Gig pet peeves... List them

I'm a little OCD in the way we play gigs.... so some of my peeves overlap with my expectation of venues and bandmates.

1. Show up and Start on time. BIG ONE. I. Do. Not. Start. Late. Sound check is a half hour before the show... not 10 minutes before. You didn't have time to warm up? Too fucking bad... show up earlier next time... we have a 4 hour show to do and I'm not starting 15 minutes late.

2. Getting Too Drunk To Play. Ohhh boy. Nothing ruins a gig faster than someone who can't play their instrument because they started the after-party half way into the gig. Especially if it's the drummer. :mad:

3. Disappearing when it's time to break down. Yeah I know that I own 95% of all the PA, Mics, Stands, Monitors, Cables, lights and everything else on stage... and If i get there first and start setting up without any help, okay... See #1 above. But when the gig ends and certain band members scatter like cockroaches. FML.
 
gtrjunior said:
The one exception for me is when a singer uses a tablet for lyrics. I couldn't imagine memorizing lyrics for 50 songs.
That said, I'm not referring to somebody that is reading lyrics all night but rather using it as a cue...and they need to keep it out of view as much as possible.
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I don't have a problem with tablets or lyric sheets, as long they're not sitting on a music stand. :grin:
 
I hate it when you are getting your gear off the stage and the next band immediately starts to bring their stuff on at the same time causing a giant cluster fuck. if you see us actually working hard to get off quickly please give us a few seconds to clear the stage before you start setting up.
 
gtrjunior said:
The one exception for me is when a singer uses a tablet for lyrics. I couldn't imagine memorizing lyrics for 50 songs.
That said, I'm not referring to somebody that is reading lyrics all night but rather using it as a cue...and they need to keep it out of view as much as possible.
Click to expand...


I hate music stands on stage. Even in Jazz gigs.... I understand it in a house band, jazz backline, or something like that... but when the lead singer or front man has one... :facepalm:

I've managed to do pretty well with memorizing the 100+ songs in our set lists... there are certain songs where I still keep a "cheat sheet" on stage for new songs or songs we don't do very often, but it doesn't have the whole song. It will have the first line from each verse, or just the rap section, or something like that. I've been known on numerous occasions to get all the verses out but do them in the wrong order or something.... usually I realize I skipped a verse on the second line of said verse, and then go back and do the verse before it... and then give my bandmates the "I know... I fucked up" look at the end.

I've already purchased software for my ipad and am currently researching the best case/mic mount to keep my ipad safe from breaking during load in/load out but eliminate the need for said cheat sheets. Also, I'm building a little "kickback video monitor wedge" so I can load up spreadsheet style set lists instead of paper ones for everyone on stage to be able to see.
 
One guy in The Buggs would always look around and go "are we ready?" between every song. Every. Song. If the last song ended and there isn't a break for talking (which we build into our sets), we're fucking ready. Told him this a thousand times and it never sunk in.
 
People who can't practice exactly the way the gig is going to happen to include how and when you address the crowd. If you don't have road help then set up and take down needs to be practice too. It's a job, pay the cost to be the boss.
 
taking waaaaaaaaaay too long to sound check and to set levels of the monitors.

bro play one song and make adjustments. this isn't Madison Square Garden and you look like a fool taking so long. people have done far more with far less and it just is an inevitable let down once you finally do start playing.
 
gtrjunior said:
The one exception for me is when a singer uses a tablet for lyrics. I couldn't imagine memorizing lyrics for 50 songs.
.
Click to expand...
But most of us do. I'm not even a singer for my primary instrument and I could probably sing 50-60 songs or more across several styles.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
 
My thing about singers is that it's your job. Learn the songs. Perhaps practice them like any other instrument. The way to be able to sing songs on a gig without the lyrics is to....sing the songs on the gig without the lyrics. This is a pretty big pet peeve of mine.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
 
On one hand....I hear you. I'm not a "lead" singer, just a guitar player. Since musical themes repeat pretty often I feel it's easier to remember songs on guitar over learning separate lyrics.
On the other hand, as long as the stand is out of sight, I can deal. I would prefer if the singer could memorize the lyrics but I'm not gonna rag on him about it.
The singer in a band I fill in with uses a tablet mounted to a floor level stand and he hides it behind the floor wedge....boom! Problem solved. Lol
 
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