who uses one.
Spare Cords and Cables: Oh yeah it worked yesterday why doesn't it work today? BTW, wrap your cords when you are done - the copper wire has a memory.
Spare Microphones: If you sing it is always good to have a back up. There is nothing like watching, in slow motion, a microphone hitting the ground and splitting into pieces.
Tuner: Guaranteed your guitarist thinks he's in tune and everybody else is out.
Extra Batteries: For the tuner (which proves your guitarist wrong) or effects pedals.
Extra bass guitar and guitar strings: Obviously for yourself but even a set of guitar strings. Guaranteed when a guitar string breaks, it's always the high E ... and it's on a Sunday and the music store is closed and the gig is in an hour.
Drum Key: Drummer arrives and can't tune his set, or can't put a new skin on.
Power Strip/Surge Protector: For some reason, clubs always have problems with their power, go figure - too many surges or blown circuit breakers than I care to remember.
Screwdriver: To get into your instrument or amp if there are any problems.
Allen Wrenches: A must have if you want or do any instrument adjustments.
Tubes: For all of you oldies out there.
Fuses: GK amps especially.
Pen/Paper: Whether for a song idea that pops into your head mid-show, or just any random idea you happen to think of, a pen a paper always seen to come in handy.
Crazy Glue: For your fingers or your guitarist's mouth.
Duct Tape: Repairs anything ... also for guitarist ... oh yeah broken drum skins.
Duffel Bag: To carry everything you are secretly supplying.
Spare Cloths: For yourself, not the kinky kind but something that is comfortable for either relaxing in before/after the show, or to change into should you or someone else have an accident with a drink.
Take every suggestion on this list to heart, and you are good to go for your next gig. I know you will feel like a walking hardware store, but trust me you will thank me in the end.
One final tip, don't tell your fellow band members all that you have. Otherwise, they will always rely on you every time to be there personal supplier. The purpose of having all of this equipment on hand is to be there to save the day ... for yourself and others, but most importantly to bring a sense of professionalism to your craft. Rock on!
About the Author
Active Musician
Electric Guitar
http://www.activemusician.com
Guitar Tabs
Bass Guitars
Source: Music Articles on ArticlesTree.com
Recent Music Articles
Ukulele Chords: Learn To Play Morning Has Broken
In this ukulele lesson you will learn to play a popular song with chords on your ukulele. I will show you with easy ukulele tablature notation how to play the chords. Let us start with the C-major chord!
First of all, we will use the C-tuning in this ukulele lesson.
Musical "Madchester"
Manchester has a wide and varied music scene from Indie bands to symphony Orchestras.
The Halle Orchestra and the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra are both symphony orchestras based in Manchester.
Music Business Book For Beginners
Music Business Book For Beginners
Memphis, TN (GO Articles) March 29, 2008 -- IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION - A Beginner's Guide To Starting A Record Label (3rd Edition) by Samuel D. Gilleylen ; ISBN #0972304207; Future Mix Publications.
English Music Vs Hindi,Indian Music
For those of us located in the Western portion of the world, we often think of all things Eastern as being very similar to each other. However, when you are talking about Indian and Pakistani music, movies, and music videos, nothing could be farther from the truth.
Tips for Building a Professional Sound System
If you are ready to put your dreams into action and begin assembling your own professional sound system then one thing is for sure and that is that you definitely want to get it right the first time around.
The Many Benefits of a Wireless PA System
If you are currently mulling over the prospect of procuring a PA system for any reason then one of the big choices that you will have to make is whether not not to go wireless. Why go with a wireless system and what are the benefits? Well, to start with they require no cables which really is a no brainier but the fact is that depending on what you are going to be using it for, this can be a major or a minor consideration.
The Latest Information on Beacon Anchor
Now there is a fully featured, self contained, professional sound system that is now available that can be set up in just minutes to service up to 5000 people. Its called the Beacon by Anchor Audio Systems and it renders all other similar sound systems obsolete for a number of reasons.
The Benefits of Wireless Microphone Systems
The fact is that more people are choosing wireless microphone systems when they select a microphone to use with their audio system and this is for a number of good reasons. Whether it is for church functions, DJ-ing parties and corporate events, musical stage work or just about anywhere a microphone is used a wireless microphone system allows for far more flexibility in a speech or performance.
The Anti Fan
"Oh Kent, you're so great, I love your new songs." I love these people! Hey, I'm human just like you are and nothing is more flattering than praise. But then there's "Dude, Kent, that set last night at the Factory sucked.
Teaching Piano Lessons For Old And Young
Learning how to play the piano may seem like a puzzle to begin with. You may feel like you will never learn how to play, especially if you plan to learn how to play in just a short period of time. Piano takes more than just a few hand movements on the keyboard.
Speaker Options for Your Portable Sound System
For sure one of the main components of any portable sound system is its speakers, for they are the workhorses of any sound system, portable or not. This is why high quality portable computer speakers are now available for someone that wants the best in sound with maximum convenience in the same package.
Some Tips on Choosing a Mobile PA System
If you are currently in the market for a mobile PA system then there are a few things that you will want to take into consideration before making your final choice. Of course one of these things that you will want to bear in mind is mobility, because after all you are looking for a mobile PA system.
Some Facts on Seville Anchor
The fact is that a lectern is required for presentations in front of any assembly if the speaker is to have any measure of integrity and their speech is of any substance. Now with the Seville Anchor audio Lectern you can quickly and expediently provide a professional appearing quality built oak lectern that also contains a top of the line audio system in it as well.
Refresh, Refresh, Refresh...uh oh, busted
In the drive to develop a perception of acceptance and a large fan base, many artists/bands are resorting to less-than-honest practices to drive up the visitor count of their social networking pages. The most notorious occurrences of this are on MySpace.
Online Guitar Lessons - Learn Easily from Free Sites
Learning electric guitar can be easy with free sites.
Here are some great free websites that will help you learn electric or acoustic guitar for free: