LOTS of amazing advice in the comments! Thanks so much to everyone for sharing your tips!
@house-o-twang
3 жыл бұрын
Love your thoroughness. Thank you.
@KirkTVOfficial
3 жыл бұрын
Oh my god dude you are the funniest guy on the web
@pablojara-music
3 жыл бұрын
Excelent video. I don't have an especifico advice but I think you should do a video about how to behave in a concert, like you do how to behave as a band, now as the audience It may seem pretty obvious but look at what happened with Evanesence a while ago that they born their instruments I think is a good idea
@KirkTVOfficial
3 жыл бұрын
@Nitin Babu I think he has made videos like that already bro
@SOHCGT96
3 жыл бұрын
I'm sure there is going to be some butthurt, but this is solid advice a lot of younger guys really need to hear. I'm coming up on 40, been going to local shows since I was a teenager, played in bands ever since then and have just recently started running lights and sound since I own the gear to do it. Guys, us older dudes (usually) aren't just trying to be self-righteous know-it-alls, we've just learned stuff from experience and you can get ahead of the curve by learning from ours. Don't forget, the sound guy isn't a magician. Garbage in equals garbage out. I can't magically EQ and gate talent into your performance, and I can only do so much to make a horribly dialed in amp or poorly tuned drum set sound good. Final thought: respect your set times. When the promoter says 1 song left, you've got one song left. When the bar tells you we have a noise complaint and the cops are coming, STFU immediately, don't say "We're just going to do one more I promise" - Your FOH is getting muted and you're going to sound like shit, and if the promoter or bar gets a fine because of your stupid ass, you're not getting booked there again.
@esposoman
3 жыл бұрын
One of my personal rules : Introduce yourself to the sound guy and ask for his name. Call him by his name everytime you need his help and don't forget the "please". It has been my pre gig routine for years.
@sansocie
3 жыл бұрын
Smart and Professional
@pariah6313
3 жыл бұрын
I do the same, great advice
@thegreatgambeeno
3 жыл бұрын
I always try to help the sound guys as much as possible. The faster and more efficient setup goes, the more time FOH has to make the band sound best.
@SOHCGT96
3 жыл бұрын
When I'm not playing, I run sound. Come and say whats up. Most of the night we're honestly kind of bored, but during changeovers, setup and teardown please let us do our thing.
@esposoman
3 жыл бұрын
@@SOHCGT96 Usually I do this before asking where I set up my gear
@kmatthe4
3 жыл бұрын
I really enjoyed how serious you took the last rule, even going so far as putting the pictures of the victims up with a moment of silence. Respect.
@samsungtelevision695
3 жыл бұрын
Same. I have a long history of ruminating on those incidents and a related phenomenon rave ghosts. Peak experience mixed with death horrifies me
@primusdude87
3 жыл бұрын
Even all these years later, it's still tragic to remember. A similar incident happened with the Romanian Metal band Goodbye To Gravity in 2015. That band seemed destined for something greater until a club fire at their CD release show. Only the singer survived from the band. So sad...
@Afurthyclays
3 жыл бұрын
@@primusdude87 THAT'S HORRIBLE! 😥
@trebleclefjones4899
3 жыл бұрын
I saw Anthrax at The Station shortly before that happened. I was in pain from how loud the PA was (extreme; abnormally loud) and I couldn’t back away from the loudspeakers due to how packed it was. They must have continually exceeded the capacity of that fucking place. The soundproofing on the walls looked like a fire hazard. What a nightmare. Those poor souls.
@cHVF
3 жыл бұрын
I can't help myself, I tear up everytime someone mentions that night. I typically need more than a moment and I can't talk for a while after that.
@MetalNeverDieswithMarkA
3 жыл бұрын
I remember when the guitarist from Odium left his guitar at a venue in London. We picked his guitar because we were the last band to leave and we checked the stage before leaving. We didnt know whose it was at the time but Odium messaged us asking if we picked up a guitar. We said yes and the guitarist drove from Hangover to Windsor to grab it. Our bands became good friends after and played many shows together.
@ramon2008
2 жыл бұрын
That’s bad ass man! Honest and kind people are much needed in this world
@damienalvarez2957
3 жыл бұрын
Glen is basically every working/gigging musician’s cool uncle. Gives great advice and zero bullshit.
@KelticKabukiGirl
2 жыл бұрын
I agree, but every uncle is a little crazy too.
@alexanderhanksx
2 жыл бұрын
Idk the "antivaxxers dying off" comment was bullshit
@KelticKabukiGirl
2 жыл бұрын
@@alexanderhanksx they are though.... duh
@unduloid
Жыл бұрын
He ain't a proper uncle until he's creepy too.
@MidnightMark12
Жыл бұрын
@@KelticKabukiGirl You will never get out of this life alive, 'doc'. I'd tell ya a Kung Flu joke - you probably won't get it. Mostly old, fat, and infirm who are riddled with co-morbidities and who hyperventilate on the internet for exercise bought it. The rest of us studied in college and what forth. Shitty old entitled boomers and CEO bonuses for Pfizer were what it was all about from the start. Some of us saw that. The rest accused us of 'lunacy' and 'conspiracy theory'/ Oh, and fibrine-free sperm is the next bitcoin. You heard it here first.
@replicantwanderlust
3 жыл бұрын
having a spare guitar tuned and ready - it seems like such a necessary thing
@mondragon9282
3 жыл бұрын
Neither of my guitar players in my band have a 2nd guitar, and it drives me nuts. I'm always paranoid that they're going to break a string in the middle of a set and we're gonna be down a man.
@stevec6427
3 жыл бұрын
@@mondragon9282 That's no good. Even if it's not as good (an Epiphone backup for a Gibson) it's so much faster than fixing a broken string. If a pickup dies or a jack plug gets damage when you step on your own lead then that's the show finished without a backup guitar. I won't even show up for practice without a backup bass.
@givemesomelovin1
3 жыл бұрын
Yeah man, I got a shitty but working 200€ Ibanez, I just put fresh strings on it and I'm good to go. Never needed it, but I'll still bring it every time.
@f0rth3l0v30fchr15t
3 жыл бұрын
@@givemesomelovin1 The gig when you leave it will be the gig when you needed it.
@crazkurtz
3 жыл бұрын
This! I break strings a lot !
@cederickforsberg5840
3 жыл бұрын
GG Allin disagrees with all 13 points
@Dgarig665
3 жыл бұрын
Yeah, but look at his audience.
@LizardWizard_
3 жыл бұрын
I chose the scumfuc tradition
@SpectreSoundStudios
3 жыл бұрын
He does? Well, look where that got him.
@Dgarig665
3 жыл бұрын
@@SpectreSoundStudios you could say he's dead wrong.
@dt-hf8vz
3 жыл бұрын
@@Dgarig665 😂
@AceLM92
2 жыл бұрын
I remember when my old band had our first gig, the bands that we "opened" for let us use their drum kit and we were so grateful that we helped haul everyone's gear after we were finished with our set. Ever since then, I try to help bands load and unload gear between sets at small gigs if they need a hand, regardless if I'm not playing.
@hikingmetaller2303
2 жыл бұрын
I was doing the exact same thing, Often times my favorite bands thought I´m the Club Owner or gig organizer... nah I was just a fan. This type of behaviour once saved me one day.
@cloroxusthestainlessone4324
Жыл бұрын
I hate lugging a 40kg amp alone, I'm pretty sure the other bloke does too. A helping hand is always welcome
@EddieLamMusic
3 жыл бұрын
I told my stories with Glenn and he shared it a few years back (thanks Glenn)...if your band arrived on time at the venue but the staff, promoters/event organizers, and sound crew were MEGA late, please do NOT work with them ever again (until there's new staff that have their shit together)! Also, as Glenn has stated...never EVER do "Pay to Play" gigs! It's better to organize your own shows than to rely on someone who's most likely gonna financially screw you over!
