Rehearsals and getting ready to gig
Cj - AMT Guitar & Bass Pedals
AMT North America

So you got a band together and have learned a few songs. What next? You want to start playing out, but how do you prepare for your first show? Well, the military has a saying that goes something like this: "fight like you train, train like you fight." What does this mean to you? It means you need to get organized and start rehearsing like your playing a show.

Lets get a few things straight from the get go. Band rehearsal and personal practice time are two completely different things. When the band is all in one room, and your trying to get a chorus or refrain down is not the time to learn your solo or noodle around on your guitar. That time was anytime prior to rehearsal. Rehearsal time is the time where you are getting your show together and trying to build a stage presence. This is where we get the bugs out and try to get a set dialed in. Unless of course you are writing new songs and everything changes then.

Places on the cheap or for free

It is bad enough that your gear cost so much that you can't afford to eat, add to that the cost of renting a practice space and you could be really digging yourself a hole. There is no need to go in to debt when it comes to a practice space.

The first place to look is garage or basement space. Sometimes parents or grandparents wont have a problem with this as long as you don't play late and you try your best not to annoy the neighbors. Friends who have property may have an old barn you could use. Maybe someone you know has office space that is not being rented or some warehouse space that is not being used. You'll never know if you don't start asking. If you are going to school (especially college) or are part of a church you probably have access to a number of spots if you just ask. Anything is better than nothing, as long as you got lights and an electrical outlet or two.

If you have to rent, look for cheap. You don't need studio space, you need a place to set up and spend time getting your sound right. I have buddies that rehears in mini-storage on the outskirts of town. It cost $35 a month and is as bare bones as you can get. Other options include rental space that you have seen empty for the last 6 months or so. If a space is not being rented out the owner is still paying for that space. Usually, they have no problem letting you rent part time until they can get someone in there permanently. How about your local bars and clubs? They are usually not open during the daytime, even on weekends. They may be willing to let you set up for afternoon rehearsals for a small fee.

The major problem with rehearsals anywhere outside of your home is taking your gear and setting up. Don't look at this as a problem. Look at this as another part of rehearsal for your band. Remember, when you get that first gig you are going to have to set up too. You might as well suck it up and figure a way to do it quickly so you can get on to the sound check.

Actually rehearsing

The biggest thing about band practice is setting up as you would on stage, which usually means setting up in a line or semi-circle. You need to get used to need facing each other and listening to the songs for your change cues. This doesn't mean you can never look at each other; it is just general practice to spread out on stage. If your having trouble with this at first, set up in a semi-circle and as things progress start moving out so that you are learning to play without visual cues.

So you got your gear set up and you look like a band, where do you go from here? How about developing a set list. Figure out what your first set will be and what order the songs will be played in. Once you got that down you need to play your set. I would suggest you play through the set even if there are mistakes. Just cause the guitar player missed a verse doesn't mean the rest of the band should grind to a halt. You wouldn't do this on stage and you should keep form doing it during rehearsals. It puts you in the frame of mind that every rehearsal is a show and that every show is just a rehearsal. It calms the nerves and breeds familiarity with your song lineup.

So lets see, your gear is set up and you have a set list. How about just kicking it off and playing the first set all the way through. Once you are done take 10 or 15 minutes and critique the set. This doesn't mean start an argument. It means, how did the set flow? How was the sound set up? Was the guitar too muddy, the bass to soft? Were the effects set up so the switches sounded smooth? You will get a feel for the set and maybe want to change the order of the songs. That's what rehearsals about.

Once your critique is complete and you have tried to fix any technical problems with sounds, volume, patching, do the set again. And, try to play just like a show. If the lead vocalist wants to talk to the imaginary crowd in between songs, let him do it. You're also working on stage presence.

The benefit of rehearsal

Obviously the benefit of rehearsing is that you are prepared to go do at least one set live. That's what you really want. It doesn't matter if your playing a pep-rally for your high school or are opening for a band at your local club, you want to get out there and pull off your gig in style. The underlying benefit of rehearsing in sets is that you will be ready to go in and cut a club demo on the cheap.

When you prepare with as much intensity as you play live, you will be able to walk down to the local recording studio, book and hour or two and walk away with a demo worthy of getting you a gig at any venue.

So there you have it, the bases should be covered. Get a spot, learn how to set up like on stage and start playing. Now get out there and do it. Until then, I'll see you on stage.

Cj

I am Cj and I work at the Headquarters of AMT North America Inc. in Atoka Tennessee as a sound consultant and occasionally delve in to the Artist Relations arena. I get to demo all our pedals and field all the questions from musicians like yourselves, about our effects. I also am heading up a section of our website called “Pedal Nation”. So here is a quick pitch on that: If your in a band and you need some web space to help promote your band, drop me an email at Cj@AMTNorthAmerica.com I will contact you personally and we’ll talk about what you need.