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Fun Stuff => BAND => Topic started by: Johnny C on 14 Dec 2006, 23:43
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I am excited. I currently have a nine-song setlist that will hopefully expand a little further by that date. It is just going to be me, my laptop and my electric guitar at the moment. I will make $100 plus everything made at the door (five bucks a ticket is the usual price, so that's what I'm going with).
Guys this is really exciting. What are some things I should do for my first show? I don't know! I am wondering if I should dress in a suit or if I should just wear like a shirt with a collared shirt underneath or if I should make clothes or what! This is like a first date but with a hundred people at a time! I need to know how to make a good impression, besides playing decent music which I hope I do anyways.
Also feel free to talk about the first gig you played in, or a band's first gig that you saw, or whatever!
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find a friend with a camera and laptop and show it on the webs!
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Just remember to stay relaxed, you and the audience just want to have fun right? Ignore your mistakes during the set and if they're obvious then joke about it.
Also, wear your usual clothes, no need to get all fancy.
Trollstormur's idea is great actually.
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Yes! What Trollstormur said! I guess the only rea 'advice' I can give is relax, and have fun. Just realize that a bunch of people are paying money to watch you do something that they don't have the balls, or talent, to do themselves...good luck, man...let us know how it goes, obviously!
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I'd go wearing my normal clothes, but get the laptop a lil' something nice. Bowtie?
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I'm getting tired of planning outfits for shows. At my next gig I think I'm just going to wear a white t-shirt (i.e. undershirt) and gym shorts. Fuck shoes.
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dude, my first gig was with my guitar 3/4 class at a coffee shop. There were 12 of us, plus the teacher. All of us played guitar... NO OTHER INSTRUMENTAL ACCOMPANIMENT. The crowd still liked it. Whatever you do will be fine.
Like everybody else has said, just be relaxed.
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Helpful rules for playing shows:
1. Don't wear a suit. Don't be one of those guys who wears a suit. Fancy clothes are okay, just not a suit.
2. Don't dress "wacky."
3. If this is your first show (ever, of your current project, etc.) NEVER EVER say "this is my first show."
4. Don't apologize if you make mistakes! 99 out of 100 times nobody in the crowd will notice anyway.
I think that is it.
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Heh, I'm a drummer, so I can just drown out hecklers with my phat chops.
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Man, can you translate that last bit? I don't speak drummerese.
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i thought in britain that meant they liked the show!
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I'm a drummer
I GUESS THAT EXPLAINS A LOT
:D :D D: :D: D
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Hahahaha, Jeph, you are the funny!!!!111!!!1
@Tommy- In that case I'd just pull a Cedric Bixler.
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1. Don't wear a suit. Don't be one of those guys who wears a suit. Fancy clothes are okay, just not a suit.
2. Don't dress "wacky."
3. If this is your first show (ever, of your current project, etc.) NEVER EVER say "this is my first show."
4. Don't apologize if you make mistakes! 99 out of 100 times nobody in the crowd will notice anyway.
1. Yeah I know. At most I'd wear a dress shirt, tie and jeans. Besides, suits are for a) being a full band, b) being Interpol.
2. The wackiest thing I have is a Mad Hatter hat that I bought from Disney World. It screams "Don't take me seriously."
3. Not in the script.
4. Actually I have a story about this. I guess at a Weakerthans show in Winnipeg John K. Samson fucked up his guitar solo during "Utilities." The band stopped, he rummaged around in his pocket, gave like a ten-dollar bill to someone in the front row, apologized for getting the solo wrong and launched back into the song with the rest of the band. Sadly I don't have that kind of cash, but if I do someday then that's what I'm doing.
Troll, I'll do that!
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1. Don't wear a suit. Don't be one of those guys who wears a suit. Fancy clothes are okay, just not a suit.
(http://www.brothers-in-blues.de/gfx/JakeAndElwoodPicOfPic.JPG)
YOU ARE TELLING LIES
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Johnny you so already have style for miles so rock that. The shirt you were wearing in that picture that Julia was all "YOU ARE HANDSOME" would be alright. Just smile sometimes and have fun with it, and I bet the crowd will do the same.
Also, congratulations and good luck!
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Make sure the sock is nice and snug over your genitals.
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Are you playing on your own or opening/closing/headlining?
Where are you playing at, Ill punch out hecklers, at 22 Im older than the average person at a show in Regina and Ill probably be a bit drunk so it shouldnt be a problem. Gotta support our QC bretheren ehhh
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Yeah, let's all not give him advice that would actually matter. Let's just talk about clothes.