@hankhopeless9062
3 жыл бұрын
ALWAYS be nice to the roadies. Remember they are specialists. They can make You, or break You
@bulletsforteeth5029
3 жыл бұрын
It helps to bribe them with beer too.
@visualdarkness
3 жыл бұрын
Good luck with the gig if they quit on you before or under it. Though they won't because they are professionals.
@jesussonofgod6256
3 жыл бұрын
what are roadies?
@calebr9736
3 жыл бұрын
@@jesussonofgod6256 the people behind the scenes that make shit happen
@jesussonofgod6256
3 жыл бұрын
@@calebr9736 thanks. I didn't know that.
@phunniguy
3 жыл бұрын
Some stupid stuff from experience: When doing a soundcheck and you get asked to play or sing, DO NOT stop until you are told to stop, your engineer can't mix silence. Also, drummers, hit your drums like you would during a performance, the engineer is going to flip if you start the show and the entire kit is clipping. Same goes for vocalists. Also, stop crying if you can't hear yourself on the stage right off the bat. In most cases FOH is primary, your monitoring is secondary. Be patient, you'll get asked what you need. If you're playing a festival, ABSOLUTELY downsize your rigs. Most festivals do not give you a proper sound check, but a line check. If your setup time is 15 minutes, you want most of that time left to set your levels and monitoring. You WILL NOT leave a great impression on anyone if you push the timetable back and you will risk having your show cut short.
@chaptermasterpedrokantor1623
3 жыл бұрын
As a former live sound engineer I fully endorse this message. Base your gear on what you can take on stage in the shortest possible time and what will work 100% of the time. Not on trying to recreate Yngwie Malmsteen's live rig. He's the main act, he can get away with it. When people pay top money to see you, then you will too. Until then get your shit on and off stage ASAP. And learn to work with the soundengineer, not against him. If he's an asshole its because he's had to endure too much bands like yours. The soundengineer wants to help you, even the asshole ones. If you make his life hard, he will make your performance hard. And for god sakes, when soundchecking put your bass player on a chain near his amp. The times when they had to pull his ass from outside having a smoke when it was his turn to soundcheck, that alone is why I would want a Rule No. 2 t-shirt. It's like they think soundchecking is an activity that doesn't involve them in any way.
@givemesomelovin1
3 жыл бұрын
@@chaptermasterpedrokantor1623 100% the bass player from my last band used to leave before Soundcheck. 🤦♂️.
@cederickforsberg5840
3 жыл бұрын
Musicans love playing when not supposed to, and be silent when supposed to. Musicians will be the biggest mystery for the aliens to figure out when they capture us for scientific investigations...
@216trixie
3 жыл бұрын
All true, great comment.
@gothnev
3 жыл бұрын
Definately this! I'm lucky in that I have only ever used multi effects (most recently Helix) so I can literally put the unit on the stage, plug in the engineers XLR and go - and you really need to get to that level of simplicity. The engineer doesn't care about your rig or your attitude, and festival engineers care even less. I remember one festival where it was literally 'twang' - "ok, you're good".... Next guitarist 'twang' - "ok, you're good." And off we went! (Luckily no drummer, we are a Goth band with a backing track)
@RickyD.03
3 жыл бұрын
Totally right about simplifying, especially for singing. I’m the singer in my band and for every difficult lines I have alternative melodies that I came up with at practice if I can’t get a high. Guys like Robert Plant and Freddie Mercury did this all of the time. Great video.
@GuitarMAXMusic
3 жыл бұрын
The hair is lookin' dreamy dude!
@Afurthyclays
3 жыл бұрын
🤣 You've got a good channel, too!
@BandOfHarjaps
3 жыл бұрын
The audience don't actually hate you. They've got faith in you, they might have even paid to see you. Relax, rock out and have drink afterwards.
@jorgosagb
3 жыл бұрын
Very good point and absolutely true!
@jamesdragonforce
3 жыл бұрын
Of course Glenn as always prefers the act of loud mouthed cynical douchebag.
@EddieLamMusic
3 жыл бұрын
Haha key word...AFTER the show! ;)
@erockromulan9329
3 жыл бұрын
I remember breaking a string in the middle of a song and the other bands in the audience came up to the front to give me support for limping through the rest of it. It helped me not completely loose my shit!
@joshcarr2603
2 жыл бұрын
@@erockromulan9329 once i broke a string and one of the other bands guitarists chucked me his spare guitar and even changed the string for me during our set, i swear to god the kindness of some people flaws me sometimes!
@sm5574
3 жыл бұрын
Reminds me of SRV's first time at Montreaux and most of the audience didn't like him. He was devastated but handled it with class, and a few years later he was asked back, this time as a major success.
@wilfig
3 жыл бұрын
Montreaux jazz snobs probably. Yep. I can't talk. I was one once, but left that attitude behind decades ago. But I always dug Blues and SRV was the real deal. He's proof that it pays to handle a bad audience with class. Just tough it out, and play the F outta your gig. You never know who is listening.
@sm5574
3 жыл бұрын
@@wilfig, you raise another good point. A lot of bands would play down to the energy level of such an audience, but not SRV. That was a monster set. It's available on video. You can see a handful of people dancing in the back of the room; at least some people recognized greatness.
@scrollkeeper6636
Жыл бұрын
Just finished SRVs bio...audience didn't like him, but David Bowie did. Lesson: there might be one record exec/big star in the audience looking for talent, so always play at the best of your ability.
@GodsUnrulyFriends
3 жыл бұрын
Thank you Glenn! Your practicality and wisdom are indisputable. Every word a gem. Permit me to add something. About seven years ago, I was playing at a festival. The festival was traditional African music and African hip hop, held at the Apollo Theater in New York City. I was playing what can best be described as Sufi Jazz, and was the only white man in the place (how I got that gig is a long story). Each act was allotted three songs. I was on stage with my sitar (modified with electronics), and my laptop. The pressure was on. Sure enough, as my first song ended, my laptop froze! So, I had to think fast. I asked the audience if they liked John Coltrane. This got a positive reaction, and I improvised on Coltrane's jazz classic A Love Supreme. Then I told the audience I would play an Oldie - a 700 year old love song. The name of the piece translates as Two Lovers in the Garden of Dreams, by Amir Khusro (d. 1325 c.e). The audience enjoyed the song and was fascinated by the novelty. I was saved! But the story doesn't end there! The following act was a Nigerian hip hop group who had asked me to play guitar with them. Mind you, I was taking a risk. I didn't know their music. But years of jazz and Indian raga training gave me a good ear and good improvisational skills. So, I was in the back while these young guys were doing their hip hop; I listened to the DJ, figured out what key he was in, and added jazz chords and embellishments. BUT,,,, toward the end of the last song, each member was taking turns going to the front of the stage and dancing. I was praying "Pleeeeze don't make me dance!" They were all young athletic Africans who had some serious moves, dancing in front of an Audience of Africans and African Americans. My middle aged white ass would have looked ridiculous dancing in front of them. Sure enough, they saved me for last. The frontman came to me, and started dragging me center stage. I had to think fast! I reached down to my amp, cranked up the distortion as hard as it would go, and started doing my Jimi Hendrix routine; playing with my teeth, behind my back, feedback and whammy bar stuff, etc. I saved my ass from terrible embarrassment, and the audience loved it. This is a true story. Definitely a 9.2 on the Weird-Gig-O-Meter! The lesson here is, if something goes wrong on stage, deal with it or work around it, and NEVER let the audience see you sweat.
