Preparing for a gig involves meticulous planning and practice. Distinguishing between practicing alone and rehearsing as a group is crucial. Communication with clients to understand expectations for repertoire and performance is key. Learning material thoroughly, preparing gear, and arriving on time are essential steps. During the gig, adaptability and engaging the audience ensure a memorable performance, increasing the likelihood of future bookings. Ultimately, thorough preparation leads to success in the music industry.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- You got the gig; it’s time to get ready
- Practicing versus rehearsing
- Getting your material together
- Practice, practice, practice
- Getting to the gig
- Give the audience the goods
You got the gig; it’s time to get ready
So, you got the call. The gig is yours!
Now what?
Depending on the type of music you’re playing, be it a solo act with tracks, an accompanist or a working band member, you’re only as good as your last show, so make sure it’s the best, and you’ll likely keep the gig.
Today, we will look at preparation tips for solo or duo acts, though many tips can also apply to other situations.
Practicing versus rehearsing
In a practical sense, these terms are not interchangeable since they imply two different things:
- Practice is what you do on your own to prepare. Practice is where you review material, work on and perfect your parts. It’s your time to get ready.
- Rehearsal is when everyone gathers to assemble the songs, refine parts and make changes. Rehearsal is where the overall show takes shape; it’s not the time or place to start reviewing your parts.
Everyone should have practiced their parts in advance for a great rehearsal to happen. Otherwise, being unprepared just wastes everyone’s time. Don’t be that person.
If you’re a solo act, practice and rehearsal are intertwined. However, if you’re a duo, everyone should do their homework with the material before bringing things together.
So, let’s see how the solo or duo act can get themselves ready before and during the gig.
Getting your material together
This should be the first step in preparing. Are you playing a jazz club where you need to play standards? Is it a restaurant where they want a mix of Top 40 covers? Are you playing in a room where you’re expected to make people dance? Are original songs allowed, or are they only expecting covers?
(You should also cover other details, including set times, load-in and setup times, PA requirements, etc.)
You need to consider these factors in choosing your repertoire. You are being hired to fulfill a particular service, so it is best to talk with your client to set expectations on the material. You want to leave the gig with them happy and the crowd wanting more. So, you can pull from a wide selection of (minimum) 40 to 50 songs throughout the gig. Don’t forget some trendy, commonly played songs that people may want to request; nothing makes the audience happier than someone calling out a tune and you being able to deliver.
From there, you’ll also need to decide how to present the material, which can vary from singing or playing along to tracks to just accompanying yourself on piano or guitar. You will need to collect the necessary tracks, charts, lead sheets, performance examples, etc., that you’ll need to get your show ready.
Practice, practice, practice
Now comes the fun part. Now that you have the material, you must learn and have it down cold.
Everybody has their method, though a practical order would be listening to the material constantly for some time before picking up your instrument. Active listening is usually best, paying particular attention to chord changes, melodies, riffs, hooks, etc. If needed, active listening sessions would also be an excellent time to write your charts. If you’re going to play the songs, you need to know the songs.
After some active listening, you should set out the task of learning the material. Whether you’re learning by ear or following lead sheets, you should know the material back-to-front, eventually just using whatever written aids you have as a quick cheat sheet. If you’re playing along to tracks, memorize the arrangements so you’re not caught going into the third verse while a doubled second chorus is happening.
Beyond just the songs, practice your set (or sets). Practice banter between songs so you’ll know what to say rather than potentially fumbling through any talking between songs.
Once you’ve learned the songs and practiced them, continue listening to the material regularly to keep everything fresh and familiar, whether it’s active or passive listening.
Getting to the gig
Now that you have the material, you need the gear.
Depending on the venue, some will have a complete PA system, some will have a partial PA system, and some will have no PA system. Essential information so that you can arrive prepared. Based on what the venue has, ensure you have what you need (stage monitors, mixers, microphones, stands, cables, etc.) to fill in the gaps and help you perform best.
If the venue specifies load-in and setup times, ensure you arrive on time with everything you need. This way, you can maximize the amount of time you have to set up and soundcheck, as well as deal with any potential problems that may come up. There’s nothing wrong with being ready before the allotted time is over, but it’s terrible when you’re not fully prepared, and the clock has run out.
Give the audience the goods
From there, all that’s left to do is play your sets, give the audience a memorable evening and have fun. Make sure that if there are particular start and stop times, you respect them and try to time your sets to fit in the allotted time. Be ready to pivot at a moment’s notice if requests are made or you notice that some songs are making people happy, and you want to switch to other songs with the same vibe. You’re there to provide entertainment; the more you keep them entertained (and you’ll know if they are), the more likely your chances of getting called back for future engagements.
Putting on a good show and getting rave reviews from audiences and clients are great rewards for a job well done. The more prep you put into being on time, in tune and ready to roll, the easier it becomes. Keep this in mind, and you’ll have a great career ahead of you!