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I don't know if I'm on my own or what, it's part of the New West Concert Series. I know I have to send in promotional photos though, and I have to do up flyers and promote the show a bit. Oh, and it's at the Club, at the Exchange. Eh.
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I am excited. I currently have a nine-song setlist that will hopefully expand a little further by that date. It is just going to be me, my laptop and my electric guitar at the moment. I will make $100 plus everything made at the door (five bucks a ticket is the usual price, so that's what I'm going with).
Guys this is really exciting. What are some things I should do for my first show? I don't know! I am wondering if I should dress in a suit or if I should just wear like a shirt with a collared shirt underneath or if I should make clothes or what! This is like a first date but with a hundred people at a time! I need to know how to make a good impression, besides playing decent music which I hope I do anyways.
Also feel free to talk about the first gig you played in, or a band's first gig that you saw, or whatever!
If you are going on a first date with 100 people you gots to get laid. :P
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... tepid piss.
Did you really feel the need to add the 'tepid'? Wasn't just 'piss' a bad enough image?
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My friend, a local comedian who is gaining some repute, would like to play the tambourine during one of my songs. I'm considering inviting multiple people on stage for that one. (multiple = five, six) I'm also considering inviting people who want to dance to dance.
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I saw a guy do laptop pop and his laptop was covered with colorful stickers. I don't know if this is helpful advice.
Have something with your website/myspace/mailing list/e-mail on it. I know if i like a show i'll buy an EP, and if there's no EP i'll grab a card or something.... if you make fans, keep them. wooo
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Other than seeing Broken Social Scene the only shows i've been to are the ones with the funfilled event of hardcore dancing. (; And in hardcore shows the number one thing is to not sing as much as possible and just give the mic to the crowd whether they know the lyrics or not.
Good luck!
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My friend, a local comedian who is gaining some repute, would like to play the tambourine during one of my songs. I'm considering inviting multiple people on stage for that one. (multiple = five, six) I'm also considering inviting people who want to dance to dance.
As long as it's not going to get too crowdy on stage, then do it. Also, inviting people to dance is tricky, I mean, what if no one wants to dance?
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that would be pretty awkward...and a conversation killer!
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My friend, a local comedian who is gaining some repute, would like to play the tambourine during one of my songs. I'm considering inviting multiple people on stage for that one. (multiple = five, six) I'm also considering inviting people who want to dance to dance.
Usually that works best if you yourself have become a little established. Bands in DeKalb have been known to do that, but you really have to read the audiance. And if I'm not mistaken you said this was your first show.
However, guest musicians (i.e. the comedian you mentioned playing tamborine and anyone else for percussion or whatever) could look cool if they're willing to actually participate and not just stand onstage and act lame.
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Actually you summed up my misgivings about it. I'm likely going to talk to him and tell him it'll be a couple of shows before that can happen.
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Make sure the sock is nice and snug over your genitals.
I give you all a piece of comedy gold and nobody bats an eye.
Philistines.
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I laughed, man. Lap-pop in a strip club with a dude that has a sock over his no-no-place? Of course I laughed.
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My friend, a local comedian who is gaining some repute, would like to play the tambourine during one of my songs. I'm considering inviting multiple people on stage for that one. (multiple = five, six) I'm also considering inviting people who want to dance to dance.
Usually that works best if you yourself have become a little established. Bands in DeKalb have been known to do that, but you really have to read the audiance. And if I'm not mistaken you said this was your first show.
However, guest musicians (i.e. the comedian you mentioned playing tamborine and anyone else for percussion or whatever) could look cool if they're willing to actually participate and not just stand onstage and act lame.
Is the lone venue in Dekalb "The House"? I think i may be there January 20th!
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For the punkrock show? Yeah there is, The House is awesome. Who are you going to see on the 20th?
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I dressed in a suit for my first gig. It almost ended up being a gimmick. The problem was, I only had one suit, which was actually two pieces bought separately anyway. Otherwise I would've carried that gimmick on, despite the near-death of dehydration each night.
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My band's first show is in three days... New Years Eve baby, celebrate good times c'mon.
I am, truth be told, a little nervous about it, but I am confident we will rock that house party harder than it should probably be rocked without having first consulted a physician.
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You can fly out. I won't buy your ticket but you can crash on my couch for a couple nights.