@Birkguitars
3 жыл бұрын
Some great advice here especially the stuff on fire safety. I have heard from experts on the subject that one problem with fire escapes is that people tend to try to get out of a building the way they came in. The expert advice is to check where the exits are and if you have to evacuate and it is safe to do so head for the ones away from the entrance. If it is safe, emphasising only if it is safe, maybe direct others to follow you. CRITICALLY, make sure whichever exit you aim for has a door that opens outwards and actually opens. It is a safety regulation violation to have a fire door opening inward but that does not mean that they will all be code compliant. Hopefully no viewers will ever have to rely on this but you never know.
@armax00
3 жыл бұрын
Possibly a useful trick: use magic ink that shines with UV light to mark your gear. That is probably a lot less expected by kleptomaniac :) The end credits with the bloopers are the best. thanks for reintroducing them.
@slyyfox0094
3 жыл бұрын
Damn that’s actually pretty smart especially since assholes like stealing gear
@robertdale2964
3 жыл бұрын
Don't know about the US. But in the UK you can buy special ink for that. It contains microscopic unique codes on teeny tiny discs. They use a light with a magnifier to light them up. You register them with the police so if any similar gear turns up they can quickly identify the proper owner.
@armax00
3 жыл бұрын
@@robertdale2964 never heard of this interesting (possibly on UK and not in other EU countries?). I guess that would be nicer but in the lack of such an alternative, blue light might be a decent invisible trick
@kraneomartinez2124
3 жыл бұрын
Gracias for the tip 👍👍
@antonkovalenko364
3 жыл бұрын
Interesting. We could use that in the States as well!
@ghosttownreview1531
3 жыл бұрын
Be good to the sound guy. #1. He's in charge of your sound. Don't piss him off! #2. If he likes working with your band and has any sway over what bands get to play at that venue, you might be invited back more often.
@ferencercseyravasz7301
3 жыл бұрын
Wow Glenn, the fire incident that you mentioned is almost identical to what happened a few years ago in the Colectiv club in Bucharest, Romania. 67 people died, among them some that I knew, some other friends got severe burns, injuries and lasting psychological trauma. The outrage was so huge, it triggered enormous protests because of the blatant corruption that was the primary cause of the fire that a few days later the prime minister and the whole government resigned. The spooky thing is that at the time I used to be a music teacher in high school and just two weeks before this happened I told my students: If you go to a concert or a show or any kind of event that happens in a crowded place, do yourselves a favor and locate the exits before the show begins. I had some statistics about similar fires from the previous years from all around the world.
@matioliravioli2333
Жыл бұрын
Same thing happened here in Argentina. I get chills just from thinking about it
@banjosandbullets3413
3 жыл бұрын
I’ve been playing shows for 14 years and I still got value from this video. 👍
@blindeddy2220
3 жыл бұрын
If you have active pick-ups, change the battery before the show.
@visualdarkness
3 жыл бұрын
Now, I have never played live but I feel that most people running music venues and people in audio/video are in it because they actually like music and art. If it's your first gig it makes sense to ask them about stuff beforehand and they would most likely help out by guiding. It isn't "band vs venue vs staff vs audience" you are all in it together and all want it to be as good as it can be.
@fumedrummer
3 жыл бұрын
As a band or individual musician, if you're easy to work with you'll find fewer problems cross your path.
@trillrifaxegrindor4411
3 жыл бұрын
nope,venue owners are interested in money and how many "bodies" you can pull in .they arent there to advise you and they will not other than telling you to turn it down.
@Bernz66
3 жыл бұрын
I always help other bands when I can….. my old band was playing with a bunch of other bands for a new label showcase…. The band before us was on stage… the guitar player/singer broke a string into a song….. he was the only guitarist…..That was his only guitar……I tuned up my guitar (we tuned a half step down)…. Went up stage after they ended the song, handed him my guitar. Took his guitar and replaced the string, stretched the string as much as possible, tuned the guitar and then handed his guitar back to him within two of their songs…… he was shocked and thanked me a whole bunch…. Always have a second guitar even if you need to borrow one….
@ThreadBomb
5 ай бұрын
It's true, some heroes don't wear capes (unless you do actually wear a cape).
@ManleyReviews
2 жыл бұрын
And just to throw in some extras.. 1: Don't roll cables on stage. deal with that shit after the show. putting them in a backpack on stage is one of the worst looks. 2: Get those cabs off stage ASAP. You would have sounded better direct anyway. 3: Get your fat girlfriends out of side stage. they will always be in the way of everything at all times. 4: Your dream gig is what pros call Tuesday and that means this show is not your night to party. do that on a local only gig. Be quick, be professional, and be out of the way and all will go smoothly. The rest of the band and crew are on the clock and just want things to go smoothly. 5: NO OPEN BEVERAGES ON STAGE. EVER. Nothing makes us resent a band then them spilling beer over your drum rug you let them use to save time on change over. 6: Don't take your cymbals off the stands on stage. 7: Don't wear your street clothes on stage. unless you want to look like every forgettable local band. Stand out, make your show a spectacle. 8: Don't roll over the backline cables. 9: Don't speak unless spoken to. which granted, will happen and there will be time to casually network. But not when people are actively working. 10: Don't drink all the water. that's for touring acts to stow for later. 11: Don't overuse profanities on stage. It's a crutch and it looks tacky if overused. 12: Be at the merch table for every change over to meet your fans and engage with them! Just to name a few off the top of my head!
@dandadrumman
3 жыл бұрын
Hey man, I didn't expect you to touch on staying calm in an emergency. I am a firefighter/paramedic and I got goosebumps when you brought up the Great White fire. I remember seeing it on the news in 2003 and it (along with several other fire related tragedies) were assignments we had to write papers on in fire school. Thank you for bringing this up. It's something I think about at shows often and it seems unless someone works in public safety those types of things aren't really thought about. Medical emergencies are another thing. A guy got dropped on his head at a show. It cracked right the fuck open and the dude looked pretty bad. Everyone and their mom crowded around to see. Meanwhile myself and another paramedic were being pushed away by cellphone videographers. We weren't able to render aid, not that there was much we could do... I tried explaining that my friend and I were paramedics and wanted to help and a guy tried fighting us and told us he was an EMT (a lower certification). The belligerent EMT also stunk like alcohol and was clearly heavily intoxicated. Eventually the injured dude was pulled out of the crowd and presumably delivered to a medic crew. Keeping a calm head in a crowded room is certainly good advice and I thank you for bringing it up and paying tribute to those who needlessly died at a concert.
@02smithm1
3 жыл бұрын
I would add one more for when you are starting out... # Show some interest in the other bands. When you first start out, there is nothing worse than the whole 'crowd' and the other bands standing at the back of the venue (basically saying "Nope. We didn't come here to support you so wish to ensure we have as much distance from you as possible."). We've all been at the level when even selling a few tickets is hard. If you're playing in one of the other bands, STAND NEAR THE FRONT TO SHOW SUPPORT TO THE OTHER BANDS!!! It's so damn simple but encourages the crowd to step forward, supports the other bands and they normally return the favour (so you get a better vibe for your set). Even if you hate their music, you literally have to put up with it for a short period of time and in exchange your set may have a way better atmosphere and you are more likely to make contacts and get more gigs... seriously - can speak to this from experience.
@bulletsforteeth5029
3 жыл бұрын
Now that's the coolest thing you can do right there, support your local music scene.
@NewFalconerRecords
3 жыл бұрын
Hear Hear !!!
@SOHCGT96
3 жыл бұрын
And then after one band plays, half the crowd leaves. Don't be that guy.
@samsungtelevision695
3 жыл бұрын
This is so huge. Just as a fan this is either a huge turn off or turn on when bands are cool to each other or shitheads.
