How To Be Good At Gigs - A Guitar Player's Guide

A guitar player needs tips that center around your first gig or two because you need to open up avenues of communication that you are not used to using. You communicate with your audience through your guitar playing but you also need to communicate  with the management of the bar or venue you are playing at by being on time and ready and willing to play.

If you have a band, here is the first tip: there is never any excuse for being late for a gig. The world is full of clever means of communication so there is no one who is totally out of reach. If you are experiencing a delay, let the other members of your band and the management waiting for you at the gig know what is happening.

Even if you all have your own means of transport the band should travel to the gig together. You don't need to own a bus but you could each take your own cars and travel together and park near each other. It may seem silly but it's part of being professional. If you are all at the gig together, you can be ready to start sound checks and equipment checks.

You need to have your list of songs written out so that the band doesn't have to engage in meaningful conversation to work out what number you're playing next. You don't have to memorize the list of songs but the list needs to be somewhere that everybody can see it.

As a guitarist, you probably are aware of the need to have an instrument available to play on occasions when you are being paid to play it. Imagine the consternation you will feel if your guitar turns out to be suffering from a malady during your finest solo. If it can go wrong, it will, so if at all possible, keep a spare guitar handy.

The backup guitar needs to be ready to play so you don't add insult to injury by having to spend endless moments getting it out of the case and tuning it up. If you have to make the changeover while a song is going on it will look very cool if it is seamless.

If the bass guitarist needs to change a string do you have a song to do that doesn't need a bass? Think about it. The same with the lead guitar and the rhythm guitar and, of course, the tambourine might have a bell malfunction. If string changing songs are included in the rehearsals, then when a string does break, your readiness will impress the audience and venue management.

Batteries - can't live without 'em, shouldn't run the effects off 'em. The battery is meant to back up the mains power so do not rely on it to run your effects pedal. Last but not least, it's not cool to be stoned at a gig. Well, maybe it is but it's more professional not to be.