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I have a gig* in a few weeks with my band**. We are playing classic rocker covers; Wild Thing, Louie Louie Knocking On Heavens Door; and When I Come Around. I am kinda nervous cause we just lost the one player who knows the whole song and the soloist for that song(when i come around ) doesnt know what the fuck he is doin and the only reason i solo for the songs is because i know the fucking keys and the scales!
*We are gonna play infront of 8th graders at lunch .
**It is a bass player, a drummer, and 3-4 guitar player. The bass player is good and the drummer is the wood shop teacher. Our fourth guitar player is now in suspension because he broke a window in on the janitor's truck. One guitar player barely know his basic chords and the other likes heavy metal and enjoys the sound of what seems like what Storm Rider explained to me as grindcore. Can i get a jokers to the right of me/ Jokers to the left of me/ here i am stuck in the middle with you?
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Only if it's the Eagles Of Death Metal version, Hunter.
When did this thread stop being about me? I'm not sure I like it.
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About the same time we stopped talking about your genitals.
I think you know what you need to do.
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JOHNNY'S DONGZLOL
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That's 18-24 strings, guys. At least.
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yeah...its really stupid, i'd kick some one out but it isn't my band ya know?
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and sorry for blog posting. Good luck on your show johnny!
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Dammit the fucking cops busted my show...
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Oh shit im playing tomorrow! *nervous vomit*
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Haha, don't worry about it, man. If you're well-rehearsed, you'll do just fine.
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if you're getting corpse-painted up in the bathroom beforehand don't leave the makeup lying around someone will come along and smear it all over the mirrors and then your band will get in shit and told never to play at the pub again. Happened to a friend of mines band.
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POSTER!
(http://a300.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/38/l_14ce73f2ad446e0eba073ba6caab09b3.jpg)
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DONGZLOL
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So i guess i'll tell you how it all went.
Our first show went well with only on screw up on When I Come Around. The biggest cheering was a tie between Louie Louie and knocking on heavens door.
Our Second show went well too but i felt that the crowd didn't really get into it.
Or 3rd and last show had the biggest turnout since it was the end of the day and everyone from 4th graders to 8th graders came in and the place was packed. At least 3 video cameras were taping and tons of flashing cameras (5 or 6). Unfortunately this was when we made the biggest mistakes. Most of it due to our drummer who played one song then let his son play for the other three. Our encore was louie louie and over played my solo and one rhythmist couldn't get into the beat cause the drummer was too slow.
Guess what our name was. Chosen by a heavy metal kid i give you "Firing Squad". Everyone thought it was The Fire Hydrants or The Fireman. I had fun though.
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I would see a band called the Fire Hydrant Men
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I think it went well! There is a video of me playing (http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=2011048392)!
So far nobody has given me a real critique yet. I am a little depressed about that but I have an idea of what I need to do to improve, in order of importance:
1) Sing louder!
2) Be confident in my lyrics!
3) Learn where to stop bantering!
4) Stick to the key!
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Johnny rocks out upside down.
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The upside down camera during the solo made me grin. All in all, a solid performance. Especially for your first one, I hope to see some videos of your next show.
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Johnny! That is really good! That clapping along part was pretty awsome, too.
Baisically, I think you need to move around a bit more. Especially during your solo.
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High five Johnny, high five.
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Johnny! That is really good! That clapping along part was pretty awsome, too.
Baisically, I think you need to move around a bit more. Especially during your solo.
Advice accepted!
High-fives all around.
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johnny c is magic! oh my goodness johnny i forgot when your show was gonna be! i think you sound really good. hooray for a show gone well!
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I am about to go get ready to play a show tonight myself. Some advice Johnny:
The whole "looking down" or "looking at guitar" thing is kinda cool if you're Jesus and Mary Chain but for your kind of music it gives off that "amateurish" vibe. If you absolutely have to look at your guitar to play it right, at least look up as much as possible. Don't look AT the audience, look OVER them.
Unless they love you and there are hot scene chix in the front row, you can look at them.
Do not tell stories introducing your songs unless you are Wayne Coyne, Jeff Mangum or a reasonable approximation thereof.
I would dress less formal if I were you. That's just my preference. I do put some thought into what I wear at a show, because no matter what, people are going to be affected by how you look. So I wear my normal stuff, but I do put thought into things like "Which jacket should I wear?" because I have a lot of jackets.
Make it look easy. Even if you're messing up or not quite playing the right thing, as long as you look relaxed people won't really notice. (Or go the other way and be "over the top" so that any mistakes are just "colorful", but that's harder to pull off well.)