@02smithm1
3 жыл бұрын
@@SOHCGT96 I once played a gig where a band brought a whole coach of fans with them to a small venue. We thought "great, this gig should be buzzing!". They ALL (band included) went to the bar in a completely separate venue next door for every other bands set apart from their own. Needless to say, their reputation was dirt after that night - disrespected the venue, other bands and the organisers. Ridiculous selfishness from a band who (surprise surprise) were never heard from again.
@markdeal7783
3 жыл бұрын
I think it's hilarious that is my actual bass rig! And it has been shared VERY successfully at more than a few festivals! Very versatile rig!
@JackieTheCatfox
3 жыл бұрын
Hoo boy. I've played three shows in a row this weekend, and every single one of these tips resonates with me. Thanks for sharing, Glenn!
@Falasi4
3 жыл бұрын
These even apply for my bluegrass band and we mostly (pre covid) play nursing homes, pretty much do all these and we always play for free - we have day jobs, just want to share some music with those that can't get out. One of the best reactions was a standing ovation from a lady that had to struggle out of her wheel chair to get up when we played what turned out to be her favorite song.
@jackmaniacmusic
3 жыл бұрын
Rather than bringing strings, I usually bring a second guitar so I can easily change and don’t have to worry about stretching the new string
@sqlb3rn
3 жыл бұрын
you can still bring strings... they weight what, 4 ounces?
@Kylora2112
3 жыл бұрын
@@sqlb3rn Depends on your gig and your gear. Fighting a Floyd Rose trying to break in a new string on the fly isn't fun, but if you have a Les Paul or something with an Evertune, go for it.
@sqlb3rn
3 жыл бұрын
@@Kylora2112 or if there will be other guitar players at said establishment that might need a spare string in a shtf scenario.
@carlsimons6616
2 жыл бұрын
I'm with you. I ALWAYS bring a backup instrument. I broke a Bass string on an outdoor show, a couple years back. Luckily, I played rest of the song on the E(broke the A) and switched basses, next song. Way easier than trying to restring.
@iamBENJIx
3 жыл бұрын
I couldn't agree more. I saw All American Rejects open for A Day To Remember And Blink 182, and they Insulted people for sitting down. Not just insulting the audience, but like a crowd of 2-3 people. It was very awkward for everyone and ruined the vibe.
@markferguson3745
2 жыл бұрын
As if sitting through that line up wouldn't be painful and boring enough.
@sillyness3456
3 жыл бұрын
Two things: Never, under any circumstances, let another guitar player play your head, just no. Ever since my band lost two mic stands in 2012, we always had a checklist of the gear we brought and always went with that. Never lost anything afterwards.
@drzaious8136
3 жыл бұрын
You never sit on another man's bike, and you never play with another man's rig.
@stephenlindsay3792
3 жыл бұрын
It used to annoy the shit out of me when people wouldn't let me play through their head, got my own and Made the point of letting others use it, only for them to change every setting after watching me fine tune it all during sound check!
@fancykarlmarx
3 жыл бұрын
Cabs are ok to share though
@DingleDut
2 жыл бұрын
Meh..if they're respectful enough and have a legitimate reason as to why they need to use my head then so be it, I've done it before. Just take a picture of your settings so when he's done you can set it back to how you had it.
@squidcaps4308
3 жыл бұрын
With every band i've been we rehearsed until it was faultless. Sure, mistakes do happen but they are in the order of "one wrong note once" or just "damned, empty strings weren't muted well enough in my solo on two places"... You do not try to get gigs until you are at that point: each member of the band has practiced their parts until they have NO problems with any of them, none of them have no doubts if they can do it, and the band swings to the same rhythm effortlessly. You need to imagine that you have a slight fever and are 5 beers too deep, after a sleepless night and day of working, can you still do your parts flawless? If not, simplify them. On stage you will not hit the same 100% as in your bedroom alone. You can only do 80%. The nerves may hit you, you may have hurt your finger a bit, you may just be "off" that day... In the racing world, it would be called a "qualification banker lap" where you take no risks whatsoever just to get a time on the table. It is walking or jogging, not parkour. Making an omelette and not eggs poached. That means your fucking omelette better be fucking good, and that is where song writing and tireless practice comes in. Your 80% has to be better than most guys 100%. I try to hit 50%, as in, i can do much harder stuff but i know what i can do on stage, fear of failure drops that down. The upside is that no matter how nervous i get, i know i can still play my parts, which instantly drops the nervousness and brings up the enjoyment... And i do like to move a lot, express my emotions on stage... The more of a "show" you want to do, the easier parts you have to compose..
@michellelehky2374
3 жыл бұрын
This. Practice your fucking songs and TRY.
@CedricSatterfield
3 жыл бұрын
Singer here. Classical, even. Yips happen. That Purcell glissando is never going to sound as good as it does in practice. That doesn’t mean don’t strive to close the gap but it’s something you just gotta learn to roll with.
@raularaujostrw
3 жыл бұрын
Great comment. I guess performing simple things in an extraordinary and emotional way is what differentiates every wannabe musician from world-class acts.
@Metallex
3 жыл бұрын
Once is a mistake, twice is jazz ;)
@RabidChasebot
2 жыл бұрын
This is extremely good advice; great post! I think you could even go further and practice improvising by simulating common problems. For example, practicing your songs on guitar or bass with a string taped down to simulate a broken string, learning both lead and rhythm parts for guitar in case you lose a guitar player last minute, maybe even learn the lead vocal parts too in case your singer can't be there etc. I'm actually going to take this advice seriously once I'm playing again post-covid.
@bigdaddy496
Жыл бұрын
Glen, much respect bro. Showing the photos of those who lost their lives at the Great White venue was a very decent gesture. I love watching your videos, this is almost like taking singing classes with david lee roth. Thanks for your content!
@StephanS
3 жыл бұрын
I remember a show i've played about 10 years ago: We were several bands/acts and knew each other before. We emailed around for a while and shared all the synthesizers, mixers, computers and software. It was like playing as a big family and everyone helped each other.
@philzeo
3 жыл бұрын
I've made people laugh by yelling at my guitarist on stage to "unmute while you tune. The poor crowd doesn't get to hear the dulcet tones of a single note over and over again." Because it turns out, people hate that. And everyone has been to shows where they do that. Oof.
@Pundit07
3 жыл бұрын
Well said. Thank god for modern pedal tuners that have killswitch functions built in to them so that you can tune your guitar on stage and nobody has to hear it at the same time. I really appreciate my TC Polytune for this exact reason.
@grayaj23
3 жыл бұрын
What did people do before there were any Glenn Frickers? A note on fires: If you own a home and store your shit there, include your gear on your insurance declarations. If you rent, GET RENTERS INSURANCE. Don't be caught out when you find out that the landlord's insurance policy only covers the building and fixtures and not your stuff. If you have a mortgage, you have homeowner's insurance. Renter's insurance is cheap -- maybe $100 a year at most, and it will save your ass if something goes wrong. Like if your shit gets stolen (obvious) or your amp gives someone a shock and puts them in the hospital (not so obvious -- the policy will have general liability coverage along with covering your possessions). Get receipts whenever you can, for anything that costs more than $100. New Les Paul Modern? New pro-grade amp? Definitely get a receipt. If you don't have one, see if the place you bought it from will give you a copy. A Les Paul looks like a Les Paul. Les Pauls go for $900, depending on where you look them up. Don't assume the adjuster knows the difference. So GET RECEIPTS and add them to your declarations. (And when you do get homeowner's or renter's insurance, ask about the cost of umbrella liability insurance. You only have the state minimums on your car -- that gets eaten up by a broken toe and a 5mph bump. Umbrella liability can give you $500K to a million in liability for dirt cheap.) No, I'm not an insurance salesman. I'm a lawyer. I've explained to people why their landlord isn't going to pay for their heirlooms because the fire was the landlord's fault.