Don't be one of those guys who uses the same pedal in every song. Especially if it's a phaser.
Get a backing band.
Hope that helps and wish me luck tonight.
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Do not tell stories introducing your songs unless you are Wayne Coyne, Jeff Mangum or a reasonable approximation thereof.
If you've got charisma, and they're good stories it doesn't matter who you are.
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Hey Johnny, with the exception of your soloing, I think you had too much rhythm and not enough riffing. The solo and the second song were interesting but the first song wasn't really engaging.
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I am about to go get ready to play a show tonight myself. Some advice Johnny:
The whole "looking down" or "looking at guitar" thing is kinda cool if you're Jesus and Mary Chain but for your kind of music it gives off that "amateurish" vibe. If you absolutely have to look at your guitar to play it right, at least look up as much as possible. Don't look AT the audience, look OVER them..
I noticed this a lot in my performance, when i watched the video tape of it. It also sounded like I was a very sloppy player, probably due to my improvised parts. I was too nervous to look up so i kept my eyes glued to my guitar. The next time i play, I hope to remind myself of that.
Hopefully, me and "my" "band" will begin practice in 3-4 weeks. And hopefully with a new singer, one or two less guitar players, a new amp, and a better drummer. Of course, I will just be happy to have a band to work with.
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Maybe get something to put your laptop on if you use it quite often during the set. It'll make it look more like an instrument than something you're just playing beats from.
Also, 10 points for clapping.
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words of tips!
I have responses for the majority of these! Here they go.
Yeah the looking at the guitar was pretty frequent but I did look up a lot! And a lot during the first half of that song, most of my non-backed songs and especially the last song! That song I was trying a bit too much to do unusual stuff and it just didn't come off well. And there were not hot scene chicks in the first row. In fact this was my first show. It is tough to attract hot scene chicks to your first show.
The banter seemed to go well, actually. The stories about Disneyland calling me fat and about me feeling like an old man and about how worrying it was to go to the bar for water only to discover my mother handling a bottle of wine that I didn't even realize the venue sold all went over with laughter. The middle one even got applause! I just have a habit of talking too long, onstage and off.
I agree. I would have gone less formal but all my nice clothes are in the bag Air Canada lost.
I tried to look like I was just having fun; otherwise, it's essentially how I play the song. I'm an okay actor but not good enough to really oversell or undersell what I'm doing with a guitar and a microphone.
I don't own any pedals. Problem solved!
God have I ever tried.
Good luck with your show!
McTaggart, what do you mean "get something to put on your laptop?" I mean, at the moment, the laptop is providing more than just beats - I have a Casiotone that I'm going to use in my next show which does that - it's also providing me with bass and various other instruments. A good way to find out what I use it for is to go to my music Myspace, listen to "Pop Theory" and pay attention to the sounds which are not vocals or guitar. Everything that isn't one of those two elements is from Garageband. Also, I accept your ten points. There was more clapping later in the show, and that particular song ended with a singalong of "we got snakes" in which members of the audience started hissing. It was unexpected and great to hear, and acknowledging it brought laughter and applause.
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Put your laptop on, not put on your laptop. It was sitting on the floor in that clip, if you can get it up to where you can use it without bending down it'll look more like it's not a replacement band and it's part of your instruments. You'll probably also find it easier (and probably more tempting) to do more with it.
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The whole "looking down" or "looking at guitar" thing is kinda cool if you're Jesus and Mary Chain but for your kind of music it gives off that "amateurish" vibe. If you absolutely have to look at your guitar to play it right, at least look up as much as possible. Don't look AT the audience, look OVER them.
See, I disagree with this. As an actor, I know that it's important to engage the audience. I think that if you spend the whole time looking over them you will come across as really artificial, and it will be impossible to truly engage your audience members. The trick is to look at your audience, and not avoid making eye contact, but not hold the eye contact. So, look at your audience, because you're playing to them, but don't make anyone feel uncomfortable by singing solely to them (unless you're dedicating a song or something to that specific person); look at everyone in the audience.
Also, I think that over-analyzing your onstage behavior might actually be detrimental to your performances. Sure, you can think about what to wear, and how much banter is enough, but most importantly, just get up and play your music with all the passion that you can channel into it. Because yes, you are playing for the benefit of the audience, but you're also playing music for yourself; if you don't believe yourself, no one else will.
I really enjoyed the video. Way to go Johnny!