@SpectreSoundStudios
3 жыл бұрын
Damn good advice!
@CedricSatterfield
3 жыл бұрын
Take pictures front and back, w/serials. Add up new replacement cost and buy riders if you need to. A lot of home policies only cover music gear from the point of view of a hobbyist. If you’ve got three or four guitars, a computer or two, a keyboard or midi, pedals/multi, and few amps it adds up so fast. And usually way more than your base coverage.
@stuntmaster127
3 жыл бұрын
Dropping dimes dude good looks 👍
@EarlyMist
3 жыл бұрын
Thanks for including titles of segments in the timeline.
@ikarus8982
3 жыл бұрын
"don't be marilyn manson" is good life advice too
@seanklassen1413
3 жыл бұрын
Seriously a tragedy no one should have to endure. Thanks for the memoriam of the people lost in that fire. It really hits different seeing that on the show.
@FurtiveSkeptical
2 жыл бұрын
Love your episodes Glenn, fuck you very much. 🤘 Yeah, keys player by trade here. Years of gigging taught me to keep emergency stash of diff gauge of picks handy, 9 volt batteries, a tuner and an extra strap, even an extra DI box, a spare IEC block electrical cord just in case the guitar player or bassist had a brain fart and we were 2+ hours out of town. None of these things were for me personally as keys player except the AC cord. Spot on about the stage and interband etiquette and general respect among musicians ( that deserve it). Music should be a brotherhood/sisterhood/family .... Not a rivalry. Rock on.
@vancerosentreter5960
Жыл бұрын
It’s much cheaper to learn from somebody else’s mistakes :-) binge watching some Glenn Fricker this weekend.
@mikkalbreeden956
3 жыл бұрын
Singers showing up early, that’s rich. Never seen that happen in 20 years.
@fumedrummer
3 жыл бұрын
I had a singer that actually helped me set up lights for a gig! He ran PA cables, too. Very nice to work with.
@revanrijndgreat8670
3 жыл бұрын
In Uganda we have a band called Afrigo. Those guys keep time like its running out of fashion. They show up almost an hour before the gif and when it clocks the time to start - as agreed in the contract - they'll start the show even if the venue is mostly empty seats or the bride hasn't finished changing.
@davidtomkins4242
3 жыл бұрын
Well, the only have to carry a mic, eh?
@jacobbrown1690
2 жыл бұрын
Yea they walk by the others guys lifting all their equipment. They only have a small bag with their fave mic.
@fleekwoodmac3705
3 жыл бұрын
My drummer has this other bands called Uncle Dan. They are opening for Andrew WK at The Theater of Living Arts in Philly. First nugget I gave him was to simplify all the songs and just bring the energy. No one has heard the songs so they won't know they are playing it different than the recording.
@size14steeltoes
3 жыл бұрын
I loaned my new JCM 800 to my friends band, because the guitarist was a "God". Of course, Guitar God and the singer startled a wrestle mania style match, mid gig, and knocked it off the cabinet, 💥💥💥right to the floor. Luckily nothing was broken, but I picked it up, 🤬🤬🤬 cussed them out, and took off. Don't know how they finished the gig. Don't really care.
@radiantsignals3279
2 жыл бұрын
Classic advice from an experienced professional!! I'm frequently amazed at the lack of professionalism in many bands. Back when I was gigging it always ticked me off when other band mates neglected to get their volume levels right and their instruments tuned up before we started a show. I had one bass player who told me it was unprofessional to tune up between songs. Needless to say he would proceed to play a whole set out of tune all while playing way too loud. Fun times.
@MrJimbissle
3 жыл бұрын
That moment, 100 pics, silence. Huge respect to you for that.
@wayshot
3 жыл бұрын
I always bring one more instrument cable than I need for my setup, as there have been countless occasions of guitar players missing a cable or bringing a faulty one. I remember a gig about 10 years ago. The venue manager told us that a duo of two local country singers were to play there a couple of weekends earlier. They got so wasted before the show that the manager booted them out before entering the stage. Don't be like those two guys :-)
@fokeyjo
2 жыл бұрын
Oh god yes, 1st live performance in my own band while I was at school and my cable was dodgy and was cutting out loads.. course, couldn't actually afford a new cable at the time, I was a kid!!
@terrywitzu7874
Ай бұрын
This is one of two vids I've seen that actually tells it like it is. Ypu don't say it overtly, but always respect your audience. One point of personal relation, I'm constantly learning new songs. There's always ONE that's, "Oh EVERYBODY is going to love this one. It'll blow them away...well, guess what^ A lot of times they don't. Shake it off and play the next one. Another point of aggravation, is when the "DON'T STOP PLAYING" law is broken. A fight breaks out and everyone in the band stops to gawk. "WHAT ARE YOU DOING?! KEEP PLAYING!". You stop plsying b/w sets, until then do your job!
@size14steeltoes
3 жыл бұрын
I'm 52, and have been playing in bands since I was 14. It's AMAZING how many "Musicians" don't follow these simple, common sense, rules. 🙄🙄
@MushroomSoT
3 жыл бұрын
Taking notes on rolling paper, thanks for the tip glenn
@vk3fbab
3 жыл бұрын
Awesome video Glenn. Most of them are obvious to half decent humans. The last one is so important. The fear of missing out is so hard to overcome but no gig is worth a life. Go and see bands like Pearl Jam, The Who and others that have had fans die at a gig. It doesn't go away for those that survive.
@davecardboard9567
3 жыл бұрын
I was at a "Monsters of Rock Festival" show in the 80's in the UK where a couple of people got crushed to death. I still remember the announcement made at the end of the show vividly, even decades later. And it still upsets me. As you say man, it never leaves you.
@vk3fbab
3 жыл бұрын
@@davecardboard9567 thanks for sharing man. Can't even begin to think how traumatic an experience like that would have been. Deaths at gigs suck for everyone concerned. Shows that it is even more important to talk about it.
@JanderVK
3 жыл бұрын
@@davecardboard9567 UK venues/stadiums were deathtraps back in the 70's/80's apparently. Hillsborough, Bradford etc.
@rogerrattus4641
3 жыл бұрын
Had a guy dive off the PA stack at a Bolt Thrower gig I was mixing years ago, now a paraplegic. Hard to forget.
@davidtomkins4242
3 жыл бұрын
@@JanderVK the donington was just a surge to the front of people in a field. The guys got trampled.
@MohJam
3 жыл бұрын
Thank you as someone who frequents a sound desk...you nailed it.... sound check is not last minute practice.... play like you mean it and only stop when the sound guy gives you the thumbs up... oh and maintain eye contact with them in the sound check... simple crap!
@Bernz66
3 жыл бұрын
Always let the drummer setup first when playing on small stages….. help him as much as possible…. Then place the amps up on stage….. this was our setup routine when we had to bring our PA and lights….. first the light rig that went to the back of the stage where we hung our banner….. then we setup the PA…… help drummer setup….. bring up amps and then monitor wedge(s)…… place pedalboards and hook them up….. place the font/side lights….. kick and snare PA levels….. bass amp and PA levels….. guitar amp and PA levels…. Sound check and fix all issues and problems…..
@jkinthewind
3 жыл бұрын
I'm convinced some bands don't record themselves playing live. They probably listen to their girlfriends when they say, "You're the best sounding band ever!" and think everyone will agree. They won't. She's lying so you will tell her how pretty she is. I've been in band practice and thought we sounded great ... then we listened to the recording. Nope, not great. In fact really really bad. But then we knew what we needed to fix.
@charliet.sanford2495
3 жыл бұрын
Never take your family or friends opinions of your music seriously.
@andimachovec2719
3 жыл бұрын
Very important advice. We always record ourselves at every rehearsal (and every gig if possible). No, it doesn´t always sound the way we would have liked to, but it´s the only way you can improve your performance. And you don´t even need a seperate recording device nowadays, any cell phone will do.
@trillrifaxegrindor4411
3 жыл бұрын
perfect advice....i followed this advice and when we went into the studio we cut a 13 song album in 1 day,when we played live we were applauded(in one band anyway)
@lray8771
3 жыл бұрын
we used to give the soundguy a cassette and ask him to record us so we could hear how we sounded. helped alot in getting better.
@dale116dot7
3 жыл бұрын
@@trillrifaxegrindor4411 I’ve recorded five albums for a band that also did this. It’s great, they’re one of the few bands I’ve worked with that are good enough to record to tape.
@bengraham6483
3 жыл бұрын
May i also add, record a video of your band. It doesn't have to be good quality. You just have to see everyone and be able to hear the instruments well(ish). Watch this video over and over to get a good idea of what you did wrong but also what you did right. This really helps you improve and put on a better show
@loch1352
3 жыл бұрын
Tell me you did DCI without telling me you did DCI
@RabidChasebot
2 жыл бұрын
I ALWAYS record at least the audio with just a Zoom handy recorder from practices when doing full set run-throughs. I've also been fortunate enough to have only played with people that know how to set egos aside and know how to take (and give) constructive criticism when listening to it back.
@meekoloco
3 жыл бұрын
If you break someone’s gear, the best apology is to pay for the repairs. Nice tribute to the victims that died at the Station. Great vid Glenn!
@ZackSeifMusic
3 жыл бұрын
Great tips Glenn! As someone who gigs on a weekly basis I always have the following gear with me on the road: 3 guitars in a Quantum Industries road case that doubles as a stand (less overall gear) A single pelican case that carries 2 of every cable, and 2 Fractal FM3 rigs ---Extra batteries, chargers, portable charger, business cards, tools--- One trip in and out, setup/breakdown is less than 5 minutes, and since the band goes direct and uses IEMs sound checks are just line checks for FOH. You NEVER know what is going to happen, so BE PREPARED AHEAD OF TIME. With experience comes wisdom and knowledge so if anything goes wrong you can fix the problem without anyone knowing!
@DaveViner
3 жыл бұрын
1)Bring duct tape. 2)Test your gear BEFORE the show. 3)Know how to set up your gear BEFORE the show. 4) Find out wear you can park your car BEFORE the show. 5)Bring duct tape.
@mikkalbreeden956
3 жыл бұрын
And extra batteries.
@davedecker1725
3 жыл бұрын
A small flashlight comes in real handy
@myopicautisticmetal9035
3 жыл бұрын
Ah those were the days, I get on stage and set up, sound checking in 5 minutes, the other drummers would waste 25-30 minutes just setting up. EWWWWWWWWW That guitar looked like someone wiped their ass on the fingerboard every day for 20 years. I have only ever played to 2 or 3 packed houses, mostly bar tenders, waitresses and the bar regulars. Along with the other bands and their parent's and girlfriends! In the 90's a band stole my distortion pedal, the DF-2 by Boss.
@antonkovalenko364
3 жыл бұрын
I had much the same happen. Thankfully I had unscrewed the flapper and applied a sticker with my information to its underside.
@Kylora2112
3 жыл бұрын
This is coming from someone in a dance/cover band doing club/bar/party gigs as the only band: 1. If you use a PC/laptop for clicks, make sure you do a soundcheck with your click track to make sure everything is plugged in properly (my band's keyboardists have a LOT of gear with a lot of cables...yeah, everything is numbered, but it doesn't hurt to check). Also make sure you soundcheck EVERYTHING. There's nothing worse than finding out you tweaked a knob just right so your lead channel is now all but silent right when you kick into your big solo. 2. Bring gear that suits the venue. You don't need a 100 watt tube head and a full stack if you're playing a 200 capacity club. A miked up cranked 15 watt 1x10 tube combo is going to sound a lot better than a behemoth on 2 behind the Baffle O' Shame. It's also a lot less shit to lug. 3. Have backup...everything. Batteries, cables, backup guitar even (so you don't have to waste time when you break a string on stage). 4. Work on your stage presence. Obviously learn your songs, but the crowd is going to be WAY more into you if you're making eye contact and engaging with them than staring at your fretboard or feet all damn night. Put on a *show*. Unless your royally fuck up, the crowd isn't going to notice a misplayed note or two in a song they haven't even heard before, but they will notice you moving around on stage and looking like *you're* the one having the most fun in the venue. 5. Be professional when you're not on stage. Management isn't going to want to deal you if you act like a bunch of assholes. There's probably a dozen bands with whom management would rather work with than you, even if you pull in a decent crowd. 6. Have some backup songs ready to go in case the crowd isn't that into the vibe you have going with your setlist. Hell, do a cover to win them over or lighten the mood. Don't antagonize the crowd, and don't be one of those shitty metalcore bands that tries to start a circle pit 10 minutes into 5 band bill when there's like 15 people meandering around the stage still getting settled in. They're just going to laugh *at* you...then go to the bar or merch table. 6a. If it's not a tuning break, keep the banter to a minimum and keep the music going. Tell the crowd the name of the song and that it's on your album that's for sale at the merch table, or that it's about your boyfriend, or that this one goes out to all the freaks and misfits of the world to get a little hype going, but no one wants to hear about how your friend Jimmy inspired this song because he ate the most marshmallows at summer camp that one night and here's the story behind that. Less talk, more rock. 7. Don't play an encore (unless you're the headliner on a tour). Play your set for the schedule you're given. If you have one minute left, it's better to cut your losses and help the next band get set up on time than fuck up everyone else's schedule because you got greedy (unless literally everyone on the bill gives you the go-ahead...so, yeah no).
@dpacula63
3 жыл бұрын
I suggested sharing common equipment back when I was in a metal band and they would not even consider it. Setting up stage was a nightmare.
@ANDYN1995
3 жыл бұрын
Gig yesterday: acoustic guitarist snapped a string in sound check. We had backup acoustic in the venue that hadn't been used in a long time. Plugged in and tried it out. Battery is almost dead. I had a backup battery, guitarist put it in. No signal. Take out battery, it's hot, plastic has melted and guitar is smoking. Moral of the story: have your own damn backup stuff, at the very least a set of strings, or you might almost burn down the building. I'm a bassist and even I understand that
@EddieLamMusic
3 жыл бұрын
I've had shit like that happen to me before where everything just went wrong. Moral of the story on my end, I was not meant to play there! 🤣
@FireMoon42
3 жыл бұрын
Learn a cover version you do in your own style for the sound check. Then , if you screw it up you're not fretting about it in the set and two it tends to disarm people and give them a chuckle which really can help with the atmosphere to the whole gig.
@soundman1402
3 жыл бұрын
Another rule: Bring your instruments! Had a bass player once show up without his bass! He thought it was with the rest of the band gear in the rehearsal space, and that the other band members would bring it.
@FurtiveSkeptical
2 жыл бұрын
Hmm, dialing a phone is only one note at a time too......you think he would have just called to confirm. Bassists and their wacky antics.
@SteveReaves
3 жыл бұрын
Great PSA. Great points that people need to be reminded of once in awhile.
@th3gr81
3 жыл бұрын
Glenn, you are a genuine human being.
@externity9569
2 жыл бұрын
yes.. he is a human.