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Oh yeah, and the camera going upside down during the solo was completely ftlol.
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Johnny rocks out upside down.
While the crowd rocks out in the dark. (I totally couldn't see a damn thing when they guy went over the crowd while they were clapping. Except the "exit" sign, that is.)
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Put your laptop on, not put on your laptop.
Oh!
Actually it was on a TV tray that I'd brought from home. It wasn't too difficult to reach, but next time I would definitely like it higher, yeah.
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Oh, I didn't mean to imply that one should be "acting" by putting thought into stuff like that. Those are just some things I think about and the way I do things, so for me, they are being myself.
I mean, I know it's cool to brush off the non-musical aspects of playing a show, but the fact is there are other elements to it. It's not as simple as "people standing around listening to your music", it's "people standing around watching you play your music". So there is always an element of showmanship, whether you want there to be or not. From the perspective of the audience, even having a total lack of showmanship is perceived as showmanship. Even if I don't put thought into what jacket I want to wear, the audience is likely to assume that I did. That's just how audiences work. Some friends of mine recently played a show inside a giant inflatable semi-transparent bag. These are guys who really don't care about making anything less than incredibly good, loud, bizarre music. So whether it's deciding to play in a plastic bag, or bouncing around in a bubble like Wayne Coyne, or playing with your back to the audience while sitting down, it's all in some way part of the show.
Tommy, I think if they make the indie rock Spinal Tap the first people they need to call are Arcade Fire, Wayne Coyne, the Decemberists, and Polyphonic Spree, if you want to make a big deal about wardrobe choice. Compared to how those people dress up for their shows, me picking the red leather jacket over the black leather jacket is probably not a big deal. :angel:
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Oh and Of Montreal. The last time I saw them they were dressed as big gay sparkly aliens in drag who liked Prince a little too much.
Also GOOD JOB JOHNNY! I like your songs, and I love your voice.
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There is no such thing as "loving Prince too much."
Also thank you! Sometimes my voice pisses me off so it's good to hear that people like it!
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That was badass. Only critique, at least for the song in the video, is the "For God Sakes" bit went on a little too long. Otherwise, I'd have paid to be there. Well, I should have paid to be there. Problem is, that venue is some 2000 miles away from where I live.
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This may well be the only thread I've ever seen that has:
0 trolls
1 subject
>1 person motivating it
This is the sort of thing that almost retors my faith in the internet.
Congratulations on pulling of the show.
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Thanks, I think? As far as the "no trolls" thing goes, honestly if you poke around on any of these forums you'll find there's very little of that. Occasionally there is some debating and frequently there is light ribbing but I think that's about it.
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My friend, a local comedian who is gaining some repute, would like to play the tambourine during one of my songs. I'm considering inviting multiple people on stage for that one. (multiple = five, six) I'm also considering inviting people who want to dance to dance.
Usually that works best if you yourself have become a little established. Bands in DeKalb have been known to do that, but you really have to read the audiance. And if I'm not mistaken you said this was your first show.
However, guest musicians (i.e. the comedian you mentioned playing tamborine and anyone else for percussion or whatever) could look cool if they're willing to actually participate and not just stand onstage and act lame.
When you say that Bands in Dekalb have been known to invite people onto the stage to dance are you referring Inspector Owl... they are totally awesome... javascript:void(0);
grin
Anyway, my first show advice is this have fun, relax, be yourself, if yourself is awkward that will work for you. Also, people have ADD and have never heard you before so maybe try a short set, like 25 or 30 minutes. I offten go to shows and see a new band and for like 6 songs I am blown away, then they keep playing... and I think to myself... this is starting to get kinda samey. Then around song 8 I get bored. If people know your songs this is different, when you are an established band you can play longer sets. I donno, thats how I think anyway.
Also move around some, take up space... oh and regardless of if there are 2 people or 200 treat every show like its sold out. Yes.
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play grindcore dude
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do cock e.s.p. covers
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my band has been writing some fun really happy-sounding pop songs with odd structures. Should we play those, or boring folk/country songs that our guitarist used to write?
Assuming you'll be getting paid the same no matter what, why would you choose to play songs you aren't interested in going forward with? Play the music your band is setting out to play. If people don't like it, it's no big deal.
It's better to have 1 person out of 100 like the music you want to make rather than have 99 like music you have no interest in playing again.
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I'm with zerodrone, you and your band should stick to what you want to do.
If youre proud of the songs you worte, play them!