@crazkurtz
3 жыл бұрын
To add to Glen’s last point, remember you have the microphone, you have a responsibility to keep the crowd in order. Do not incite the crowd to “break stuff” ala duurrrrrst
@robertpacheco781
3 жыл бұрын
The " few dozen" shows were way better than the "thousand" shows. Way more satisfying to be able to interact on a personal level.
@markdeal7783
3 жыл бұрын
Not sure if it's good advice or not. But playing outdoor gigs at parks and such.. I ran tech for a good friend of mine and had to eventually block off the area directly behind the band because people seemed to have a preoccupation with walking right through the area you're trying to work in! Turned into an exercise in keeping all the equipment safe from intrusive wanderers!
@ryanfitz-henry3371
3 жыл бұрын
I think this is one of your most important lists yet!!!
@MikeSingSing
3 жыл бұрын
We actually had our final rehearsal for our first show in a year just yesterday. We actually moved out of our usual rehearsal space and set up camp somewhere else to force everyone to bring the stuff they'll use live and brought our own PA/Mixer so everyone knew again where their input in the stagebox etc is. Since we're a 12 piece we also invited our usual soundguy to create a preset with all the IEMs and checking input levels, because doing a shitty soundcheck with 12 people takes hours and is less fun than spending a recording session with an unprepared bassist.
@davecardboard9567
3 жыл бұрын
That's a great idea: If you've never done it before, it'd also be worth practising your load in and load out. Esp. if you are getting any "friends" along to help out as roadies who aren't used to handling your gear. And check that you can get everything you need into whatever vehicles you are going to use to transport it to/from the venue. The time to find out you cannot get that enormous kick, all the floor toms and your girlfriend into your mom's Honda Civic is not two hours before show time.
@antonkovalenko364
3 жыл бұрын
@@davecardboard9567 I was part of a circle of local/regional bands in the Carolinas a couple of decades back, and we had done just that, with the members of the bands taking turns pulling roadie duty for each other. It made things considerably easier.
@bernardi5919
3 жыл бұрын
12 piece? What does your lineup look like?
@MikeSingSing
3 жыл бұрын
@@bernardi5919 Male/female lead vocals, bass, guitar, keys, drums, brass secion (4 piece) and 2 background vocals.
@bernardi5919
3 жыл бұрын
@@MikeSingSing Oh, I just assumed it was metal (this channel focuses on it after all)
@GaveMeGrace1
3 жыл бұрын
Thank you-during congressional singing, singing with CDs or the radio, and even singing a chorus/song by heart: if I can’t make the note and I don’t feel like practicing to reach that higher note, then I hit the octave lower note and it feels just fine.
@BettyTheRaccoon
3 жыл бұрын
If this whole channel would be one video the title should be "How to scream for years without trashing your voice". Amazing tips though! Cheers from hellish sunny Greece!
@orlock20
3 жыл бұрын
The Beth Hart rule is to perform no more than once every other day and don't talk on the days off. Keep hydrated and not with booze. Always use a vocal coach who knows what they are doing. She is nearly 50 and still can be louder than any other singer out there. Ann Wilson is in her 60s and can out perform a 30 year old Robert Plant.
@CedricSatterfield
3 жыл бұрын
@@orlock20 love both of them.
@Dgarig665
3 жыл бұрын
I haven't watched the video yet, but I'm wondering how much of this could be translated to "Don't be an asshole"?. I will observe and find out. Morning Glenn.
@chaptermasterpedrokantor1623
3 жыл бұрын
It's amazing how many problems can be prevented by don't be an asshole.
@SpectreSoundStudios
3 жыл бұрын
That's a BIG part of it, but not all.
@Dgarig665
3 жыл бұрын
@@chaptermasterpedrokantor1623 It's also amazing how hard it is to observe that rule sometimes...
@M75248
2 жыл бұрын
2:10 Yes! Thank you! My old band gave me crap for telling them we should modulate the song because our singer couldn't reach the highest notes. Even legends like Freddie Mercury knew how to do it when he was sick but still kept his act together so the overall performance wouldn't suffer.
@kepeb1
8 ай бұрын
Mistake #14 - Don't 'Die Suddenly'. It might be cool for a Spinal Tap drummer or those in the queue for their 12th Booster, but really puts an end to any more shows.
@grinnialvex
3 жыл бұрын
Need to add “GTFO off the stage ASAP!” to the list! Tearing down and leaving quick is just as important as setting up quick, especially when there are more bands that need to play and especially when your band sucks anyway! Can’t tell you many times we had to cut sets short because the guys before us dicked around too long trying to pull their fear off stage.
@Tigermaster1986
3 жыл бұрын
I don't know if anyone is going to read this, but I want to add a few things. I'm very much a bedroom guitarist, I've never been on stage, so I'm saying this mostly as a music fan who likes to go to a concert from time to time. First and foremost, unless you're Manowar or Iron Maiden, or Judas Priest, or Metallica, or any other band of their caliber, just do not use pyrotechnics - especially if you're playing in a small venue. If Accept don't need pyro, neither do you. Honestly, the only times I heard of some small band using pyrotechnics during a show were when the fire caused people to die in the venue. It's just not worth the risk. Second, unless you're Joey DeMaio from Manowar, do not hit on random girls in the audience while you're on stage. Seriously, no one likes this - and I've seen old geezers playing guitar at local blues rock festivals do this often enough to notice it. Third, read the room, so to speak. A few years ago I attended a local rock festival. Many kids were there. IIRC, one of the first bands was literally kicked off the stage during their third song. I think they started with Motorhead's "The Ace of Spades" and then Slayer's "South of Heaven," but then they performed an original. In Bulgarian. (I live in Bulgaria.) Filled with cuss words. Of course, the organizers didn't let that fly. The fest was supposed to be at least somewhat family friendly, so the band's sound was cut off after the first verse and the musicians (they were horrible, by the way) were told to leave immediately. And while we're at it - there is a difference between delivering a good show and acting like you're the headliner of the Wacken Open Air festival when you're the first band at a small fest in the park. Seriously, save the "I can't hear you" and the "Scream for me" for when the crowd is there specifically for you.
@theblackpacomurder
2 жыл бұрын
Don't share gear, don't ask for gear, play with your own ,if You want to show sportmanship with other bands, respect their gear thats what a real gentleman do
@HansyPants184
3 жыл бұрын
Also, don't be afraid of modelers if you're playing small rooms. It's really nice being able to show up somewhere with a backpack with your sound and enough cables/cords to wire up a couple times over. When you're done your set you run the backpack out and stash it under a car seat. Takes the late night sticky fingers out of the equation.
@andimachovec2719
3 жыл бұрын
Modelers can be great tools, but only if you take the time to play around with the parameters to get decent sounds out of it. I´ve seen too many people playing live with modelers who just use the default patches which sound like sh*t in a live situation, if you can hear them at all.
@HansyPants184
3 жыл бұрын
@@andimachovec2719 No different than learning how to use your ears to dial in an amp with a band vs playing alone. If you buy gear, learn it! If you can get some input after the gig from the sound guy and fellow musicians in the crowd that will usually go miles too. I remember when the spider 2 used to end up on stage all the time you could always tell the guys who used the "insane" preset vs the ones who took the time to make a sound that had some mids.
@davecardboard9567
3 жыл бұрын
Have a "routine" ready for when something goes bad on stage. Like a string break - no one wants to watch a band improvise a cross talk comedy routine for ten minutes whilst the guitarist unlocks the trem system, changes out the string, retunes and and locks up again. In one of my friends bands, years ago, the singer would grab a harmonica, and whatever bits of the band had survived the technical f-up would crack out an bit of pre-rehearsed "bluesiness" whilst the TKO was being sorted out. I once saw the whole PA go down at a Korn gig. The guys in the band grabbed every piece of throwable shit (drumsticks, picks, tee shirts, etc) and started lobbing them into the audience. OK that's not an option for a little start up band with no money, but my point is they were ready and knew what to do when something went wrong: Have a plan B. One for the guitarists - take fuzz box with you (and of course, new spare batteries to power it.) It doesn't take up much space and if your amp goes down, you can DI into the desk and get something going. OK it won't be "your" sound from your super-duper valve amp, but a crap tone is better than no tone at all. And one for Glen - is the whole "electrical safety" issue still a thing? At one time bands were being advised to take their own safety breakers along, particularly to smaller less well run venues were the house electrics might be, shall we say "a bit dodgy," after a few kids had gotten some nasty electric shocks as they stepped up and grabbed a mic. Or is this just not a "thing" any more...?
@Jasonmakesvideo
3 жыл бұрын
a power conditioner that has a LED readout of how much juice the wall socket youre using is definitely necessary if you playing a lot of different venues. ive been on tour on the way to xxxxx-legit bar sounding name-xxxx only to have it be a garage, abandoned buildings, parks with generators, and all sorts of sketchy shit. those day you might have some trouble letting go of your guitar. i have mad respect for the lengths people will go to put on a show. you always know itll be crazy crowd too cuz theyre starved for entertainment.
@adinadamian5634
3 жыл бұрын
I've seen a clip from a Guns 'N Roses gig back in the day where Slash had to change his shoes on stage (or something like that) and Axl told him to hurry because he didn't come there to do stand up comedy :)))
@fokeyjo
2 жыл бұрын
I definitely would not use a floyd rose trem without a backup guitar available... and being someone who did end up with their amp going down partway through the first song and having to play a half hour goth metal with a clean tone (it sounds like country if you're wondering), taking a spare distortion or fuzz is hella advisable... we got in the local papers with that incident, tho :D
@fokeyjo
2 жыл бұрын
And I've always used breakers.. you're usually running loads of kit off extensions at smaller gigs.. don't mess with electricity if you can help it.
@jphi1000
3 жыл бұрын
Great tips. Got a good laugh at most of them. Though I appreciate the seriousness of the last tip. It should almost be standard procedure before a note is played that someone points out the exits. And you’re right about not grabbing gear in case of emergency. Every piece I own can be replaced, but it won’t matter if I’m burned alived
@jphi1000
3 жыл бұрын
@@gabrielborges9438 from my understanding that is correct. Went in for his guitar
@grimstirr
2 жыл бұрын
The share your gear bit is a great one to keep in mind BUT, for the fuckin' love of Odin, DO NOT borrow gear without even asking.... At a recent gig, we were the first band up and fully intended to stay to check out the rest of the bands. I kept all my stuff in the green room since we were hanging out. By the time the last band is a few songs deep, we were ready to go. Except I coulidn't leave because the last band decided to just grab most of gear for their set. I had to wait until they were done so I could load up my shit and leave. I wouldn't have care if they had just asked to use it but I initially had no idea where the Hell it was.
@moogyboy6
Ай бұрын
I have a little story to share. I was in a band that after a couple of changes of singer decided to split up. At our last gig everything started okay, but somewhere in the middle my guitar started cutting out at random which really threw me off. I had a spare guitar that I switched to, same thing. I was starting to panic because I couldn't figure out what was going on, got mightily frustrated, lost my composure (which had never happened before), and ended the show by petulantly asking the audience if anyone wanted to take home a couple of shit guitars, I was ready to do a Pete Townshend on my beloved Les Paul I was so humiliated. Im glad i didn't, it turns out the guitars were fine. The problem was: the drummer had the power strip for my amp near his hi hat pedal and he was randomly hitting the on-off switch with his foot, completely oblivious. My girlfriend caught the whole debacle on video. I havent seen it and I don't think I want to. It was a great band who should have gone out with a bang but because of a poorly positioned power strip I ended it feeling like a laughingstock. Don't let this happen to your band.
@randverserence690
3 жыл бұрын
As someone who works in a venue as a promoter, these are amazing points to follow. Please for the love of all that is heavy dont be the idiot rolling up 20 minutes late to curtain and expect a sound check.
@omega1231
2 жыл бұрын
And for the love of god, be friendly with the sound guy, if he tells you something, then it's probably true, don't argue, just smile and nod.
@blackdog6969
3 жыл бұрын
Really grounding towards the end. Most things seem common sense but that last point is the most common sense thing that no one I know of have thought about on stage. That felt like a big "oh fuck" when you brought up potential evaluation. It's easy to forget that the stage and venue is a workplace and has procedures that should be followed by anyone working there. Great video, something that will stick with me in the future
@waxxiesshack
3 жыл бұрын
Post gig tips..when you are working the "Meat and Potatoes" circuit and have to schlep your own gear. At the end of the gig and the van is fully packed, someone competent should go into the venue and do a "Dummy Check", to wander around to see if anything has been left behind. If you are touring, you are probably going to a diff town so you will probably not be able to retrieve any forgotten gear. It's also a great opportunity to say thankyou and goodbye to the other folks working the show/bar. Dummy checks have saved my ass so many times. Also, find the right "pack" for your gear in the van.... 3d Tetris that shit! Nothing gets destroyed with a tight pack and anything large that's missing is usually identified. Keep heavy things ahead of the rear axle and your gigmobile will thank you. Great show Glenn, I'm not a metal guy per se, but I have learned a lot of recording tips from ya. Thank you and gfy!
2 жыл бұрын
2:10 most of Queen 80's concert is Freddie singing a lot of parts in a low register, that's why he need to keep his voice for studio recordings. I mean, even the great Freddie Mercury take care of his voice!! Good video, Glenn!!
@ulf793
3 жыл бұрын
Tbh we did most of this in the band I was in we also had an "Idiot Test" taped to the inside of the back door of the van!, basically a list of equipment & layout of how stuff went into the van 😆.
@thegreatgambeeno
3 жыл бұрын
Ah, so cheat sheets for the robbery. Very nice.
@ulf793
3 жыл бұрын
@@thegreatgambeeno 😆😁
@thegreatgambeeno
3 жыл бұрын
Also, learn how to operate and setup your bandmates' gear. The faster the band is ready, the more time the FOH has to make you sound the best he can. Hell, learn as much about gear in general that you can, you never know what you may come across on the road. Always try to know more than you need to.
@photoniccannon2117
3 ай бұрын
As someone who’s amp was just stolen at a gig, I appreciate your passion on the “don’t steal other people’s gear” point.
@haroldstewarttheblueshound3619
Ай бұрын
Excellent video, brother. Well done. I like your other stuff too, but this one is exceptionally well done. (Especially your silent tribute to those who didn't make it out of the concert...) Kudos, & bravo. 😎👍🏻✨🎶💯‼️
@ryancasey1287
3 жыл бұрын
Definitely some tips that a few people in my band need to take into consideration😂😂😂. Thanks again Glen for an awesome and entertaining video
@lovzygaming3144
3 жыл бұрын
really needed this since my band is just starting to play live. i am loving all of these videos
@Jayteaseepiirturi
3 жыл бұрын
Solid advice. I especially liked what you had to say towards the end about emergencies and all that. One rarely thinks about that stuff.
@davidcaldeira5362
2 жыл бұрын
Man your channel is amazing ! You are amazing ! Great work ! I know it's a pointless comment but still..., you guys deserve some thumbs up !
@lauragarcia4037
3 жыл бұрын
Simplified versions..good one. My picking cramps up after time so learning half steps or alternate phrases helps to keep it going
@themadsamplist
3 жыл бұрын
I don't play live anymore but when I did we used to record our performances and analyze them later. And the best perfomances I've seen were from bands with an empty venue and rocked the shit out of their show anyway.
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